The TTC is closing part of its Line 1 Yonge - University subway between Lawrence and St Clair Stations all day Saturday, December 9 and Sunday, December 10. Line 1 trains operate only between Finch and Lawrence stations and between St Clair and Sheppard West stations this weekend.

Frequent shuttle buses replace the trains, operating from the bus terminals at Lawrence and St Clair Stations and stopping on Yonge Street near all other stations on the closed part of the line.

While the subway is closed, TTC crews work to replace track and switches just south of Eglinton Station. By completing this work and some other necessary repairs, the TTC can lift the current speed restriction in the area that has slowed trains for the last several weeks by the end of December.

Lawrence Station does not have an elevator. Instead, passengers requiring accessible service can board TTC Wheel-Trans vehicles between York Mills and St Clair stations. If you’re travelling southbound on Line 1 and you require an elevator should exit the train at York Mills Station and ask any TTC staff member for Wheel-Trans service.

To provide a faster trip for TTC passengers and keep traffic flowing, the City of Toronto is restricting on-street parking from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday on:

• both sides of Yonge Street between Lawrence and St. Clair Avenues;
• both sides of Pleasant Boulevard between Avoca Avenue and Yonge Street; and
• both sides of St. Edmunds Drive between Lawrence Avenue East and Yonge Street.

Shuttle-bus alternatives

Plan your trips on the subway ahead of time this Saturday and Sunday to avoid stress and crowds. Leave extra time in your schedule and expect longer traveling times those days.

While shuttle buses operate frequently, they will be crowded.

Regular TTC buses and streetcars provide less frequent, less direct, but, perhaps, less stressful alternatives. Consider travelling along the University branch, instead of the Yonge branch, to and from downtown Toronto and avoid the shuttle buses entirely this weekend.

Ride buses or streetcars on routes serving streets north or south of the closure to reach stations on the University branch:

• Ride buses operating along the 84 Sheppard West and 196 York University rocket routes and board the subway at Sheppard West Station, instead of Sheppard - Yonge Station.
• Ride buses operating along the 96 Wilson or 165 Weston Rd North routes and board the subway at Wilson Station, instead of York Mills Station.
• Ride buses operating along the 52 Lawrence West route and board the subway at Lawrence West Station, instead of Lawrence Station.
• Ride buses operating along the 32 Eglinton West route and board the subway at Eglinton West Station, instead of Eglinton Station.
• Ride streetcars operating along the 512 St. Clair route and board the subway at St. Clair West Station, instead of St. Clair Station.
• Ride trains operating along the 2 Bloor - Danforth subway line and board the 1 Yonge - University line at St. George Station, instead of Yonge Station.
• Ride streetcars operating along the 506 Carlton route and board the subway at Queen’s Park Station, instead of College Station.
• Ride streetcars operating along the 505 Dundas route and board the subway at St. Patrick Station, instead of Dundas Station.
• Ride streetcars operating along the 501 Queen route and board the subway at Osgoode Station, instead of Queen Station.
• Ride streetcars operating along the 504 King and 514 Cherry routes and board the subway at St. Andrew Station, instead of King Station.

According to the TTC, “Maintaining subway infrastructure in a state-of-good-repair is critical to ensuring a safe, reliable transit system. While the TTC does much of its maintenance work on the subway at the conclusion of service each night, it will continue to require weekend closures to complete improvements to infrastructure and signals, such as automatic train control. One weekend of work during a subway closure equals about five weeks of nightly work.”

In this video, the TTC’s chief executive officer, Andy Byford and executive director of corporate communications, Brad Ross, further explain why the TTC closes parts of its subway network weekends:

The TTC previously closed this section of Line 1 for trackwork projects earlier this fall:

• Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29;
• Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12; and
• Saturday November 25 and Sunday, November 26.

This is the last time that the TTC is closing this section of the line — and, in fact, any of its lines — this year.

Not to worry, though, for those who enjoy the pleasure of subway closures, the TTC is shutting parts of its network down during 43 weekends in 2018!