Transit Toronto

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

Crews are building the LRT “guideway” — the transit-only lanes in the centre of the roadway, including tracks and passenger amenities

• on Eglinton Avenue East at Victoria Avenue

near the site of the future O’Connor stop.

Starting 5 a.m. Monday, September 16, they shift the work zone to the centre of the roadway, where they’re:

• cutting and removing asphalt;
• excavating;
• installing “subgrade materials” (compacted soil that forms the base of a pavement);
• installing duct banks;
• installing drainage, the track slab and tracks.

The work zone blocks north-south through traffic on Victoria Park from crossing the intersection.

Crews work every day from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Guideway installation near the future O’Connor stop and the resulting TTC service changes continue “for approximately six (6) weeks” or until about October 31.

• Starting 5 a.m. Monday, September 16, the TTC detours buses along these routes, while the street is closed:

• 24 Victoria Park;
• 70A O’Connor;
• 324 Victoria Park overnight; and
• 924 Victoria Park express.

The TTC detours the buses in two phases:

• from 5 a.m. Monday, September 16 until 5 a.m. Thursday, September 19; and
• from 5 a.m. Thursday, September 19 until “late October” or until about October 31.

• The TTC has closeed the southbound bus stop on Victoria Park at Eglinton East. It may also further relocate bus stops near work zones.
• Passengers aboard buses along these routes can also expect delays:

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

For pedestrians

• Crews may temporarily block access to north-south crosswalks at the intersection. However, one north-south crosswalk remains open at all times.
• The north-south crosswalk on Eglinton Avenue East at the east side of Eglinton Square remains closed.

For motorists

• A work zone blocks north-south traffic on Victoria Park from proceeding through the intersection.
• All north- and southbound traffic on Victoria Park must turn right onto Eglinton.
• Work zones block centre lanes on Eglinton Avenue east and west of Eglinton Square and through the intersection with Victoria Park.
• At least one lane is available for traffic in each direction on Eglinton at all times.

For nearby residents and business people

• Expect noise from excavators, bobcats, trucks and other construction equipment.

Our friends at T2P Films produced this video, the second of two in the “Transit Race” series. We recently posted the first episode.

Lui and Ralph race using MiWay and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) from Meadowvale Town Centre to Kennedy Station. Who are you voting for #TeamLui or #TeamRalph? Apply to join one of the teams: http://t2pfilms.ca/race

Follow Lui and Ralph:

• https://www.instagram.com/silverdishy…
• https://www.instagram.com/ralphjlorenzo/
• https://www.facebook.com/SILVERDISHYO…
• https://www.youtube.com/silverdish

T2P Films

• https://www.t2pfilms.ca
• https://developments.t2pfilms.ca
• https://www.twitter.com/t2pfilms
• https://www.facebook.com/t2pfilms
• https://www.instagram.com/t2pfilms
• https://www.facebook.com/T2PFilmsDevs

Virtual TTC Academy

T2P Films also operates the Virtual TTC Academy, where transit enthusiasts get together to simulate virtual Toronto subway operations with the free train simulator, OpenBVE. Some of its runs here.

From 2 until 8:30 a.m. Sunday, September 15, Metrolinx is closing the tracks of GO Transit’s Weston Subdivision, as City of Toronto contractors install the span for a new pedestrian bridge.

The tracks usually carry GO trains along the Kitchener and Milton lines and Union Pearson Express trains. Since GO doesn’t operate trains along these tracks weekends, the construction only affects UP Express service.

GO buses replace early-morning UP Express trains. The first bus leaves from Union UPX Station at 5:05 a.m. and Pearson UPX Station at 5:37 a.m. Buses operate every 20 minutes until train service resumes at 8:30 a.m. During that time, buses don’t stop at Weston or Bloor UPX stations.

To make sure you don’t get lost and get to your bus on time, staff will guide you at the ticket / platform areas in Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

On the Metrolinx blog, writer Nitesh Bissonauth, bilingual spokesperson and media relations and issues specialist, explains what’s going on.

“Residents of the King West Village neighbourhood will have a quicker route to walk or cycle into Liberty Village and have direct access to the Exhibition GO Station thanks to the new bridge. Construction is well underway with piers already set up. All that’s left is for the steel bridge structure to be hoisted and put in place.

The new pedestrian cycle bridge is set to go over this part of the rail corridor with piers already in place on both sides. Photo, Dean Bragg, Metrolinx

“The city’s King-Liberty Pedestrian Cycle Bridge… will span 55 metres, stretching from Douro St. all the way to Western Battery Rd.

“Dean Bragg, third party projects officer for Metrolinx, says unlike other bridges erected over the rail corridor, the King-Liberty Bridge is not a single span that is hoisted up and lowered.

“Instead, Bragg explains, the King-Liberty Bridge will require two large spans to be matched up while suspended by cranes and then bolted together before being put into place. It’s an engineering dance done in mid-air…

An artist rendering of what the new bridge will look like. Image, City of Toronto.

“‘Crews will be working in a very short period of time and to overcome this challenge, the bridge has been previously fitted together off-site to ensure a perfect fit,” explains Bragg.

“‘We try to restrict service adjustments to off-peak hours, provide advance notice and support passengers as best we can,’ says Christine Taylor, Director of Customer Care at Metrolinx. ‘We know they can be inconvenient, but also bring significant benefits such as this new access to Exhibition GO.’

A staircase with a bicycle stairway on either side and elevators provide access to the bridge. The design of the glass for the elevator towers also includes public art. Images, City of Toronto.

“Once complete, the King-Liberty pedestrian cycle bridge will serve as a vital connection accessed between Atlantic Ave. and Strachan Ave. The passageways will be open and illuminated day and night, and will include security measures, such as closed-circuit cameras, open stairs (for visibility) and emergency call buttons.

“The bridge, according to City of Toronto officials, is anticipated to be fully open in the spring of 2020.”

An aerial rending of what the bridge will look like, stretching across Metrolinx’ rail corridor. Image, City of Toronto.

Bridge piers ready for truss. Image, City of Toronto.

Bridge truss before installation. Image, City of Toronto.

The TTC is closing part of its Line 1 Yonge - University subway between Lawrence and St Clair Stations all day Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15. Line 1 trains operate only between Finch and Lawrence stations and between St Clair and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations this weekend.

Frequent shuttle buses replace the trains, operating along Yonge Street and stopping near each station along the closed section of the line. At Lawrence, Eglinton and Davisville stations, passengers can exit from or board buses on the street. At St Clair Station, passengers exit on St. Clair Avenue East beside the station, but can board inside the bus terminal off Pleasant Boulevard.

The TTC is closing this part of Line 1 to accommodate Metrolinx work on the Eglinton Crosstown light rail transit line and the LRT’s future Eglinton Station.

Current and upcoming Crosstown work in the area of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue includes construction below the TTC’s Eglinton Station, shifting the TTC’s platform to the north and building and installing a new TTC tunnel-ventilation system) at the south and north ends of the subway platform.

Wheel-Trans buses also operate between Lawrence and St Clair stations. Passengers can ask any TTC staff member for Wheel-Trans service. Because Lawrence Station is not yet accessible, passengers travelling southbound along Line 1 towards Lawrence Station who require an elevator should exit the train at York Mills Station and ask any TTC staff member for Wheel-Trans.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, September 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, September 16 the City of Toronto is closing

• Bay Street between Front Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard West,

as contractors operate a crane at the Metrolinx construction site for the future Union Station GO Bus Terminal at 81 Bay Street.

The TTC is detouring buses along these routes, while the street is closed:

• 6 Bay;
• 72B Pape via Commissioners and Queens Quay; and
• 320 Yonge overnight.

Bay Street remains open for a short stretch just south of Front West, so that GO Transit buses can access the current Union Station GO Bus Terminal from the north, instead of the south. GO is detouring buses along these routes:

• 16 Hamilton / Toronto express;
• 18B / 18G / 18H Lakeshore West;
• 21 / 21A / 21B / 21P Milton / Toronto;
• 31 / 31A / 31E / 31F / 31H / 31L Guelph / Georgetown / Toronto;
• 61 Richmond Hill / Toronto;
• 63 King City / Toronto;
• 65 / 65C East Gwillimbury / Newmarket / Toronto;
• 71 / 71C / 71G Stouffville / Toronto; and
• 90B Lakeshore East.

The City previously closed the same section of Bay Street for the same project from 12:01 a.m. Saturday, August 31 until 5 a.m. Labour Day, Monday, September 2. And, the TTC and GO also detoured their buses that weekend.

This work restricts access to the Bay East and West Teamways:

• Only the north doors will be open in the Bay East Teamway;
• From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the north doors of the Bay West Teamway will be closed. This means that, during these hours, you can’t walk north- or southward along Bay Street from the Bay West Teamway. You can however walk westward from the Bay West Teamway through Scotiabank Arena. The best way into and out of Union Station will be through the Front or York Street entrances.

This weekend, also expect to find minor changes to how you access the accessible path to and from the TTC’s Union subway station, due to the Metrolinx construction. Information staff will be available to help you find your way.

Metrolinx says, “The new, enhanced Union Station Bus Terminal will give you a safer, more convenient and more efficient transit experience, with better connections to rail and subway services as well as other popular destinations.

“A partnership project between Metrolinx and Ivanhoé Cambridge and Hines, the terminal is part of the larger CIBC Square development, which includes two office towers and a park spanning the GO rail corridor.”

It will also have 14 bus bays — twice as many as the current bus terminal.

GO Transit currently operates an average of 485 buses every weekday out of the current Union Station Bus Terminal, transporting around 13,600 daily weekday riders.

Metrolinx has scheduled the new Union Station Bus Terminal to open in 2020. GO Bus service will continue to operate normally out of the current bus terminal until the new terminal is complete.

This weekend, Metrolinx contractors continue installing a glass pedestrian bridge between Scotiabank Arena and the future terminal.

Nitish Bissonauth, Metrolinx bilingual spokesperson, media relations and issues specialist writes in a post on the blog, *Metrolinx News:

“The bridge lift is an impressive project with an even more impressive timeline; crews will only have the two weekends to install the elevated structure which will span 39.5 m over Bay Street.

An artist concept of what the new glass bridge will look like. Photo rendering: Wilkinson Eyre.

”’On the first weekend, we’ll set up cranes and shoring towers - the bridge will then be lifted in two pieces,’ explains Grant Bailie, director of Rail Corridor Infrastructure at Union Station.

“He says crews will install steel framing and, on the second weekend, put in storm pipes and drains, insulation, vapour barrier and metal cladding.

“Crews will also be installing scaffolding to later complete the revitalization of the current rail span over Bay Street - a heritage bridge which dates back to 1927, the same time Union Station was built.

Work continues on CIBC SQUARE. The new GO Transit bus terminal will be located at the north-east corner of the building. Photo: Nitish Bissonauth.

“Station Operations Central staff and Transit Safety officers will be available to assist customers with wayfinding, and signage will be installed by EllisDon and Metrolinx.

“Paid-duty [Toronto Police Service] officers will also be on site during the closure at both Front Street and Lake Shore Boulevard to help people get around…

“The elevated pedestrian bridge will eventually allow GO Customers to safely cross Bay Street above traffic and directly access Level Two of the new Union Station Bus Terminal, once it’s completed.

The preliminary work for the glass, pre-constructed pedestrian bridge is done. The structure expected to go up between midnight and 5 a.m. on Saturday, August 31. Here is the side that will connect to CIBC Square. Photo: Nitish Bissonauth.

Here’s where it will connect to the Scotiabank Arena. Photo: Nitish Bissonauth.

“The new bridge will also be an extension of the city’s PATH network and create a first class experience for GO customers who will be able to seamlessly move between rail and bus; all while being protected from the elements year round.

“‘This pedestrian bridge is an important part of the new Union Station Bus Terminal project,’ Bailie says.

“‘Seeing this piece and the rest of CIBC SQUARE rise from the ground is extremely satisfying.’”

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, September 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, September 16, the TTC says it’s closing

• the streetcar tunnel under Bay Street and
• Exhibition Loop

for “inspection”. (This is the only information that the TTC has provided.)

It’s also revising service, or detouring buses and streetcars, along these routes during the closures:

• 307 Bathurst overnight;
• 310 Spadina overnight;
• 363 Ossington overnight;
• 509 Harbourfront;
• 510 Spadina; and
• 511 Bathurst.

Shuttle buses replace streetcar service along routes 310 and 510 south of King Street West.

Supercrawl in downtown Hamilton and the RBC Race for Kids in the North York area of Toronto dominate the list of events affecting transit services this weekend.

And, a full slate of other street festivals and road races also fills the agenda this weekend, resulting in many detours for transit services throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe Area, including the Roncesvalles Polish Festival and the Toronto Ukrainian Festival in central Toronto.

This year’s harvest-festival and fall-fair schedule has begun, affecting transit services in the Binbrook area of Hamilton, Brampton, the Brooklin area of Whitby and the Keswick area of Georgina.

Other events take place in Barrie, Brampton, the Georgetown area of Halton Hills, Guelph, the Hespeler area of Cambridge, Kitchener, the Lindsay area of Kawartha Lakes and Mississauga.

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

Since Saturday, July 6, 2018, the Metrolinx contractors have been building the the facility services building for the TTC’s Line 1 Yonge - University subway. Crews have also been undertaking various activities inside the TTC’s Eglinton Station.

^ Rendering of the future facility services building on Berwick Avenue. Image: Metrolinx

The building will house a new ventilation system for the subway line. It will stand on the subway corridor, south of Berwick Avenue. The new ventilation system will extract smoke during emergencies at Eglinton Station. Fans will include acoustic dampers to reduce noise and, except for emergencies, will only during testing.

^ TTC subway train emerges southbound from the Berwick Portal — the site of the future facility services building. Image: Metrolinx

Due to the location of the new building, crews can only work safely while subway trains are not operating. The TTC has planned to close this section of Line 1 during several weekends this summer to accommodate construction, including:

• Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15 — Lawrence Station to St Clair Station; and
• Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 — Lawrence Station to St Clair Station.

^ Rendering of the future facility services building on Berwick Avenue. Image: Metrolinx

The City of Toronto is closing:

• Berwick Avenue, mid-block, between Duplex Avenue and Yonge Street

• 7 a.m. Friday, September 13 until 7 a.m. Monday, September 16; and
• 7 a.m. Friday, September 20 until 7 a.m. Monday, September 23.

TTC buses may still access the bus terminal while the street is closed. Access to the loading dock for nearby Canada Square remains open from Yonge Street. Access to the parking lot for Canada Square remains open from Duplex Avenue.

The sidewalk on the south side of Berwick from west of the work zone to Yonge Street is closed. Pedestrians must use the north-side sidewalk on Berwick between Duplex Avenue and Yonge Street. However, at times, crews may ask pedestrians to halt or divert when a crane is operating.

Nearby residents and business people can expect noise in the area from construction equipment. You can also expect heavy traffic from trucks entering and exiting the work zone and traveling along nearby streets. Crews may also store equipment and material in the work zone.

^ Construction zone on the south side of Berwick Avenue. Image: Metrolinx

Since Friday, April 26, Region of Peel contractors have been replacing the water main

• on Steeles Avenue West Brampton between Lancashire Lane and Main Street South / Hurontario Street.

Brampton Transit passengers can expect delays and service changes.

For the next phase of the project, from 6 p.m. Friday, September 13 until 10 a.m. Saturday, September 14, crews set up work zones that block southbound traffic lanes through the intersection.

Brampton Transit is detouring buses along this route, while the traffic lanes are blocked:

• 2 Main;
• 3 / 3A McLaughlin;
• 4 / 4A Chinguacousy;
• 8 Centre;
• 52 McMurchy;
• 53 Ray Lawson;
• 54 County Court;
• 57 Charolais;
• 104 Chinguacousy express; and
• 502 Züm Main.

^ Map of detours for buses along routes 2, 54 and 104 and 502.

^ Map of detours for buses along routes 3 / 3A, 4 / 4A, 8, 52, 53, 57 and 104.

MiWay has not announced detours, but the construction project likely also affects service along this route:

• 103 Hurontario express.

Buses continue to operate through Brampton Gateway Terminal during the construction.

The TTC is continuing its “Easier Access” program to install elevators in its subway stations, making the subway system accessible for everyone. The program supports the government of Ontario’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. The provincial legislation commits the TTC to achieving a barrier-free transit system by 2025.

The TTC started construction Tuesday, April 1, 2018 to make Wellesley Station accessible by late 2020. It closed the bus loop until June this year. However, elevator construction continues in the station.

Shortly after bus service ends Friday, September 13, TTC contractors are pouring concrete in the bus loop for the elevator project. The bus loop remains closed until 9 a.m. The concrete trucks enter from the east roadway.

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

• 94A / 94B Wellesley.

Buses drop off or pick up passengers on the street, instead of in the bus loop.

The project includes:

• two new elevators to access south- and northbound platforms;
• better signs for wayfinding; and
• security cameras along the accessible path.