4K 
In Little Jamaica, one of Toronto’s most culturally vibrant areas, an unprecedented level of mobility is set to arrive later this year — we hope — with the long-delayed opening of Eglinton Line 5. Within the area's boundaries, stretching from Black Creek Drive in the west to the Allen Expressway in the east, four rapid transit stations are expected to open later this year. Soon, at any of the area’s major north-south streets, residents will be able to board a light rail vehicle and reach downtown in under 30 minutes, an overdue benefit for a community long affected by disinvestment. At the same time, a major overhaul of the local bus network is planned to better connect residents to the new rapid transit stations and improve links between the residential neighbourhoods and industrial areas along Eglinton West.
Little Jamaica will enjoy the benefits of Eglinton Line 5 for years to come, but the last decade of construction has posed immense challenges for the neighbourhood. An already heavily congested stretch of roadway, road closures to facilitate station box and tunnel construction brought Eglinton Avenue West to a standstill at rush hour for years, making the area unattractive to visit. The issue of too many people (or rather too many cars) would seemingly be substituted overnight in early 2020 for an even more pressing concern, a complete lack of people. Pandemic lockdowns saw cities across the globe retreat from public spaces, and Toronto was no exception to this. Little Jamaica, a community that has faced longstanding social and economic challenges, was particularly hard hit. Construction work halted, but the fencing, machinery and excavations remained, giving the once bustling Eglinton Avenue West a feel of abandonment, only worsened by the ever-increasing number of vacant storefronts as long-standing businesses were forced to close up shop.
In an attempt to stem this wave of decline, local business and advocacy organizations lobbied City Hall and Metrolinx for greater support. The response was tepid, but as construction wound down and the pandemic eased, major public safety and traffic issues subsided, though not before taking an immense toll. By early 2025, over 140 businesses had already closed, and the neighbourhood’s Caribbean population continued to decline in the face of steep increases in housing costs. Whether the area will continue as a vibrant hub of Jamaican culture or retain the name “Little Jamaica” only as a nod to its history, much like the former cultural enclaves of Little Malta and Corktown, remains to be seen.
Looking forward, Eglinton Avenue West is poised to see a massive influx of new residents and investment, with a stunning skyline to match. Nearly two dozen development applications are underway just within the vicinity of Fairbank station, with numerous proposals coming in at over 40 storeys. To support this new level of density, transportation improvements beyond the construction of Eglinton Line 5 are underway. Cycle tracks have recently been installed along Eglinton Avenue, and construction is beginning on a new Barrie GO Line stop at Caledonia station. The area’s bus network is also being reconfigured to improve connections, and the following outlines every route cancellation, extension, creation, and rerouting planned for the neighbourhood following the opening of Eglinton Line 5:
90 Vaughan: The 90 Vaughan will see a small but important extension to ensure both its termini are at rapid transit stations. Now originating in the north at Cedarvale station (currently Eglinton West, to be renamed when Line 5 opens) on University Line 1, the 90 will travel briefly along Eglinton Avenue West and Oakwood Avenue to reach Vaughan Road. From here the 90 will continue its existing run, travelling the length of Vaughan Road before turning onto St Clair Avenue West to reach its southern terminus at St Clair West station on University Line 1.
929/29 Dufferin: The 29 Dufferin local and 929 Dufferin Express buses will not see their routings altered with the opening of Eglinton Line 5. However, the bus routes' curbside stops at Eglinton Avenue will now provide direct connections to Fairbank station on Eglinton Line 5.
18 Caledonia: The 18 Caledonia will be a new bus route taking over the northern corridor of the current 47 Lansdowne bus. Originating at Caledonia station on Eglinton Line 5, the 18 bus will travel along Caledonia Road before branching off into the 18a and 18b. The 18a will travel along Bridgeland Avenue to reach Yorkdale Mall, before looping along Yorkdale Road and returning to Caledonia station on Eglinton Line 5. The 18b will travel the same route, except it will utilize Orfus Road to reach Yorkdale Mall, as opposed to Bridgeland Avenue.
47 Lansdowne: The 47 Lansdowne will be shortened in length and no longer be running north of Eglinton Avenue. This portion of the 47's corridor will be taken over by the new 18 Caledonia bus. The revised 47 will now travel from its northern terminus at Caledonia station on Eglinton Line 5 towards its existing southern terminus at Queen Street West along Caledonia Road, St Clair Avenue West, and Lansdowne Avenue.
158 Trethewey: The 32C Eglinton West will be turned into a stand-alone route, originating from Keelesdale station on Eglinton Line 5. The bus route will be extended, travelling along Trethewey Drive, Jane Street, Lawrence Avenue West and Weston Road before terminating at Knob Hill Road.
164 Castlefield: The 164 Castlefield is a new route, to originate in the east at Cedarvale station on Eglinton Line 5 and University Line 1, today known as Eglinton West station. It will travel primarily along Castlefield Avenue and Roselawn Avenue, before arriving at its western terminus at Keelesdale station on Eglinton Line 5. The 164 will also briefly travel along Kincort Street, Danesbury Avenue, Marlee Avenue, and Keele Street to reach its termini.
This article is the third in a series examining the planned bus service changes accompanying the opening of Eglinton Line 5, with a line-by-line breakdown of the adjustments in each affected neighbourhood. You can find our previous story on Mount Dennis station here. UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on Eglinton Line 5, but in the meantime, you can learn more about it from our Database files, linked below. If you'd like, you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum threads or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.
* * *
UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from initial application.
| Related Companies: | Arcadis, Doka Canada Ltd./Ltee, LRI Engineering Inc., NORR Architects & Engineers Limited, Vortex Fire Consulting Inc. |
