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Suburban transit agencies plan for possible Toronto transit strike



Update, Saturday, April 19, 9:45 a.m.: this post now updates the information on Mississauga Transit.


Update, 7:30 p.m.: this post now contains information on Durham Region Transit.


Durham Region Transit, GO Transit, Mississauga Transit and York Region Transit have announced plans for helping their passengers cope with a possible Toronto transit strike on Monday.


Durham Region Transit has announced that if a strike takes place it will not operate buses on its 9 Rouge Hill Shuttle route through the TTC loop at Rouge Hill GO Station. Buses will pick up and unload passengers on the street in front of the station.


GO Transit is telling its customers that it will offer the best possible service for its regular customers, while also trying to accommodate more passengers. It will continue to run regular weekday and weekend trains and buses, although riders can expect crowds and some delays at stations, especially Union Station.

Because GO is already stretched to capacity, it can’t add any more trains or buses. Since more people will be riding GO, customers should get to their station early to find parking and buy tickets. They should also buy multi-ride tickets in advance to avoid ticketing line-ups every time they ride.


Mississauga Transit will continue its regular service if Toronto transit workers strike although it will detour the buses operating on routes that usually begin and end their trips in TTC terminals at Islington Station and Long Branch Loop. If a strike occurs, Mississauga Transit buses will stop on the street to pick up and unload riders instead of entering the TTC property.

If a strike occurs, Mississauga Transit will detour these routes: 1 Dundas; 3 Bloor; 5 Dixie; 11 Westwood; 17 Timberlea; 20 Rathburn; 23 Lakeshore; 26 Burnhamthorpe; 27 Matheson; 50 Creekbank; 57 Courtneypark; 70 Keaton; 76 Square One — Subway; 82 Financial; 89 Meadowvale — Subway; 201 Dundas Express; 230 Sheridan Express.


Islington Station

3 Bloor:
57 Courtneypark:
50 Creekbank:
1 Dundas:
27 Matheson:
76 Square One — Subway:
17 Timberlea:

Eastbound buses operate along their regular routes to Dundas Street West / Bloor Street West / Kipling Avenue, then detour:

eastward along Bloor;
northward along Islington Avenue;
east- and southward along Aberfoyle Crescent; and then
westward along Bloor to Islington Station.

Westbound buses will begin their trips on Bloor Street West at Islington Station, then proceed along their regular route westward along Bloor.

Buses will serve temporary stops on Bloor, east of Aberfoyle and on the street beside Islington Station. They will not stop or lay over along Aberfoyle.

11 Westwood:
20 Rathburn:
26 Burnhamthorpe:
70 Keaton:

Eastbound buses operate along their regular routes to Burnhamthorpe Road and Kipling Avenue, then detour:

southward along Kipling;
eastward along Bloor;
northward along Islington Avenue;
east- and southward along Aberfoyle Crescent; and then
westward along Bloor to Islington Station.

Westbound buses will begin their trips on Bloor Street West at Islington Station, then proceed along their regular route westward along Bloor.

Buses will serve temporary stops on Bloor, east of Aberfoyle and on the street beside Islington Station. They will not stop or lay over along Aberfoyle.

82 Financial:
89 Meadowvale — Subway:
201 Dundas Express:
230 Sheridan Express:

Buses operate along their regular route but stop on-street beside Islington Station instead of operating through the station terminal.

You can see a map of the Islington Station detours here.


Long Branch Loop

5 Dixie:

Southbound buses will operate along their regular route to Lakeshore Road East and Hydro Road, then detour:

southward along Hydro;
westward along Rangeview Road;
northward along Lakefront Promenade.

The buses will stop at a temporary stop at the south-west corner of Lakefront and Lakeshore.

Northbound buses will begin their trips at Lakefront Promenade and Lakeshore, then proceed:

eastward along Lakeshore to Ogden Avenue, then
resume their regular route northward along Odgen.

23 Lakeshore:

Eastbound buses operate along their regular route along Lakeshore Road East in Mississauga and Lake Shore Boulevard West in Torronto to Long Branch Loop, but continue eastward along Lake Shore to 30th Street.

Westbound buses begin their trips at Lake Shore and 30th, then proceed:

northward along 30th;
westward along Horner Avenue;
southward along Brown’s Line; and then
westward along Lake Shore Boulevard West to Long Branch Loop,
resuming their regular westbound loop.

Buses will stop at a temporary stop on Lake Shore, just west of the Loop.

You can see a map of the Long Branch Loop detours here.

Although Mississauga Transit riders at Long Branch can transfer to trains operating on GO Transit’s 01 Lakeshore West route, Mississauga Transit has not advised passengers how they can travel elsewhere in Toronto once they have arrived at Islington, which has no GO Transit service. Passengers heading for downtown Toronto should probably get off Mississauga Transit buses near Kipling Station and transfer to trains on GO’s 21 Milton route.

TTC buses that usually serve passengers in Mississauga will not operate if a strike occurs and Mississauga Transit will not replace the TTC service with its own buses. TTC routes in Mississauga are: 32 Eglinton West and 58 Malton.


YRT is offering its riders an extensive information package on its website, including questions and answers about the strike and how it affects YRT services.

If a strike occurs, YRT will continue to run its buses on regular schedules, although it will add extra buses to its GO shuttle routes during Monday-to-Friday morning and afternoon rush hours, divert all of its express services to the nearest GO Station and adjust service throughout the strike period responsing to passenger demand, whenever possible.

YRT buses will pick up and drop off passengers at temporary on-street stops outside TTC bus terminals at Downsview and Don Mills Stations. YRT buses will continue to serve other terminals including GO’s Finch Terminal and York University.

YRT is encouraging customers to travel on Viva purple and pink and YRT buses operating on 1 Highway 7, 83 Trench, 87 Langstaff-Maple or 99 Yonge South routes to Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, where they can connect with GO Transit trains operating on the 61 Richmond Hill line.

YRT Mobility Plus service will continue to operate normally to four transfer locations along Steeles Avenue.

TTC buses that usually operate on routes through York Region will not operate if a strike occurs and YRT will not replace this service with its own buses. TTC routes operating through York Region include: 17A Birchmount; 24D Victoria Park North; 25D Don Mills; 35D Jane; 37D Islington; 68B Warden; 102D Markham Road; 105 Dufferin North; 107B/C/D/F Keele North; 129A McCowan North; 160 Bathurst North; 165D/F Weston Road North; and 224C/D Victoria Park North.


Brampton Transit has not (yet) announced its plans if a Toronto transit strike occurs.