TTC track crews are replacing worn rails at the east- and westbound streetcar stops on Queen Street West at Bay Street this weekend.
From 8 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, the TTC is also detouring streetcars operating along these routes to accommodate the work:
Shuttle buses replace the cars eastbound between Spadina Avenue and Church Street and westbound between Church and York Streets.
To decrease disrupting traffic and nearby residents during projects to repair or replace streetcar tracks, the TTC recently bought a concrete milling machine. The machine speeds the work, reduces the amount of digging by backhoes and reduces noise levels. However, effectively installing the new rail still requires overnight work, including concrete chipping.
At about 7 p.m. Thursday, March 30, the crew starts welding new rail to install at both streetcar stops in the curb lane east of Bay Street. They’re storing the new rail nearby so that it won’t interfere with pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Starting 8 p.m. Friday, March 31, the TTC starts detouring the cars. Crews occupy the track area on Queen West, restricting traffic to the curb lanes through the work zone. That evening, they’ll use the milling machine to remove the majority of the concrete in the track area of the streetcar stops. Afterward, they’ll chip the concrete to completely expose the rails and continue to work into Saturday morning.
Saturday, April 1, the crew replaces the old rail with the new rail. This process requires them to cut, weld and grind rail.
Sunday, April 2, the crew places concrete in the track area and set it to cure until about 5 a.m. Monday, April 3 before they can remove the work zone and full road and streetcar service can resume.
The City of Toronto is prohibiting turns and parking to create a safe work zone for the crew.
The TTC continues this project next weekend, from Friday, April 7 until Monday, April 10.
501 Queen
301 Queen overnight
From 8 p.m. Friday, March 31 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 3, eastbound streetcars operate along their regular route to Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, then detour:
southward along Spadina;
eastward along King Streets East and West; and then
northward along Church Street to Queen East,
resuming their regular route eastward along Queen.Eastbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street West at Peter and John Streets, University Avenue and York, Bay and Yonge Streets and
- on Queen Street East at Victoria and Church Streets.
Instead, eastbound cars drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops
- on Spadina Avenue south of Queen Street West and at King Street West,
- on King Street West at Blue Jays Way and John Street, University Avenue and Bay and Yonge Streets,
- on King Street East at Church Street and
- on Church Street north of Lombard Street and at Queen Street East.
Shuttle buses replace the cars, operating between Bathurst and Jarvis Streets. Eastbound streetcar passengers can transfer to eastbound buses at stops on Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue.
Westbound cars operate along their regular route to Queen Street East and Church Street, then detour:
southward along Church;
eastward along King Streets East and West; and then
northward along York Street to Queen West,
resuming their regular route westward along Queen.Westbound cars skip their regular stops
- on Queen Street East at Victoria and Yonge Streets and
- on Queen Street West at Bay Street and across from York Street.
Shuttle buses replace the cars, operating between Jarvis and Bathurst Streets. Westbound streetcar passengers may transfer to westbound buses on Queen Street East at Jarvis and Church Streets.
301 / 501 Queen shuttle bus
From 8 p.m. Friday, March 31 until 5 a.m. Monday, April 3, buses replace streetcars operating along the 301 Queen overnight and 501 Queen routes — eastbound between Spadina Avenue and Church Street and westbound between Church and York Streets.
(The TTC has not announced how the buses loop at each end of their routes. At the west end, however, they likely proceed northward turn around in Wolseley Loop, one block north of Queen Street West on the east side of Bathurst Street.)
Eastbound buses likely start their trips in Wolsley Loop, then proceed:
southward along Bathurst Street; and then
eastward along Queen Streets West and East to Jarvis Street,
ending their trips.Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Queen Street West at Augusta and Spadina Avenues, Peter and John Streets, University Avenue and York, Bay and Yonge Streets and
- on Queen Street East at Victoria, Church and Jarvis Streets.
Eastbound bus passengers may transfer to eastbound streetcars at stops on Queen Street East at Church and Jarvis Streets.
Westbound buses start their trips on Queen Street East at Jarvis Street, then proceed:
westward along Queen Streets East and West;
northward along Bathurst Street; and then
eastward into Wolseley Loop,
ending their trips.Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops
- on Queen Street East at Jarvis, Church, Victoria and Yonge Streets and
- on Queen Street West at Bay Street, across from York Street, at University Avenue, west of Simcoe Street, at John and Soho Streets, Spadina and Augusta Avenues and Bathurst Street.
Westbound bus passengers may transfer to westbound streetcars at stops on Queen Street West between York and Bathurst Streets.
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