Eglinton Crosstown LRT: new opportunities for Quebec SMEs

After more than 15 years in the making, Toronto’s Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Line 5) finally goes into service on February 8, 2026, as confirmed by TTC CEO Mandeep Lali, with an official opening and free rides on launch day.(torontotoday.ca) The nearly $13-billion, 19-kilometre-long km and 25 stations, was designed to completely transform the Eglinton axis, connecting several subway, bus and regional train lines.(toronto.citynews.ca) For Quebec SMEs – whether in technology, construction, marketing, retail, food service or B2B services – the opening of the Eglinton line represents much more than just a new transportation line in Toronto: it opens up a huge market, with concrete needs for digital solutions, e-commerce, CRM, AI and customer experience. In this article, we analyze the major 2024-2025 trends surrounding the project, the key data and, above all, the very practical opportunities for Quebec companies that want to sell in Ontario… without necessarily opening an office in Toronto.

1. Understanding the economic impact of the Crosstown: a 19 km corridor with great potential

The Crosstown LRT is one of the most important transportation infrastructure projects in Canada in recent years. Its economic scope extends far beyond the borders of the City of Toronto – and that’s precisely what Quebec SMEs are interested in.

A few figures to illustrate the scale of the project:

• 19 km of line, 25 stations, linking Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy in the east, with connections to 4 subway lines, GO Transit and the UP Express.(toronto.citynews.ca)
• A total budget estimated at nearly $13 billion, after several cost overruns compared to initial forecasts.(webjosh.com)
• An already densely populated corridor, with thousands of convenience stores and office and residential buildings along Eglinton Avenue.

Studies on rapid transit systems show that a new, well-integrated line can increase property values near stations by 5 % à 20 % depending on the urban context, by stimulating densification, mixed-use real estate projects and the patronage of local businesses.(cp24.com) In the case of Eglinton, the years of construction have certainly weakened several small businesses (temporary closures, limited access, noise, reduced traffic). But the phase now opening up is one of reconstruction and growth – often much faster than the urban average when the service is finally up and running.

For a Quebec SME, it is important to see this corridor not as an abstract “Toronto market”, but as a succession of micro-neighborhoods around 25 stations, each with its own :

• signage, display and digital visibility for street businesses ;
• e-commerce and local delivery solutions;
• customer relationship management (CRM) and multi-channel loyalty tools ;
• AI applications and integrations (chatbots, virtual assistants, customer response automation).

An agency like Nuaweb, specialized in AI, web creation, CRM management and e-commerce, is typically positioned to support these companies – even remotely, from Quebec.

2. Trends 2024-2025: from construction chaos to commercial renaissance along the Eglinton axis

Even before opening, the Crosstown has profoundly reshaped Eglinton Avenue. By 2024-2025, several strong signals point to a commercial “renaissance” once the line is in service, despite the closures and difficulties experienced during construction.

Key trends to remember :

• End of major works and transition to fine-tuning: in December 2025, the province and Metrolinx announced the achievement of “substantial completion”, confirming the end of the heavy construction phase and the transfer of operational control to the TTC.(toronto.citynews.ca)
• Intensive testing in near-real conditions: to reach this stage, the trainsets were driven more than 11,000 km per week in a variety of weather conditions, including 10 cm snowfall, to ensure reliability on opening.(toronto.citynews.ca)
• Preventive repairs before opening: corrective work on certain platforms and structures was carried out from 2024-2025, still resulting in lane and sidewalk closures, but with access to shops maintained.(blogto.com)

In practice, this means that the commercial environment will finally change :

• the “permanent construction site” phase (reduced foot traffic, complicated access, feeling of a neighbourhood under construction);
• the “new mobility corridor” phase (more passenger flows, easier access, new travel habits).

Numerous international experiences (Calgary’s LRT, European tramways, etc.) show that neighborhoods adjacent to new stations often see a significant increase in footfall and local consumption within 12 to 24 months of opening, particularly when retailers invest in their digital presence and omnichannel customer experience.(cp24.com)

For Quebec SMEs, this creates a number of exploitable trends:

• Increased demand for digital transformation services: Eglinton’s businesses, often focused on survival during construction, now need to catch up digitally (websites, online reservations, click-and-collect, local delivery, Google Business Profile, etc.). Turnkey website creation packages tailored to small businesses can meet this demand.
• CRM solutions needed to manage the influx of new customers: with increased traffic, restaurants, clinics, specialty shops and convenience services along Eglinton will need to structure their customer data, mailing lists and loyalty programs via CRM management solutions.
• Pressure on customer experience and speed of service: better accessibility increases competition. Companies that automate their responses (chatbots, AI reservation systems, dynamic FAQs) will have a clear advantage.

This is precisely where Nuaweb ‘s AI and web expertise becomes an asset for Quebec SMEs wishing to offer their services (SaaS, agencies, consultants, manufacturers) to these Toronto merchants in search of rapid modernization.

3. Concrete opportunities for Quebec SMEs: where and how to position themselves

Opportunities for Quebec companies around the Eglinton Crosstown LRT are structured around three main areas: technology, B2B services and e-commerce.

3.1. Digital solutions and AI for convenience stores

The dozens of businesses along the corridor – bars, restaurants, hair salons, clinics, specialty stores, community services – will need concrete tools to capture and retain the new flow of customers generated by the line. For a Quebec-based technology SME, this is an ideal opportunity to offer :

• locally optimized websites, adapted to Toronto customers and mobile searches (schedules, access, nearest station, public transit routes) thanks to a conversion-focused website creation offer;
• chatbots and AI assistants integrated into the site or Google Business, capable of answering frequent questions in real time (nearest station, opening hours, delivery options, menus, available services) – a service that specialist AI agencies such as Nuaweb can provide remotely ;
• simple CRM integrations, connecting forms, reservations and mailing lists to a central customer relationship management platform.

3.2. E-commerce and omnichannel strategies

With improved commuting, many of Eglinton’s physical businesses will want :

• deploy an online sales channel to complement in-store traffic;
• offer station pick-up or rapid delivery services on the corridor;
• set up geolocation campaigns targeting users passing through certain stations.

This is a direct opportunity for Quebec SMEs specializing in e-commerce and digital marketing:

• creation of multilingual (FR/EN) Shopify/WooCommerce stores for Toronto’s diverse clientele;
• integration of local delivery modules and SMS notifications for LRT peak-hour orders;
• advertising campaigns targeting zip codes around key stations (Yonge-Eglinton, Eglinton West, Mount Dennis, etc.).

3.3. B2B services and strategic support

Finally, beyond technology, Quebec SMEs can position themselves as transformation partners for merchant associations, BIAs (Business Improvement Areas) and building owners along the axis. This can include:

• digital presence and web performance audits for business clusters;
• distance learning courses on the use of CRM, generative AI and marketing automation tools;
• post-construction relaunch” packages combining visual identity, site redesign, CRM integration and opening campaign.

Thanks to the widespread use of remote working and collaboration tools, a Quebec agency can manage a portfolio of Toronto customers without losing its roots in the province, while diversifying its markets.

4. How a Quebec SME can take action: practical steps and Nuaweb’s role

Seizing the opportunities offered by the Eglinton Crosstown LRT doesn’t mean “going into Toronto blind”. It’s about building a structured, progressive and highly focused approach.

4.1. Map the corridor and define its niches

First step: identify exactly what types of businesses and organizations line the 25 stations. Public data from the City of Toronto, local BIAs and business directories are used to identify :

• the sectors most affected by the work (restaurants, beauty services, medical clinics, independent shops);
• neighbourhoods undergoing gentrification or redevelopment;
• areas with high potential for residential densification (new condos, mixed-use towers).

A Quebec SME can then target two or three priority niches (e.g. “independent restaurants near Yonge-Eglinton”, “clinics and healthcare professionals east of Brentcliffe”, etc.) and tailor its service offering to these specific segments.

4.2. Build a clear offering: web, CRM, AI, e-commerce

Secondly, it’s essential to package offers that are comprehensible to small business owners who have neither the time nor the resources to put together a complete specification. For example:

• Post-Crosstown relaunch” package: website redesign, Google Business integration, CRM base configuration, simple chatbot to answer questions and booking form.
• Local E-commerce + LRT” package: online store, near-station pickup options, basic inventory management, payment integration and e-mail automation.
• CRM & loyalty” package: implementation of a CRM management tool, customer segmentation, e-mail and SMS scenarios for customers located near the Crosstown resorts.

Quebec-based agencies such as Nuaweb can support SMEs in the conception, design and deployment of these offerings, combining website creation, e-commerce, CRM and AI integrations within a single customer journey.

4.3. Implement targeted, measurable prospecting

Once the offers have been defined, prospecting must be highly targeted:

• LinkedIn and Google Ads campaigns targeting keywords related to “Eglinton Crosstown”, “Line 5 Eglinton”, “Eglinton Avenue business” ;
• blog content (in English and French) explaining the benefits of digital transformation for businesses along Eglinton ;
• partnerships with Ontario organizations (BIA, local chambers of commerce, industry associations).

The goal: to be identified as a specialist in the digital relaunch of businesses in transportation corridors, a positioning that can easily be replicated for other projects (Montreal’s REM, subway extensions, SRB, etc.).

4.4. Rely on an expert partner: Nuaweb

For an SME looking to move fast, it’s unrealistic to bring everything in-house (web development, UX, AI, CRM, e-commerce, video production). Working with a partner like Nuaweb enables you to :

• benefit from a team that has already masteredAI applied to customer service (chatbots, automation, CRM integration);
• delegate the creation of high-performance, SEO-optimized websites to an experienced team ;
• set up robust online stores connected to local delivery systems and secure payment gateways;
• offer Eglinton customers professional video production (promotional capsules, virtual store tours, social advertising) to stand out in a highly competitive environment.

Nuaweb can also support Quebec SMEs in defining their market attack strategy, selecting tools (CRM, e-commerce platforms, AI solutions) and setting up dashboards to measure the return on investment of actions taken with businesses in the Crosstown corridor.

Conclusion: Eglinton today, other corridors tomorrow – and your small business?

The opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT on February 8, 2026 marks the end of a long soap opera and the beginning of a phase of economic catch-up for hundreds of businesses along a 19 km route. With a project value approaching $13 billion, intensive testing (more than 11,000 km traveled per week in the demonstration phase) and a connection to several regional transit lines, the Crosstown is not just a new line: it’s a growth corridor for digital solutions, e-commerce, customer relationship management and AI applied to convenience retail.(toronto.citynews.ca)

For Quebec SMEs, it’s an opportunity to :

• diversify their markets into Ontario without leaving their Quebec base;
• position ourselves as experts in the digital transformation of businesses located in transportation corridors;
• build reusable packages for other infrastructure projects in Canada.

Would you like to structure a digital offering for businesses around the Crosstown or another major transportation project? The Nuaweb team can support you, from strategy to deployment: AI, website creation, CRM management, e-commerce and video production.

Let’s plan your Ontario expansion strategy together. Contact Nuaweb now for a free consultation via this contact form and turn the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT into a real growth lever for your Quebec SME.