The Toronto Transit Commission is seeking public input into the names of the stations on the extension of the Spadina Subway, under-construction from Downsview Station to York University and on the City of Vaughan. This public consultation on station names will be used to help determine the best names for the six new stations, as well as for the current terminus at Downsview Station. Your input is only an internet-survey away!

Three suggestions are given for each station, while room is provided to write in additional suggestions. The TTC is looking for station names that aid passengers and provide useful information for people as they find their way around the transit system. The TTC will decide on the final names for the stations using the feedback from this consultation as a guide.

You can also print out the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension - Subway Station Naming - Public Consultation and mail or fax the form back to the TTC no later than Friday, October 21st, 2011. All responses must reach them on or before that date.

Bus Terminal at Steeles West Station on the TTC's Spadina Subway Extension

About the subway extension

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (or TYSSE) is an 8.6 km extension of the Spadina Subway from Downsview Station north west through York University within the City of Toronto and north to the City of Vaughan in The Regional Municipality of York. The subway extension will include six new stations. Construction is under way, and service on the new subway is expected to begin in 2015. The Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension project is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and The Regional Municipality of York. The estimated cost of the project is $2.6 billion.

What does UrbanToronto think?

UrbanToronto has taken a stand on three of the station names. We believe that Downsview station should be renamed to Sheppard West (or similar) so that the name Downsview can be freed up for the station currently under construction in Downsview Park. This station will have a connection to the Barrie GO Train line, and it would not make sense for GO to name thier station here 'Sheppard West' as they do not have a station named 'Sheppard' or 'Sheppard East'. We believe that Downsview Park wil best suit both systems, and will make the most sense for passengers using the station.

The other station name we have taken a position on is the one to be built in Vaughan's forthcoming downtown. Vaughan has named their new core the 'Vaughan Metropolitan Centre', and we have no bone to pick with that, but we believe the station name should be the shorter and more convenient 'Vaughan Centre'. That shorter version would put the station in line with North York Centre and Scarborough Centre stations. Nobody wants to have to say the extra word, and maps would not have to have the ridiculously long full name on them.

We encourage you to vote on the survey for whichever names make the most sense to you.

For more information about the subway extension, including a map, you can the visit the TYSSE Overview, or click on any of the dataBase links below this article. While all stations have not been added to the UrbanToronto dataBase at the time this article was published, the final two will appear in time. If you want to join in the discussion of the subway extension on UrbanToronto's forums, click on the associated forums links below.