Commission Endorses Transit City Bus Plan

Commissioners voted in favour of major improvements to TTC bus service over the next five years. In partnership with the City of Toronto’s Transportation Service, the TTC’s Transit City Bus Plan (TCBP) calls for:

  • Bus service every 10 minutes or better on 21 Transit City Bus Network routes, during the day and evening, daily, starting in the fall of 2010.
  • New or enhanced express bus service on 15 Transit City Bus Network routes, starting in the fall of 2014.
  • New or enhanced express bus service on three future Transit City LRT corridors, starting in the fall of 2011.
  • 20-minutes-or-better service on all other TTC bus routes during the day and evening, daily, starting fall 2011 and fall 2012.

The new plan also proposes additional on-street route supervisors, transit signal priority at 1,150 intersections, 10 new queue jump lanes at some of the city’s busiest intersections, and 75 more bus shelters at locations specified by TTC.

When fully implemented, the TCBP will attract an additional 7.5 million customer-trips annually. The cost of the network is estimated at $77 million to build and $39 million (net) annually to operate. The TTC will be conducting public information meetings about the plan.

Union LRT Station Expansion Gets Go-Ahead

Commissioners approved the award of a contract worth $11 million for the preliminary design and engineering support to expand the streetcar loop at Union LRT Station. The underground loop is an essential piece of infrastructure to service future waterfront development, which includes new light rapid transit lines in the East Bayfront and West Donlands areas. The expansion plan would involve widening the existing station and constructing new platforms on the east and west sides of the existing LRT tracks.

The Union LRT Station is served by 509 Harbourfront and 510 Spadina cars.

Union Second Platform Construction To Begin 2010

Commissioners approved the final finishes for the Union Station New Platform project. The $137.5 million project will add a new subway platform to the south of the existing centre platform and reconfigure the concourse level to improve the flow of commuters and accommodate future passenger volumes.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2010 and end by 2014. Funding for the project is provided by Waterfront Toronto.

Environmental Study For Scarborough Malvern LRT Approved

Commissioners approved the environmental assessment study for the Scarborough Malvern LRT project. The study recommends the preferred alignment for the 13-km run from Kennedy Station on the Bloor-Danforth Subway to Sheppard/Morningside Avenues. The report will be sent to Toronto City Council and then to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for approval.

The Scarborough Malvern LRT is designed to provide service in the Eglinton Avenue/Kingston Road/Morningside Avenue corridor in northeast Toronto. No funding for this project is committed by the provincial or federal governments.

Pape Station Modernization Contract Awarded

Commissioners received a notice of an award for a contract worth $19.7 million to modernize Pape subway station. Pape will see an upgrade to its station finishes, lighting, signage, easier access, second exit features and street presence. The program will also have a public art component. Station Modernization is a design and construction program to rejuvenate subway stations, many of which are more than 40 years old and showing wear in their original wall, floor and ceiling finishes.