TTC replacing Line 3 trains with buses on Wednesday ahead of snowstorm
Posted February 1, 2022 5:55 pm.
Last Updated February 1, 2022 5:56 pm.
The Toronto Transit Commission has announced it will be replacing Line 3 Scarborough RT trains with buses on Wednesday ahead of a two-day snowstorm.
“We’re not taking any chances … we just don’t want to be caught out, so we’re shutting it down and we’re reopening it when we can,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told CityNews Tuesday afternoon.
“It means we’re not scrambling last minute … we (would) have to find buses to put out there and it becomes a bit of a problem.”
Green went on to say anti-icing and storm trains will be in full operation throughout the course of the system on the parts of the subway system that run above ground.
According to the most recent Environment Canada winter weather travel advisory, Toronto could see up to 20 centimetres between Wednesday and early Friday.
RELATED: More snow on the way, up to 20 centimetres expected by Friday
The forecast called for showers Tuesday night with a mix of snow into Wednesday morning before switching to snow later in the day.
Meanwhile, more than two weeks after more than 50 centimetres of snow fell in the span of 15 hours, City of Toronto staff were still removing snow from roads.
Municipal officials insisted crews would be ready for this upcoming snowfall, but warned of potential issues
“Every effort will be made to plow snow to the curb, but based on the amount of snow and limited right of way storage capacity certain curb lanes may be impacted,” a City of Toronto statement issued Tuesday afternoon said.
“The City will be working to ensure there is always an active lane and that sidewalks are not obstructed [by] plowed snow from the roads.”
City of Toronto guidelines for clearing snow from roads, TTC routes and bike lanes
The City of Toronto, at full strength, has approximately 600 street snow plows, 300 sidewalk plows and 200 salt trucks for use as part of its $90-million annual winter maintenance program.
Typically before snowfall begins, guidelines call for trucks to apply liquid salt brine to the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley Parkway and Allen Road as well as certain bridges and hills in an effort to address icing. As soon as the snow begins to stick to roads, salters are dispatched to the expressways, arterial/major roads and streetcar routes, and major collector roads with bus routes and local streets with hills. All other local streets also are slated to get the same treatment.
When it comes to snow plowing, the Gardiner Expressway, the Don Valley Parkway and Allen Road are the first for it. Guidelines state as soon as 2.5 centimetres (or about the size of a quarter across) of snow is accumulated on those roads then plowing is to occur. City staff estimate it takes two to three hours after snow stops falling to fully clear the road.
As soon as five centimetres of snow accumulates on major arterial and collector roads, streetcar and bus routes, bike lanes and certain streets with hills that’s when plowing begins. It’s estimated it takes six to eight hours after snow stops falling to fully clear each of the roads.
Plows typically do not enter all of the other local neighbourhood roads until eight centimetres of snow has accumulated and then each of those roads won’t be fully cleared until around 14 to 16 hours after snowfall stops.
The line will remain as bus replacement until the weather clears and permits trains to run.
— TTC Media Relations ???????????????? (@TTCNewsroom) February 1, 2022
Meteorologist @citynatasha breaks down the upcoming 2-day winter storm. She says, "The additional snowfall on Thursday may need to be adjusted…I want to look at this evening's models. Safe to say, commuting is not going to be fun starting late Wednesday" pic.twitter.com/vEdUU0KsUd
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNewsTO) February 1, 2022
