Connecting Toronto

TTC Line 1 extension nears completion

Earlier this week, I took TTC Chair Josh Colle on a tour of three of the new Line 1 subway extension stations that will open in December this year.

All three stations — Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Highway 407 and Pioneer Village — are at or near completion, as are the other three at Downsview Park, Finch West and York University. Together, they represent the most significant extension to the subway in more than a decade, and the first time that the subway has crossed city of Toronto boundaries.

This extension is state-of-the-art. Each station is fully Wi-Fi-equipped (as are all other TTC stations as of this year) and they will each feature PRESTO and new fare gates from opening day. Train service will be controlled by the new signalling system that we are progressively rolling out on Line 1 Yonge-University (with Line 2 Bloor-Danforth to follow) and the entire extension is fully accessible.

With around 120 days to go before opening day, much remains to be done. Literally hundreds of thousands of pieces of equipment and systems must be tested then commissioned before we move into an intensive phase of trial operations to test readiness and to familiarize TTC staff with the new facilities.

I will keep you posted as we continue the countdown to a real milestone in TTC history.

Line 2 Bloor-Danforth

This weekend, Aug. 19-20, Line 2 Bloor-Danforth will be closed between Kipling and Islington stations only for track maintenance. Shuttle buses will operate between the two stations.

The 192 Airport rocket will have increased service and operate from both Islington and Kipling stations.

Wheel-trans buses will run between the affected stations upon request. Just speak with any TTC staff to request the service. Regular service resumes Monday at 6 a.m.

Weekend events

Wheels on the Danforth – Aug. 18-19

Start your engines! The 8th annual Wheels on the Danforth festival starts this Fri., Aug. 18. The action is just a short walk along Victoria Park Ave. from Victoria Park Station on Line 2. During this event, the 113 Danforth and 20 Cliffside routes will divert via Victoria Park Ave., Gerrard St. E., Clonmore Dr. and Warden Ave.

Taste of Manila – Aug. 19-20

Join the festivities at the GTA’s only Filipino street festival this weekend. In its third year, the event will close a portion of Bathurst St., requiring the 7 Bathurst bus to divert via Wilson Ave., Faywood Blvd. and Laurelcrest Ave. Customers wishing to attend the event can exit the bus at Bathurst St. and Wilson Ave.

Customers can also connect to this event by taking the 160 Bathurst North, which will run from Wilson Station on Line 1 and divert via Faywood Blvd. and Laurelcrest Ave. Customers wishing to attend the event can exit the bus at Bathurst St. and Laurelcrest Ave.

As a vibrant, global city, Toronto is alive with numerous events, celebrations and festivals that impact some service for TTC customers. Up-to-date route changes and information is available at the Service Advisories page or by following @TTCnotices on Twitter.

Tues., Aug. 15 marked 125 years since the first electric streetcars ran in Toronto. The very first electric streetcar rode through Toronto on Aug. 15, 1892 along Church St. The wooden car was on track to replace horse-drawn vehicles, a long-time hallmark of Toronto transportation at the time. The iconic electric streetcars as we know them today have been cruising through the streets of Toronto for the past 90 years. After the TTC was established in 1921, streetcars became a staple of Toronto transit. Since then, four streetcar series have served millions of customers around the city. New accessible low-floor streetcars will continue to roll out across the TTC’s 11 streetcar lines over the next few years.

Last weekend, Line 1 was closed between Sheppard West (formerly Downsview) and St George stations so TTC crews could continue installing and testing the new Automatic Train Control signal system. The following work was completed:

• 19,000 feet of cable installed
• ATC system tested in multiple controlled scenarios
• Conduit fitted at Clanton park for the CCTV system

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience as we complete work that will make the TTC more modern, efficient and safer.

For more information on subway closures and surface diversions, visit the Service Advisories page.

Name: Vincent Balfour
Position: Overhead Linesman
Years of service: 5

I’m an overhead linesman at the TTC, which means I install and maintain the overhead contact system for the streetcars. The variety in my work is great. I never know what I’m going to be doing that shift. The trucks we use to do overhead work are very unique. In fact, there’s not many like this in North America. The TTC is a great employer. Safety comes first for us, and that’s extremely important. There’s a great sense of pride in getting to do challenging work for your shift and then go home safe at the end of the day.