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College Street track-replacement project: TTC detours, starting September 4



Update — Sunday, January 8, 2022, 11:18 a.m.*: Starting Sunday, January 8, 2023 construction ends and streetcars resume regular service along College Street.


Update — Sunday, December 18, 4:44 p.m.: Starting Monday, December 19, the TTC is revising the path for the shuttle buses that replace regular streetcar service.


Update — Wednesday, November 3, 11:41 a.m.Wednesday, November 3, construction at Carlton and Church Street ends and streetcars resume regular service through the intersection. Construction on College continues. The TTC is revising the route for buses.


Update — Monday, October 13, 5:58 p.m.Starting Thursday, October 13, the TTC is revising the path for the buses. The TTC says, “This diversion plan creates a replacement service that will more reliabily and effectively allow [passengers] to complete their journeys to and from destinations near College and Carlton Streets in a more structured way.”


Update — Monday, September 19, 2:40 p.m.Starting Tuesday, September 20, the TTC expands the work zone to include most traffic lanes on College between Bathurst Street and Spadina. The TTC is revising the path for the shuttle buses to accommodate the larger work zone.


Update — Sunday, September 11, 3:21 p.m. — Starting Monday, September 12, the City closes College Street between Beverley Street / St. George Street and Spadina Avenue to all traffic. Also, the TTC revises the path for shuttle buses to eliminate the walking transfer along Parliament Street between Carlton Street and Gerrard Street East for passengers transferring between buses and streetcars.


During September, the City of Toronto and the TTC start a project to upgrade infrastructure

  • on College Street between Manning Avenue and Bay Street.

These upgrades include:

  • replacing streetcar tracks between Bathurst and Bay Streets (excluding the intersections with Bathurst Street, Spadina Avenue, McCaul Street and Bay Street);
  • installing separated cycle tracks between Manning Avenue and Bay Street (elevated between Manning and Spadina avenues and at grade between Spadina and Bay);
  • building integrated TTC and cycle streetcar platforms between Manning and Spadina; and
  • improving pedestrian safety at various locations between Manning and Spadina.

2022 - 09-19 - College track construction.jpeg

To accommodate the construction, the TTC is detouring streetcars and buses along these routes, starting Sunday, September 4:

  • 306 Carlton overnight; and
  • 506 Carlton.

Shuttle buses replace streetcars along route 506 between Parliament Street and Ossington Avenue. The TTC continues to detour buses and streetcars around ongoing construction at the intersection of Carlton Street with Church Street.

2022 - 09-12 - 306-506 detours.jpg

^ Map of streetcar detour and shuttle-bus route starting 5 a.m. Monday, September 12.


The TTC plan to replace the tracks on College between Bathurst and Bay provided the City an opportunity to rethink the roadway design and change it to improve safety for all road users. The safety improvements will include upgrading the bike lanes on College Street with physically separated cycle tracks, integrated TTC and cycle streetcar platforms, curb extensions at specific intersecting streets, and raised intersections at certain locations. The City will also increase the number of bicycle parking spaces and improve conditions will be for street trees to promote better growth.

City Council authorized the College Street Upgrades as part of the “Cycling Network Plan: 2022 Cycling Infrastructure Installation - First Quarter” during its April 7, 2022 meeting.


Work phases

  1. Start at Spadina Avenue, working eastward toward St. George Street: September 12 until October.
  2. Start at Spadina Avenue, working westward toward Augusta Avenue: September 27 until October.
  3. Start at Augusta Avenue, working westward toward Bathurst Street: Dates to be confirmed.
  4. Bathurst Street to Manning Avenue (work direction to be confirmed): October until December (cycle track work only).
  5. Start at University Avenue, working westward toward Beverley Street / St. George Street: October until early November.
  6. Start at Bay Street, working westward toward University Avenue: November until December.

Streetcar-track replacement
  • Crews will replace the aging streetcar tracks between Bathurst and Bay Streets, except at the intersections with Bathurst Street, Spadina Avenue, McCaul Street and Bay Street.
  • They’ll remove old concrete and rails, pour new concrete, install new rails and, then, restore the roadway.
  • The TTC says, “Track replacement will ensure reliable service on the busy 506 Carlton streetcar route, which currently transports approximately 26,000 people per day.”
  • The City says, “Completing this work in 2022 will allow the City and TTC to better co-ordinate a series of [other] projects in the area,including on Adelaide Street, King Street West and Bloor Street West.
Separated cycle tracks
  • Crews will upgrade the painted bike lanes on College Street between Manning Avenue and Bay Street to separated cycle tracks to improve safety. The cycle tracks will be elevated between Manning and Spadina avenues and at-grade (with cast in curbs) between Spadina and Bay.
  • Between Manning and Spadina Avenues, they will install cycle track in the parking lay-by areas, which will result in a modest loss to street parking. However, the City will retain 81 percent of street parking beside to the bike lanes during off-peak traffic hours (meaning: not rush hours).

College Street - bikeway.jpg

Streetcar-platform upgrades
  • Crews will build integrated cycle and streetcar platforms between Manning and Spadina avenues.
  • The platforms will have space for cyclists and for people waiting to board a streetcar. Transit users wait behind the yellow tactile and only cross the cycle track to board or exit a transit vehicle.
  • Cyclists must yield to people boarding and exiting boarding the streetcars.
  • The new platforms are 30 metres long. This will make sure transit stops meet current standards and are accessible.
  • The centre “island” streetcar stops at Bathurst Street and at Spadina Avenue will remain the same.

College Street - transit platforms.jpg

Pedestrian safety improvements

Curb Extensions

Crews will extend the curbs at these intersections:

  • Lippincott Street;
  • Manning Avenue (northeast and northwest corners);
  • Euclid Avenue (southwest corner);
  • Augusta Avenue;
  • Palmerston Avenue (northeast corner); and
  • Markham Street (northeast corner).

The extensions:

  • reduce crossing distances for pedestrians and improve sight lines;
  • reduce the speeds of turning vehicles;
  • provide more public space for pedestrians;
  • improve accessibility and user experience for all pedestrians; and
  • provide more space for new trees, plantings or street furniture such as trash cans and bicycle racks.

College Street - curb extensions.jpg

Raised crossings

Crews will raise the crossings at these intersections:

  • Brunswick Avenue;
  • Bellevue Avenue;
  • Major Street; and
  • Robert Street.

The crossings:

  • create safer crossing conditions at minor intersections;
  • help slow traffic and encourage motorists to yield to pedestrians; and
  • improve the visibility of pedestrians.

College Street - raised pedestrian crossings.jpg

Other improvements

  • more accessibilty. All intersections between Manning and Bay will meet accessibility standards after crews install tactile warning indicators;
  • more bike parking; and
  • better growing conditions for trees after crews expand tree pits.

506 Carlton

Starting Sunday, September 4, westbound cars operate along their regular route to Gerrard Street East and Parliament Street, then detour:

southward along Parliament;
westward along Dundas streets east and west; and then
northward along Ossington Avenue to College Street,
resuming their regular route westward along College.

Westbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops

  • on Parliament Street at Carlton Street,
  • on Carlton Street at Ontario, Sherbourne, Jarvis, Church and Yonge streets,
  • on College Street at Bay Street and University Avenue, across from McCaul Street and at St. George Street, Spadina Avenue, Major, Borden and Bathurst streets, Euclid Avenue, Grace and Crawford streets and Ossington Avenue.

Instead, westbound cars serve passengers at temporary stops

  • on Parliament Street across from Oak Street and at Dundas Street East,
  • on Dundas Street East at Ontario, Sherbourne, Jarvis, Church and Yonge streets,
  • on Dundas Street West at Bay and Chestnut streets, University Avenue, McCaul and Beverley streets, Spadina and Denison avenues, Bathurst Street, Manning Avenue, Grace and Shaw streets and Ossington Avenue and
  • on Ossington Avenue across from Churchill Avenue and College Street.

Shuttle buses replace the cars between Ossington Avenue and Parliament Street. Westbound streetcar passengers may transfer to westbound buses by exiting the cars on Gerrard Street East at Parliament Street and walking northward along Parliament to the northwest corner of Parliament and Carlton.

(Updated — Sunday, September 11, 3:21 p.m.) Starting 5 a.m. Monday, September 12, the TTC revises the path for shuttle buses to eliminate the need for a walking transfer on Parliament Street between Gerrard Street East and Carlton Street. Westbound streetcar passengers may transfer to westbound buses on Gerrard East at Parliament.

The TTC is temporarily cancelling transit service to these westbound route 506 stops:

  • on Parliament Street at Carlton Street,
  • on Carlton Street at Jarvis, Church and Yonge streets,
  • on College Street at Spadina Avenue, Major, Borden and Bathurst streets.

Eastbound cars reverse the eastbound detour routing.

Eastbound cars no longer drop off or pick up passengers at their regular stops

  • on College Street at Crawford and Grace streets, Manning Avenue, Bathurst Street, across from Borden Street and at Augusta and Spadina Avenues, St. George and McCaul streets, University Avenue and Elizabeth, Bay and Yonge streets,
  • on Carlton Street at Church, Jarvis, Sherbourne, Ontario and Parliament streets and
  • on Parliament Street at Gerrard Street East.

Instead, eastbound cars serve passengers at temporary stops

  • on Ossington Avenue at Churchill Avenue and Dundas Street West,
  • on Dundas Street West at Shaw Street, across from Grace Street and at Manning Avenue, Bathurst Street, at Denison and Spadina avenues, Huron, Beverley and McCaul Streets, University Avenue and Chestnut, Bay and Yonge streets,
  • on Dundas Street East at Church, Jarvis, Sherbourne, Ontario and Parliament streets and
  • on Parliament Street at Oak Street and Gerrard Street East.

Shuttle buses replace the cars between Ossington Avenue and Parliament Street. Eastbound streetcar passengers may transfer to eastbound buses on College Street at Ossington.

The TTC is temporarily cancelling transit service to these eastbound route 506 stops:

  • on College Street across from Borden Street and at Augusta and Spadina Avenues and St. George Street;
  • on Carlton Street at Church and Jarvis Streets and
  • on Parliament Street at Gerrard Street East.

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506 Carlton shuttle buses

Starting Sunday, September 4, shuttle buses replace streetcars along the 506 Carlton route between Parliament Street and Ossington Avenue.

Westbound buses start their trips in Castle Frank Station bus terminal, then proceed:

westward along Bloor Street West;
southward along Parliament Street;
westward along Carlton Street;
northward along Jarvis Street;
westward along Wellesley Street East;
southward along Yonge Street;
westward along College Street;
northward along St. George Street;
westward along Harbord Street;
southward along Bathurst Street;
westward along College;
northward along Ossington Avenue; and then
westward into Ossington Station bus terminal,
ending their trips.

Westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • in Castle Frank Station bus terminal,
  • on Parliament Street beyond Howard Street, St. James Avenue and Wellesley Street East and at Winchester and Carlton Streets,
  • on Carlton Street at Ontario, Sherbourne and Jarvis Streets,
  • on Wellesley Street East at Church and Yonge streets and
  • on Yonge Street at Grosvenor and College streets.
  • on College Street at Bay and Elizabeth streets and Queen’s Park, across from McCaul Street and at St. George Streets,
  • on Harbord Street at Spadina and Brunswick avenues,
  • on Bathurst Street at Ulster and College streets,
  • on College Street at Euclid Avenue, Grace and Crawford streets and Ossington Avenue,
  • on Ossington Avenue at Dewson and Harbord streets and across from Hepbourne Street and
  • in Ossington Station bus terminal.

Westbound bus passengers may transfer to westbound streetcars on College Street at Ossington Avenue.

Eastbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.

Eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops

  • in Ossington Station bus terminal,
  • on Ossington Avenue at Hepbourne Street, across from Harbord Street and beyond Dewson Street,
  • on College Street at Crawford and Grace streets and Euclid Avenue,
  • on Bathurst Street at Ulster and Harbord streets,
  • on Harbord Street at Brunswick and Spadina avenues and St. George Street,
  • on College Street at McCaul Street, University Avenue and Elizabeth and Bay streets,
  • on Yonge Street at Alexander Street and Wellesley Street East,
  • on Wellesley Street East at Church and Jarvis streets,
  • on Carlton Street at Sherbourne, Ontario and Parliament streets,
  • on Parliament Street at Winchester Street, beyond Wellesley Street East, across from St. James Avenue and at Bloor Street East and
  • in Castle Frank Station bus terminal.

Eastbound bus passengers may transfer to eastbound streetcars by exiting the buses at Carlton and Parliament streets, then walking southward to the southeast corner of Parliament and Gerrard Street East.


(Updated — Monday, September 11, 3:21 p.m.) Starting 5 a.m. Wednesday, September 11, the TTC revises the path to eliminate the walking transfer along Parliament Street between Carlton Street and Gerrard Street East.

Westbound buses operate along their regular route to Parliament and Carlton Streets, then detour:

southward along Parliament;
westward along Gerrard Street East; and then
northward along Sherbourne Street to Carlton,
resuming their regular route westward along Carlton.

Westbound buses skip their regular stops

  • on Carlton Street at Ontario and Sherbourne streets.

Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Parliament Street at Gerrard Street East and
  • on Sherbourne Street at Carlton Street.

Eastbound buses reverse the westbound routing.

Eastbound buses skip their regular stops

  • on Carlton Street at Ontario and Parliament streets.

Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Parliament Street beyond Gerrard Street East and at Carlton Street.

Eastbound bus passengers may transfer to eastbound streetcars on Parliament Street beyond Gerrard Street East.

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306 Carlton overnight

Starting Sunday, September 4, westbound buses operate along their regular route to Carlton and Jarvis Streets, then detour:

northward along Jarvis;
westward along Wellesley Street East; and then
southward along Yonge Street to Carlton Street / College Street,
resuming their regular route westward along College.

The buses continue along their usual route to College and Beverley Street / St George Street, then detour:

northward along St. George;
westward along Harbord Street; and then
southward along Bathurst Street to College,
resuming their regular route westward along College.

Westbound buses skip their regular stops

  • on Carlton Street at Church and Yonge Streets,
  • on College Street at Spadina Avenue and Major, Borden and Bathurst streets.

Instead, westbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Wellesley Street East at Church and Yonge streets,
  • on Yonge Street at Grosvenor and College streets,
  • on Harbord Street at Spadina and Brunswick avenues and
  • on Bathurst Street at Ulster and College streets.

Eastbound buses reverse the westbound detour routing.

Eastbound buses skip their regular stops

  • on College Street across from Borden Street, at Augusta and Spadina avenues and at Beverley Street and
  • on Carlton Street at Church and Jarvis streets.

Instead, eastbound buses drop off or pick up passengers at temporary stops

  • on Bathurst Street at Ulster and Harbord streets,
  • on Harbord Street at Brunswick and Spadina avenues and St. George Street,
  • on Yonge Street at Alexander Street and Wellesley Street East and
  • on Wellesley Street East at Church and Jarvis streets.
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