Transit Toronto - Weblog

New artwork in York Mills Station commemorates tragedy

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:56:42 -0500

On Thursday, March 17, 1960, five immigrant Italian construction workers lost their lives underground while helping to build a new watermain in suburban north Toronto.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 17, 2010, Laurie Swim, “one of Canada’s most esteemed artists”, City of Toronto and TTC officials, members of the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA)’s Local 183, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)’s Local 113 and the Central Ontario Building Trades will unveil a permanent art installation in York Mills Station to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.

Although the men did not die while helping to build the subway, York Mills Station is the perfect permanent home for piece. The subway station sits in Hogg’s Hollow, a few meters from the site of the accident, which trapped the men 35 feet underground in a cramped, dimly lit tunnel, beneath the west branch of the Don River. Their deaths sparked a public outcry over the lack of safety standards in construction. Ultimately, that led to better conditions for men and women working in hazardous construction sites.

Mississauga Transit revises routes and services, starting March 22

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:27:17 -0500

A new express route between Square One and the airport area is the highlight when Mississauga Transit revises its routes and services, starting Monday, March 22.

MT is also renaming and renumbering several routes so that route names and numbers are consistent throughout the network of routes.

GO overhauls schedules, cancels routes

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:51:08 -0500

Almost everyone who rides GO Transit buses or trains should carefully check their schedules, before setting out to the station or bus stop, starting Saturday, April 3.

The Toronto Star reports that, for the first time in 40 years, GO is revising all of its schedules to better reflect real trip times and to respond to an increasing number or riders. GO is adjusting the times of about 40 train trips by one to eight minutes — three minutes on average.

GO’s ridership has grown from about 36 million passengers in 1998 to about 55 million each year. More riders means trains have to stop longer as passengers board and exit. GO is also operating longer, 12-car trains on the Milton route and expects to operate 12-car trains on half of the Lakeshore trains later this fall, after it finishes its project to build a third set of tracks along the lines. Longer trains mean more people getting on and off the trains and that means trains need more time at each station.

Whitby GO Station construction restricts access to trains

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:43:06 -0500

Starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 16, GO Transit is closing off the east end of the platform at Whitby GO Station, while contractors start building a new pedestrian bridge. The bridge will connect the platforms to the south-east parking lot.

During this work, GO will restrict access to the trains and will only open the doors on the west-end coaches of the train, starting from the fifth car from the locomotive.

GO expects work to continue for about three months.

Just one week left before GO raises fares

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:07:58 -0500

Start turning out your pockets or digging deep into your purse for pennies. Fish out those quarters from between the cushions of the couch. Check under the bed for nickels and dimes.

Just a reminder that you’ll need an extra 25 cents to travel by GO Transit, starting next Saturday, March 20.

You can read the details oF GO fares here.

Burlington Transit raises fares, April 1

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:51:22 -0500

Thursday, April 1 may be April Fools’ Day, but Burlington Transit isn’t fooling around. Riding the bus in Burlington will cost you more, starting that day.

You’ll have to add another quarter to the farebox, starting April 1. The cash fare for adult, student and senior passengers goes up by 25 cents from $2.75 to $3. The cash fare for children between 5 and 12 years of age also goes up by 25 cents from 60 to 65 cents.

You can see a list of current and upcoming Burlington Transit fares here.

Last chance to comment on Eglinton Crosstown LRT plans

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:52:35 -0500

The TTC and the City of Toronto have finished the environmental project report, assessing their plans for the Eglinton Crosstown light rail Transit City line. That means that they have finalized their proposals and will shortly submit their report for the Honourable John Gerretsen, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, to review.

But first, members of the public have on more chance to look over and comment on their plans. You can review the report on-line here and submit any objections in writing before Sunday, April 11.

If the minister receives no objections, he likely will approve the environmental project report. That means that the City and TTC can proceed with building the line, likely starting to build parts of the sections along the surface this summer and the western entrance into the underground part of the line — around Black Creek Drive — later this fall.

Update: Mississauga busway

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:50:18 -0500

The City of Mississauga and Mississauga Transit have posted the presentation materials from the recent open houses on line here (.pdf). The presentation describes upcoming work to build transit-only lanes along Rathburn Road West near the City Centre Terminal at Square One.

You can also read the draft environmental report and related documents here.

DRT detours buses in Whitby (again)

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:06:05 -0500

Starting Monday, March 15, the Town of Whitby is closing

Burns Street East between Denison and Hopkins Streets

during a project to rebuild the roadway.

Durham Region Transit is detouring buses while the street is closed.

Update: Sheridan College Terminal

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:20:21 -0500

GO Transit and Oakville Transit buses will continue to detour at Sheridan College’s Trafalgar Campus at least until next Friday, March 19.

The terminal is closed while Oakville Transit contractors install heated shelters.

Update: Bathurst streetcar track repairs

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:49:18 -0500

Transit Toronto reader Dave Fisher e-mailed us again to let us know that the TTC continued with its project to repair the tracks on the Bathurst Street bridge south of Front Street West yesterday, Thursday, March 11.

Although the TTC’s website alerts passengers that the work started at 7 p.m. March 11 and only continues until 6 a.m. today, Friday, March 12, the work may still require the TTC to detour streetcars until later today and you should plan to add extra time to your trip.

Update: Scarborough RT

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:38:13 -0500

The City of Toronto has posted on line the presentation from tonight’s open house about extending the TTC’s 3 Scarborough rapid transit line to Sheppard Avenue East and converting it to light rail transit.

The presentation also describes how the City and TTC plan to alter Kennedy Station to accommodate three light rail lines.

You can see the presentation (in four parts) here, here, here and here. (all .pdf)

Update: GO buses along Yonge Street

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:25 -0500

Earlier this week, we posted information about GO Transit’s plans to cancel two bus routes serving passengers traveling along Yonge Street, south of the Newmarket GO Bus Terminal.

Today, the Toronto Star reports that passengers that frequently travel along GO’s 62 Newmarket - York Mills “B” limited-stop bus route and its 64 Newmarket - York U route are not happy about GO canceling the services.

Passengers feel that York Region Transit and Viva service is not as frequent and the stops are not as convenient as GO provides.

From the Transit Toronto Newspaper Article Clippings Archive read:

Toronto Star article, “Riders pledge to drive as GO kills bus routes”, here.

Weekend events affect transit services, March 12, 13 and 14

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:23:40 -0500

A hockey game, a road race and three St. Patrick’s Day parades are affecting transit services in Guelph, Peterborough, Preston (Cambridge) and Toronto this weekend.

Epilepsy awareness volunteers in subway station tomorrow

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:47:17 -0500

Representatives of Epilepsy Toronto distribute information and receive cash donations tomorrow, Friday, March 12, at the TTC’s Bloor - Yonge Station from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.