On Tuesday, the Ontario government officially marked the start of construction to build a new interchange station connecting the forthcoming Ontario Line with the TTC's Line 2. 

Pape Station will serve as one of the few interchange stations on the transit line, which will also include the future Science Centre, East Harbour, Queen, Osgoode, and Exhibition stations. 

Similar to other transit projects in the city, construction might impact how you access the TTC's Pape subway station in the meantime, so here's everything you need to know about the project. 

Has work on the future station started yet?

Yes, construction at the future Pape Station is now officially underway to build the foundations required for excavations that will ultimately connect the two subway lines. 

Construction follows after almost the entire block east of Pape on the north side of Danforth Avenue was demolished. This included the closure of well-known Toronto businesses including Eton House, Akropolis Pastries and a local Home Hardware among others.

How is the station expected the alleviate crowding? 

The interchange station will provide Toronto residents with another option when commuting downtown.

The new station is set to serve tens of thousands of commuters every day, facilitating more than 9,000 transfers during the morning rush hour and reducing crowding on Line 1 by 15 per cent and Line 2 by over 20 per cent. 

Metrolinx says a trip from Pape and Danforth to Queen and University will go from 25 minutes today to 12 minutes on the upcoming Ontario Line. 

Map showing the future Pape Station location. Photo: Metrolinx. 

By 2041, the transit agency estimates that 12,700 people will live within walking distance of the station and 10,200 customers will use the station during the busiest travel hour. 

What will the future station look like? 

Metrolinx has provided two renderings of what the forthcoming station will look like.

By positioning the Ontario Line station out of the street and straddling Line 2, the transit agency says impacts to area traffic during construction will be reduced and customers will have smoother transfers between the lines once the transit line is up and running. 

Future Ontario Line Pape Station entrance on the north side of Danforth Avenue, east of Pape Avenue. Photo: Metrolinx. 

Infrastructure Ontario has also released a rendering of the proposed Pape transit-oriented community, which would add housing, affordable housing, jobs, and retail space right next to the future Pape station. 

Infrastructure Ontario's Pape Transit-Oriented Community proposal. 

What impacts will construction have on TTC service? 

During the first phase of service changes from March 31 to May 11, 2024, the Pape subway station bus terminal was partially closed for demolition work on the east side bus bay canopy to prepare for construction. 

Now, during the second phase of service changes, the bus terminal will be fully closed for major construction until fall 2024.

Access to the station will be maintained, although subway service may be disrupted intermittently to accommodate work in the subway tunnel. The TTC says customers will informed in advance of these disruptions. 

The TTC has provided a list online of all the service and route changes that are in effect during the station's construction. 

When will construction on the Ontario Line be complete? 

Once complete the 15.6-kilometre Ontario Line will have 15 stations, running from Exhibition Place through the downtown core and connecting to the delay-plagued Eglinton Crosstown LRT. 

The line is set to offer more than 40 connections to other subway, bus, streetcar, and regional train services, bringing 227,500 more people within walking distance of transit and reducing daily car trips by at least 28,000.

The Ontario Line is currently projected to cost $27 billion with a 2031 completion.