Fairbank is an underground light rail transit (LRT) station under construction on Line 5 Eglinton, a new line that is part of the Toronto subway system.[3] It will be located in the Fairbank neighbourhood at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue West. Destinations include the Fairbank neighbourhood and Fairbank Memorial Park. As of 2017[update], construction work related to the station was in progress,[4] having been scheduled to begin in 2014.[5] The station is scheduled to open in 2023.[2]
Fairbank | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fairbank station main entrance under construction | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 1815 Eglinton Avenue West,[1] Toronto, Ontario Canada | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 43°41′44″N 79°27′00″W | ||||||||||
| Platforms | Centre platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Connections | |||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | Underground | ||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||
| Architect | IBI Group Architects and SNC-Lavalin[1] | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Status | Under construction | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opening | 2023 (1 year's time) (2023)[2] | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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During the planning stages for Line 5 Eglinton, the station was given the working name "Dufferin", which is identical to the pre-existing Dufferin station on Line 2 Bloor–Danforth. On November 23, 2015, a report to the TTC Board recommended giving a unique name to each station in the subway system (including Line 5 Eglinton). Thus, the LRT station was renamed "Fairbank" after the Fairbank neighbourhood rather than the intersecting Dufferin Street.[6]
The main entrance will replace the Esso gas station on the east side of St. Hilda's Park, at the southeast corner of Dufferin Street and Eglinton Avenue.[5] A secondary entrance will be on the northwest corner, where a right-turn slip road will be removed to provide the necessary space. A third structure, for mechanical and venting purposes, will replace a storefront near the southwest corner.[3] Fairbank station will include a decorative exterior plaza having grass, a misting feature, 14 shade trees, 15 benches and 10 bicycle parking spaces. It will be suitable for community events.[4]
As of February 2022[update], the following are the proposed connecting routes that would serve this station when Line 5 Eglinton opens:[7]
| Route | Name | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| 29A/C | Dufferin | Northbound to Wilson station |
| 29A | Southbound to Exhibition Place (Dufferin Gate) | |
| 29C | Southbound to Exhibition Place (Princes' Gate) | |
| 34 | Eglinton | Westbound to Mount Dennis station and eastbound to Kennedy station |
| 929 | Dufferin Express | Northbound to Wilson station and southbound to Exhibition Place (Dufferin Gate) |
TTC staff evaluated the initial report and the proposed names and provided feedback and recommendations. A primary TTC concern was to avoid replication and redundancy with existing TTC station names. The proposed names are unique and are not likely to be confused with existing station names.