TTC's subway extension to open next month

The Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) 5.3-mile subway extension to southern Ontario's York region will open Dec. 17.

Late last week, Ontario Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca joined local officials to announce the opening date during a tour of the extension's Vaughan Metropolitan Center and Downsview Park stations.

Known as the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, the new line will include six  subway stations and three commuter parking lots. The CA$3.18 billion project is an extension of TTC's Line 1 subway route.

The new line will feature Wi-Fi service and the TTC's new Presto fare payment system.

"The extension will also be the first time ever that the TTC subway system will cross a municipal border, linking Toronto and York University with York Region," said TTC Chair Josh Colle in a press release.

The Toronto-York Spadina extension runs from the Downsview Park Station in Toronto to the Vaughan Metropolitan Center along Highway 7 in York.

TTC powered up the third rail on the extension earlier this year.