TTC making significant service changes to east end routes

Several major infrastructure projects have forced significant changes to TTC bus and streetcar service in the east end of the city.

Starting Sunday, there is no bus or streetcar service on Broadview Avenue as work begins to upgrade streetcar tracks from Danforth Avenue to Gerrard Street East. While vehicular access is restricted to northbound-only traffic, the TTC says the lane is too narrow for buses to operate safely. As a result, the following route changes will be in effect until at least November 2023:

• There will be no 504/304 King or 505 Dundas service at Broadview Station and between Sumach St. and Broadview Station. Customers can take the 72A Pape from Pape Station to King St. E. and Parliament St. to connect to a 504 King Streetcar. The 304 King bus will be extended to Pape Station.
• 72A Pape will be extended to King St. E. and Parliament St. from Pape Station. Service along this route will be increased for frequent travel between King St. and Parliament St. and Pape Station.
• The 100 Flemingdon Park will divert from Broadview Station to Pape Station and continue south to the King and Parliament intersection.
• The 8 Broadview, 62 Mortimer and 87 Cosburn will continue to service the station.
• The 8 Broadview route will also be extended to Warden Station via O’Connor Dr. and St Clair Ave. E., replacing the 70C Coxwell route.

Broadview station remains open and subway service remains unaffected by the construction.

Coxwell streetcar track replacement

Construction that replaced a 112-year-old water main and work to remove aging streetcar tracks at Lower Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Avenue will force the following route changes:

• 22 Coxwell bus service will be temporarily suspended. The 31 Greenwood, which currently operates to/from Coxwell Station, will be extended to Coxwell Ave. and Queen St. Service on the 31 Greenwood will be increased.
• The 322 Coxwell Blue Night bus will temporarily divert via Danforth Ave., Greenwood Ave., and Queen St. E.
• 506C Carlton replacement buses will detour via Greenwood Ave., Danforth Ave., and Coxwell Ave., serving Greenwood and Coxwell stations on the street.
• The 8 Broadview will replace the 70C Coxwell service. Customers travelling to/from St. Clair Ave. E. should transfer to the 8 Broadview at O’Connor Dr. and St. Clair Ave. or board 8 Broadview buses from Broadview Station or Warden Station.
• There will be no service on Coxwell Ave. between Upper Gerrard St. E. and Queen St. E. as well as on Gerrard St. E. between Greenwood Ave. and Coxwell Ave.

The work is expected to be completed in early July.

Main Street station construction

Work is continuing at the bus/streetcar loop at Main Street Station, which has been closed since early May due to infrastructure upgrades. As a result, the following service changes are in effect:

• 20 Cliffside is returning to Victoria Park Station via Victoria Park Ave.
• 23 Dawes has been extended and terminates/turns back using on-street looping via Eastdale Ave.
• 62 Mortimer is extended from Main St. to Victoria Park Station. Customers can use Line 2 or 62 Mortimer between Main Street and Victoria Park stations.
• 506C Carlton replacement buses are operating between Castle Frank Station and Victoria Park Station.

The rehabilitation work is scheduled until September while the TTC notes construction activities may continue until the end of November.

“We know that construction and route diversions can be challenging for our customers,” TTC CEO Rick Leary said in a statement. “Customers can expect to see clear signage at the impacted stations, dedicated TTC staff members on hand to answer questions, and information on our website and social media channels.”

New schedules to access key city attractions

The TTC is also introducing new schedules on several other routes to deal with ridership demand and to increase seasonal access to key city attractions. The transit agency says along with increasing subway service on the weekends on the Yonge-University line (Line 1), it is also making the following adjustments:

• 200 Toronto Zoo seasonal service will run every 20 minutes, from 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., to better align with Toronto Zoo operating hours
• 201 Bluffer’s Park seasonal weekday service will begin on Mon., June 19, and will operate approximately every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., to accommodate increased travel demand during the summer season
• 202 Cherry Beach will be extended into the late evening on Sundays and holidays to better serve events in the Cherry Beach area
• 203 High Park seasonal service will be reintroduced in the mornings and afternoons on weekends and holidays to accommodate increased summer ridership, with buses arriving every 20 minutes
• A new bus route, the 184 Ancaster Park, will run between Wilson Station and the Ancaster neighbourhood, matching capacity to demand and replacing the 120 Calvington along Maniza Rd., Powell Rd., Ancaster Rd., Gilley Rd. and Garratt Blvd.