Transit Toronto

City of Toronto, Metrolinx and TTC staff continue to plan the future Eglinton East light rail transit line. The line extends the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (the TTC’s “Line 5”) deeper into Scarborough to the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus and beyond.

Last May, City Council approved the team’s recommendations for:

• an LRT tunnel in the area of Kingston Road / Lawrence Avenue East / Morningside Avenue;
• a street-level route through the campus along Ellesmere Road and a re-aligned Military Trail; and
• an extension from the campus to Malvern Town Centre along Morningside, Sheppard Avenue East and Neilson Road.

Since then staff have been working to confirm the sites for future LRT stops in Malvern, update the cost estimates and complete the business case for the project. They’ve also launched a planning study to identify the opportunities for the LRT to enhance public space, improve social and economic development and improve access to the future LRT stops.

They’re holding a second round of public meetings for this study to update residents about the project, focussing on the full extent of the LRT corridor from Kennedy Station to Malvern Town Centre.

The team has scheduled the events:

• Wednesday, February 20; and
• Wednesday, February 27.

Events take place in:

• Malvern; and
• West Hill.

The TTC, GO Transit and other transit agencies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area are adjusting their schedules this Monday, February 18 — Family Day.

The TTC is making minor changes to its services, starting Sunday, February 17.

Sources:

• TTC: “TTC Service Improvements and Changes”, here.
• TTC: “Service Summary, January 6, 2019 to February 16, 2019”, here (.pdf).
• TTC: “Service Summary, February 17, 2019 to March 30, 2019”, here (.pdf).
• Steve Munro: “TTC Service Changes Effective February 17, 2019”, here.

From 2:30 a.m. Saturday, February 16 until 4 a.m. Family Day, Monday, February 18, the TTC is operating buses, instead of streetcars, along part of the 512 St Clair route.

Buses operate between St Clair West and St Clair stations. Streetcars operate west of St Clair West Station. You can transfer between buses and streetcars in the terminal at St Clair West.

Buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops beside the curb, instead of the centre-road “island” streetcar stops between the two subway-station terminals.

The TTC has not posted information about this temporary service change on its website. However, on Twitter, the TTC says it’s operating the buses due to “pantograph repairs”, which, presumably, means its crews are repairing the overhead wiring to accommodate the newest Toronto Flexity streetcars. (A pantograph is the Z-shaped structure on top of the new cars that conduct power from the wiring to the cars.)

The TTC previously operated buses along this section of the 512 St Clair route for the same project from 2:30 a.m. Saturday, February 9 until 4 a.m. Monday, February 11.

This year, GO Transit isn’t just taking you to and from the Canadian International AutoShow. It’s a star of the show!

GO says, “It’s like the self-driving car is already here. Read. Sleep. Watch. Text. GO.”

The show takes place in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from February 15 to 24, easily accessible by the TTC, UPExpress and, of course, GO Transit at Union station.

(Thanks to Szymon Boryczka for the corrections to this post)

Metrolinx and York Region contractors continue building a rapidway — bus-only lanes in the centre of the roadway — along Highway 7 West, Centre and Bathurst Streets between Dufferin and Yonge Streets.

Over four days, starting Tuesday, February 19, crews are activating signals along the future rapidway between Bathurst Street and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal.

From 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. each day, crews set up temporary work zones, blocking traffic lanes around each intersection. As they activate the new signals, the old lights will be out of service intermittently, in all directions. Expect to see the signal lights flashing or not operating at all. “Paid-duty” York Regional Police officers and traffic-control personnel will be on-site at each intersection to direct traffic.

The crews will not be reconfiguring traffic lanes during this phase of the project. However expect changes to traffic movements through the intersection in the future.

York Region Transit may temporarily relocate bus stops near the work zones. Also expect delays during work at each intersection.

• Tuesday, February 19 - Bathurst Street and the Bathurst - Highway 7 connector road: YRT passengers aboard buses along the Viva orange, 23 Thornhill Woods, 87 Autumn Hills and 88 Bathurst routes can expect delays.
• Wednesday, February 20 - Highway 7 and Hunters Point Road: YRT passengers aboard buses along the Viva orange and 87 Autumn Hills routes can expect delays.
• Thursday, February 21 - Highway 7 and the Yonge - Highway 7 connector road: YRT passengers aboard buses along the Viva pink, Viva purple, Viva orange, 1 Highway 7 and 86 Newkirk - Red Maple routes can expect delays.
• Monday, February 25 - Yonge - Highway 7 connector road and Richmond Hill Centre Terminal: GO Transit passengers aboard buses along the 40 Hamilton / Pearson / Richmond Hill, 51 Pickering / Highway 407, 52 Oshawa / Highway 407 and 54 Markham / Highway 407 routes and YRT passengers aboard buses along the Viva blue, Viva pink, Viva purple, Viva orange, 1 Highway 7, 83 Trench, 86 Newkirk - Red Maple, 87 Autumn Hills and 99 Yonge routes can expect delays.

The crews will activate the signal at Highway 7 and the Bathurst - Highway 7 connector road at a later date.

Metrolinx contractors continue building the future Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line between Mount Dennis and Kennedy.

“As early as” Monday, February 18, crews start widening the roadway to make room for the future LRT right-of-way

• on Eglinton Avenue East, south side between Lebovic and Pharmacy Avenues.

The work supports construction of the LRT “guideway” — the transit-only lanes in the centre of the roadway, including tracks and passenger amenities — between the future Hakimi / Lebovic and Pharmacy LRT stops.

Crews are setting up a new work zone that blocks the south sidewalk between the two streets.

Crews work every day from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. “for approximately one (1) month” or until about March 17.

For transit passengers

• The TTC may temporarily relocate bus stops near the work zone.
• Expect delays aboard buses along these routes:

• 34 Eglinton East; and
• 334 Eglinton East overnight.

For pedestrians

• The south sidewalk between Lebovic and Pharmacy is closed. Cross to the north side of the street.

For motorists

• Expect delays eastbound on Eglinton East between Pharmacy and Lebovic.

For nearby residents and business people

• Expect noise from saw cutters, hydro-vacuum trucks and construction vehicles.

From 4:30 a.m., Saturday, February 16 until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 17, the City of Toronto is closing:

• Bloor Street East between Sherbourne and Huntley Streets

to accommodate contractors who are lifting a crane at a construction site.

The TTC is detouring buses along this route, while the street is closed:

• 300 Bloor - Danforth overnight.

Metrolinx continues to prepare for upcoming construction of the Finch West light rail transit line between Humber College and Finch West subway station in the North York and Etobicoke areas of Toronto.

Before starting to rehabilitate the Highway 400 bridge — a major part of the LRT project — the contractors are confirming the ground conditions.

Starting “as early as” Tuesday, February 19, they’ll drill boreholes near the Highway 400 / Finch Avenue West interchange to investigate the soil.

Next, they move to the eastbound lanes on Finch Avenue West to drill boreholes near the north- and southbound on-ramps, temporarily blocking the south shoulder and the right curb lane. Finally, the crews move to the westbound lanes on Finch West to drill boreholes near the north- and southbound on-ramps, temporarily blocking the north shoulder and right lane.

The crews maintain pedestrian and driveway access. Nearby residents and business people can expect to see heavy trucks and equipment in the area, as the crew moves from one test hole to the next. Expect noise from a saw cutter, hydro-vacuum truck, drill, and other construction equipment.

Crews work Mondays to Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

TTC passengers aboard buses along these routes can expect delays:

• 36 Finch West; and
• 99 Arrow Road.

Soil investigations near the Highway 400 bridge and the resulting TTC delays continue “for two weeks” or until about March 2.

The City of Toronto and the TTC have started a project to extend the Line 2 Bloor - Danforth subway to Scarborough Centre.

Starting Tuesday, February 19, Enbridge crews are relocating gas lines

• on Hollyhedge Drive at Danforth Road

to prepare for the project. These pipelines are integral to Enbridge’s gas system, so it must reroute them to make sure it can continue to deliver natural gas safely and reliably while construction proceeds.

Crews work Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. They may temporarily block traffic lanes. Gas-line relocation near Hollyhedge / Danforth Road and continues until April 19.

For transit passengers

• The TTC does not expect to relocate bus stops to accommodate the construction.

For pedestrians:

• Sidewalks likely remain open throughout this phase of the project.
• If the crews must temporarily block a walkway, they’ll posts signs with a detour route around the work zone.

For motorists:

• Expect delays as crews may temporarily block traffic lanes on Hollyhedge.
• Access to driveways remains available at all times.