Update: Friday, March 3, 3:05 p.m.: According to a TTC news release,
“The TTC is cancelling the planned weekend subway closure and is adding extra bus service to key routes across the city as a winter storm is forecast to arrive in Toronto tonight.
“Regular weekend subway service will run on Line 1 and approximately 50 additional buses will be called into action tonight and into Saturday. This will ensure a good level of service is maintained during the storm and its aftermath. Torontonians needing to travel during the storm are encouraged to use transit to reach their destination safely and reliably.
“The TTC is prioritizing the extra buses on 11 routes and corridors that see higher ridership on weekends. The corridors offer essential connections to shopping and medical facilities and are primarily located in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, where public transit is the sole means of transportation for many people.
“Corridors and routes that are being prioritized are primarily in Scarborough, the west end of Toronto and North York. Corridors include Jane St., Finch Ave. W, Dufferin St., Lawrence Ave. east and west, and Markham Road among others.”
The TTC is closing Line 1 Yonge - University subway between York Mills and Bloor stations Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5. Line 1 trains operate only between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Bloor stations and between Finch and York Mills stations those days.
Shuttle buses partially replace subway service. The buses drop off or pick up passengers at stops near each station on the closed section of the line. TTC staff are available in each to station to direct you to the shuttle-bus boarding and offloading locations.
(Or, consider a shuttle-bus alternative.)
Summerhill Station is closed. All stations on the closed section of Line 1 remain open so you can buy or pay for fares or connect to other TTC buses and streetcars or GO Transit buses.
At Lawrence Station, the TTC is closing the automatic entrances / exits at Ranleigh and Bedford Park avenues this weekend. All other entrances and exits at the station will be available.
If you require Wheel-Trans service, speak with any TTC customer service staff member for directions or help.
While this section of Line 1 is closed, TTC crews are installing the Automatic Train Control (ATC) signal system.
The TTC says that “Portions of the previous signalling system dated back to the 1950s when the subway first opened. The implementation of ATC represents an important step forward in modernizing Canada’s busiest subway system and is essential to providing the best service possible for our [passengers].”
According to a TTC news release, “While the TTC does most subway maintenance at the conclusion of service each night, it continues to require weekend and early weeknight closures to complete critical infrastructure and state of good repair work as well as ATC signal upgrades.”
This is the first time this year that the TTC is closing part of its subway system during an entire weekend.
The TTC is closing this part of Line 1 at least three more times during March:
- Monday, March 13 until Thursday, March 16 — Lawrence to St Clair — close early — Metrolinx construction of the Eglinton - Crosstown light rail transit line — the TTC’s future Line 5 Eglinton.
- Monday, March 20 until Thursday, March 23 — Lawrence to St Clair — close early — Metrolinx construction of the Eglinton - Crosstown light rail transit line.
- Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26 — York Mills to Bloor — track work.
#####Shuttle buses
(We’ve based this part of the post by reviewing previous Transit Toronto posts during previous closures of this section of Line 1. Information available from TransSee during a previous closure is also a source for this information. TransSee is a web application that provides real-time bus tracking and predicts the location of the next vehicles at a stop. Note that information in this part of the post is unofficial — the TTC may operate buses with an alternate service pattern.)
Southbound shuttle buses start their trips on York Mills Road, beside the entrance / exit for York Mills Station, then proceed:
eastward along York Mills; southward along Yonge Street;
southeast- and southward along Church Street; and then
westward along Bloor Street East to Yonge Street,
ending their trips.Northbound passengers start their trips on Bloor Street East east of Yonge Street, then proceed:
northward along Yonge;
northward along Yonge Street;
eastward along Old York Mills Road; and then
westward along York Mills Road to beside the entrance / exit for York Mills Station,
ending their trips.
Shuttle-bus alternatives
Plan your trips on the subway ahead of time this weekend to avoid stress. Leave extra time in your schedule and expect longer travel times.
While shuttle buses operate frequently, they may be crowded.
Regular TTC buses and streetcars provide less frequent, less direct, but, perhaps, less stressful, alternatives. Buses along the 97 Yonge route drop off or pick up passengers at stops on Yonge Street north of Davisville Station.
Or, consider travelling along the University branch, instead of the Yonge branch, to and from downtown Toronto and avoid the shuttle buses entirely. Ride buses or streetcars on routes serving streets north or south of the closure to reach stations on the University branch.
North of the closure area:
- Buses along the 36 Finch West route and board the subway at Finch West Station, instead of Finch Station.
- Buses along the 84 Sheppard West and 984 Sheppard West express routes and board the subway at Sheppard West Station, instead of Sheppard - Yonge Station.
At the closure area:
- Buses along the 96 Wilson or 165 Weston Rd North routes and board the subway at Wilson Station, instead of York Mills Station.
- Buses along the 52 Lawrence West route and board the subway at Lawrence West Station, instead of Lawrence Station.
- Buses along the 32 Eglinton West route and board the subway at Eglinton West Station, instead of Eglinton Station.
- Streetcars along the 512 St Clair route and board the subway at St Clair West Station, instead of St Clair Station.
- Trains along Line 2 Bloor - Danforth and board Line 1 Yonge - University at St George Station, instead of Yonge Station.
South of the closure area:
- Streetcars along the 506 Carlton route and board the subway at Queen’s Park, instead of College Station.
- Streetcars along the 505 Dundas route and board the subway at St Patrick Station, instead of Dundas Station.
- Streetcars along the 501 Queen route and board the subway at Osgoode Station, instead of Queen Station.
- Buses along the 504A / 504B King route and board the subway at St Andrew Station, instead of King Station.
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