What is the Eglinton Crosstown LRT?

It is Toronto’s Line 5, a light rail corridor running across Eglinton Avenue. Built at an estimated cost of about C$13 billion, it aims to cut travel times, add capacity, and spur corridor development. For investors, it shifts foot traffic patterns that influence leasing, retail sales, and long-term property values.

How many riders are expected on Line 5 Eglinton?

The provincial estimate is around 123,000 riders per day. Ridership usually ramps as commuters test new routes, transfers improve, and reliability stabilizes. We expect a clearer read after late-February signal priority is active and peak-period performance data becomes consistent across several weeks.

What near-term milestones should investors track?

Watch signal-priority activation in late February, on-time performance during peak hours, and headway consistency. Track station foot traffic, weekend usage, and retail visit counts. If these trend up together, leasing prospects and rent growth near stops may improve, supporting stronger corridor-level returns over time.

How does this project affect ROI for public capital?

Public ROI is broader than fares. It includes time savings, safety, reliability, and land value uplift that can expand tax revenue. If daily riders approach projections and nearby redevelopment gains pace, the social and fiscal returns strengthen, improving the case for complementary investments along the corridor.

Global Market Insights

February 08: Eglinton Crosstown LRT Opens, $13B Build Puts ROI in Focus

ByDanny Kontos February 9, 2026February 9, 2026

The eglinton crosstown lrt opened on February 8 after a roughly C$13B build, putting return on investment in the spotlight for Canadian investors. Early riders praised speed, while a few first-day interruptions showed the system still settling. With a phased schedule at launch and signal priority due late February, we expect reliability to improve. Ridership is estimated around 123,000 daily. We break down what this means for corridor foot traffic, property values, and near-term ROI for public and private capital.