As part of its regular program of maintaining its streetcar tracks in a state of good repair, the TTC is grinding the rails in a number of sections of its streetcar network that have developed roughness.
The first sections for grinding are on College Street:
- Wednesday, April 27 and Thursday, April 28 - between St Clarens and Brock Avenues and between Sheridan Avenue and Dufferin Street.
- Sunday, May 1 until Wednesday, May 4 - between Gladstone Avenue and Dovercourt Road and between Dovercourt Road and Ossington Avenue.
By grinding the rails and removing roughness, the TTC is reducing noise and vibration levels, extending the life of the rail and providing smoother streetcar service through these areas.
The slow-moving rail-grinding unit operates from about 9 p.m. until about 5 a.m. Afterwards, a street sweeper cleans the track area each day.
The TTC is detouring streetcars operating along these routes, while contractors grind the rails:
Shuttle buses replace the cars, operating between Lansdowne and Spadina Avenues.
You may board the shuttle buses by any door at any time, if you have a proof of payment — such as a transfer or pass. PRESTO card users must board by the front door and pay their fares with cash, since the TTC has not yet equipped all buses with PRESTO card readers.
506 Carlton
306 Carlton overnight
TTC contractors start grinding after 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, Thursday, April 28, Sunday, May 1, Monday, May 2, Tuesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 4. Grinding continues until about 5 a.m. Thursday, April 28, Friday, April 29, Monday, May 2, Tuesday, May 3, Wednesday, May 4, Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6.
During grinding, the TTC detours the cars.
Eastbound cars operate along their regular route to Dundas Street West and College Street, then detour:
eastward along Dundas Street West; and then
northward along Bathurst Street to College,
resuming their regular route northward along Bathurst.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on College Street at Lansdowne and Brock Avenues, Dufferin Street, Rusholme Park Crescent, Dovercourt Road, Ossington Avenue, Crawford, Grace and Clinton Streets, Euclid Avenue and Bathurst Street.
Instead, eastbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Dundas Street West at Lansdowne, Brock and Sheridan Avenues, Dufferin Street, Gladstone Avenue, Lisgar Street, Dovercourt Road, Ossington Avenue, Shaw and Grace Streets, Bellwoods and Euclid Avenues and Bathurst Street and
- on Bathurst Street at Nassau and College Streets.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Lansdowne Avenue and Bathurst Street. Eastbound streetcar passengers may transfer to eastbound buses at Dundas Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.
Westbound cars reverse the eastbound detour routing.
Westbound cars skip their regular stops
- on College Street at Euclid Avenue, Clinton, Grace and Crawford Street, Ossington Avenue, Dovercourt Road, Havelock and Dufferin Streets and Brock and Lansdowne Avenues.
Instead, westbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Bathurst Street across from Nassau Street and at Dundas Street West,
- on Dundas Street West at Euclid Avenue, Grace and Crawford Streets, Ossington Avenue, Dovercourt and Rusholme Roads, Gladstone Avenue, Dufferin Street and Sheridan, Brock and Lansdowne Avenues.
Shuttle buses replace the cars between Bathurst Street and Lansdowne Avenue. Westbound streetcar passengers may transfer to westbound buses at stops between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street.
306 / 506 Carlton shuttle buses
Buses replace streetcars operating along the 306 Carlton overnight and 506 Carlton routes during grinding.
(The TTC has not confirmed the exact routing for shuttle buses. This post describes how it operated shuttle buses between Lansdowne and Spadina Avenues during previous construction projects or special events.)
Eastbound buses likely start their trips on Lansdowne Avenue south of College Street, then proceed:
northward along Lansdowne;
eastward along College;
northward along Spadina Avenue and Spadina Crescent;
looping around Spadina Crescent, then continuing
southward along Spadina Avenue to College,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Lansdowne Avenue south of College Street,
- on College Street at Brock Avenue, Dufferin Street, Rusholme Park Crescent, Dovercourt Road, Ossington Avenue, Crawford, Grace and Clinton Streets, Euclid Avenue, Bathurst and Borden Streets and Augusta and Spadina Avenues and
- on Spadina Avenue [soutbound] at College Street.
Eastbound bus passengers may transfer to eastbound streetcars at stops on College Street between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue.
Westbound buses likely start their trips on Spadina Avenue, just north of College Street, then proceed:
southward along Spadina;
westward along College;
eastward along Dundas Street West; and then
northward along Lansdowne Avenue to College,
ending their trips.Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Spadina Avenue at College Street,
- on College Street Major Street, across from Borden Street and at Bathurst Street, Euclid Avenue, Clinton, Grace and Crawford Street, Ossington Avenue, Dovercourt Road, Havelock and Dufferin Streets and Brock and Lansdowne Avenues.
Westbound bus passengers may transfer to westbound streetcars at Lansdowne Avenue and College Street.