Demolition of former TTC Line 3 Scarborough RT underway

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has begun demolishing part of the former Line 3 Scarborough RT to make way for the planned installation of a busway.

Crews appear to have begun the process at the former Ellesmere stations, where contractors could be seen ripping up tracks as trucks dropped off and removed dumpsters.

As part of a so-called early works program that began in mid-September to prepare for a busway, much of the former Scarborough RT corridor is being cleared of concrete, rails and signals south all the way to Kennedy Station.

Work to improve drainage and grading is also occurring. Construction of the busway is set to start in the spring.

According to a recent report to the TTC board, the work is scheduled to be done by the end of 2024. However, in a statement sent to CityNews after the publication of this story, the work is weather-dependent and could go into the early part of 2025.

Officials said the full design of the future busway and an environmental assessment process should also be completed by the end of the year. 

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow moved to set aside funds to build this busway during the 2024 budget. Officials said the full project, including the early works, is estimated to cost around $96 million. It’s unclear when exactly the busway will open to the public, but TTC staff previously estimated it would open sometime in 2026 and construction should take around two years.

The TTC currently has express buses running between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations north-south on Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue, respectively. There has been a push to move those buses to a dedicated corridor to improve travel times.

The shuttle bus plan was rolled out in November 2023 after a Line 3 Scarborough RT train derailment on July 24 of that year forced an early closure of the aged corridor.

Work continues by the Ontario government and its crews on the three-stop Scarborough subway extension project. It will see Line 2 Bloor-Danforth extended to McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue East. The extension isn’t expected to open until 2030.

Meanwhile, the TTC confirmed the process of transporting 18 former Line 3 Scarborough RT train cars to Detroit has begun. The train cars will be used on the Detroit People Mover. Two train cars are being sent to the Halton County Radial Museum and one is going to The Toronto Zoo as part of a display.