Eglinton West (TTC)
Encyclopedia
Eglinton West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is located on Allen Road
/Everden Road at 1300 Eglinton Avenue
West.
As of October 2005, the station is wheelchair-accessible. 158 parking spaces are also included on site.
to Wilson
Station.
Eglinton West Station had been planned to be an interchange station as part of the proposed Eglinton West line. This was one of the three proposed subway lines in the Network 2011 Plan
created in 1985 by the Toronto Transit Commission
. The project was cancelled in 1995
after a change in provincial government. Afterwards, the small amount of tunnel that had been dug under the station was refilled. Had the project gone ahead, this station would likely have been renamed "Eglinton West-Allen".
The Transit City
plan called for a new Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, running along Eglinton Avenue
from Toronto Pearson International Airport
and Mississauga to Kennedy Station
, passing through Eglinton West and Eglinton Station
on the way. Mayor Rob Ford
announced the cancellation of Transit City on the day that he took office. However, a redesigned Eglinton–Scarborough Crosstown line along with a Sheppard line extension was announced four months later, with the support of Metrolinx and Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty
.
and Clifford & Lawrie. The main ticketing and concourse area at surface level is sheltered by an exposed concrete space frame supported by eight circular columns. The concrete ceiling is, in effect, a large slab, and overhangs the entrance. With a glass curtain wall
, it appears to float. Inside, it is coffered throughout the station, with skylights in certain areas, allowing for increased penetration of natural light. Eglinton West makes use of sandblasted concrete and brick wall finishes extensively, distinguishing it from most stations on the Yonge and Bloor-Danforth sections of the subway system, where tiles are predominant.
As the north end of the station is in Allen Road's median, the subway platform level is partly built at surface level. Designers took advantage of this and added windows at platform level. The northbound platform has regular windows, allowing for a view onto Allen Road, while windows on the opposite platform are frosted, creating the impression of fog. This combination of windows allows transit riders to view cars speeding onto Allen Road's northbound expressway lanes, while blocking views of cars stuck in traffic at Eglinton, where the road originally planned and constructed as an expressway ends.
The station's artwork, on two enamel murals facing each other, is Summertime Streetcar by Gerald Zeldin, which depicts the exterior of a PCC streetcar
from differing distances and perspectives. The artwork is two storeys high and is located in the appropriately high ceiling section of the platform level. The depicted streetcar models have never served this station.
The south end of the station is underground as Allen Road ends here.
During July 2009, the TTC installed an $850,000 green roof
over the northern end of the station to reduce maintenance costs, increase the lifespan to 40–50 years, reduce the heat island effect by lowering the temperature of the surrounding area by a few degrees, and to reduce runoff. The TTC had to repair the roof anyways, since it had been leaking since 2000. The plants atop the 835-square-metre roof are low-maintenance sedum
s. Victoria Park
and Dufferin
stations are slated to have green roofs as well.
, Little Jamaica, and the Oakwood-Vaughan and Humewood-Cedarvale
neighbourhoods.
, then continues southeast below the ravine. Moving northward, tracks continue on the surface, in the median of Allen Road.
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located on Allen Road
Allen Road
William R. Allen Road, known more commonly as Allen Road, The Allen Expressway or simply The Allen and formerly as the Spadina Expressway, is a short expressway/freeway in Toronto, Ontario, which runs from Kennard Avenue in the north, to Eglinton Avenue West in the south...
/Everden Road at 1300 Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue, originally known as the Richview Sideroad within Etobicoke, is an east-west arterial thoroughfare in Toronto and Mississauga, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Within Toronto, Eglinton Avenue is the only road which crosses through all six former boroughs...
West.
As of October 2005, the station is wheelchair-accessible. 158 parking spaces are also included on site.
History
The station opened in 1978, as part of the subway line extension from St. GeorgeSt. George (TTC)
St. George is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 323 Bloor Street West at St. George Street. This is the second busiest station, after Bloor-Yonge Station, serving a combined total of approximately ...
to Wilson
Wilson (TTC)
Wilson is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of Allen Road at 570 Wilson Avenue.2257 parking spaces surround the station in four commuter lots.-History:...
Station.
Eglinton West Station had been planned to be an interchange station as part of the proposed Eglinton West line. This was one of the three proposed subway lines in the Network 2011 Plan
Network 2011
Network 2011 was a plan for future transit expansion created in 1985 by the Toronto Transit Commission. It was centred on three proposed subway lines: the Downtown Relief Line, Eglinton West Line, and the Sheppard Line...
created in 1985 by the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
. The project was cancelled in 1995
1995 in Canada
Events from the year 1995 in Canada.-Incumbents:*Monarch - Elizabeth II*Governor General - Ray Hnatyshyn then Roméo LeBlanc*Prime Minister - Jean Chrétien*Premier of Alberta - Ralph Klein*Premier of British Columbia - Mike Harcourt...
after a change in provincial government. Afterwards, the small amount of tunnel that had been dug under the station was refilled. Had the project gone ahead, this station would likely have been renamed "Eglinton West-Allen".
The Transit City
Transit City
Transit City was a plan for developing public transport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was first proposed and announced by then-Toronto Mayor David Miller and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Adam Giambrone on March 16, 2007...
plan called for a new Eglinton Crosstown LRT line, running along Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue
Eglinton Avenue, originally known as the Richview Sideroad within Etobicoke, is an east-west arterial thoroughfare in Toronto and Mississauga, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Within Toronto, Eglinton Avenue is the only road which crosses through all six former boroughs...
from Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
and Mississauga to Kennedy Station
Kennedy (TTC)
Kennedy is the terminal subway station of the Bloor-Danforth and Scarborough RT lines of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 2455 Eglinton Avenue East, just east of Kennedy Road. The station opened in 1980 in what was then the Borough of Scarborough with the Bloor-Danforth platform, and the...
, passing through Eglinton West and Eglinton Station
Eglinton (TTC)
Eglinton is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 2190 Yonge Street at Eglinton Avenue. It is one of the larger stations of the Toronto Transit Commission , with several shops located on the concourse level...
on the way. Mayor Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
announced the cancellation of Transit City on the day that he took office. However, a redesigned Eglinton–Scarborough Crosstown line along with a Sheppard line extension was announced four months later, with the support of Metrolinx and Ontario Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
.
Architecture and art
The station was designed by Arthur EricksonArthur Erickson
Arthur Charles Erickson, was a Canadian architect and urban planner. He studied Asian languages at the University of British Columbia, and later earned a degree in architecture from McGill University.-Biography:...
and Clifford & Lawrie. The main ticketing and concourse area at surface level is sheltered by an exposed concrete space frame supported by eight circular columns. The concrete ceiling is, in effect, a large slab, and overhangs the entrance. With a glass curtain wall
Curtain wall
A curtain wall is an outer covering of a building in which the outer walls are non-structural, but merely keep out the weather. As the curtain wall is non-structural it can be made of a lightweight material reducing construction costs. When glass is used as the curtain wall, a great advantage is...
, it appears to float. Inside, it is coffered throughout the station, with skylights in certain areas, allowing for increased penetration of natural light. Eglinton West makes use of sandblasted concrete and brick wall finishes extensively, distinguishing it from most stations on the Yonge and Bloor-Danforth sections of the subway system, where tiles are predominant.
As the north end of the station is in Allen Road's median, the subway platform level is partly built at surface level. Designers took advantage of this and added windows at platform level. The northbound platform has regular windows, allowing for a view onto Allen Road, while windows on the opposite platform are frosted, creating the impression of fog. This combination of windows allows transit riders to view cars speeding onto Allen Road's northbound expressway lanes, while blocking views of cars stuck in traffic at Eglinton, where the road originally planned and constructed as an expressway ends.
The station's artwork, on two enamel murals facing each other, is Summertime Streetcar by Gerald Zeldin, which depicts the exterior of a PCC streetcar
PCC streetcar
The PCC streetcar design was first built in the United States in the 1930s. The design proved successful in its native country, and after World War II was licensed for use elsewhere in the world...
from differing distances and perspectives. The artwork is two storeys high and is located in the appropriately high ceiling section of the platform level. The depicted streetcar models have never served this station.
The south end of the station is underground as Allen Road ends here.
During July 2009, the TTC installed an $850,000 green roof
Green roof
A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems...
over the northern end of the station to reduce maintenance costs, increase the lifespan to 40–50 years, reduce the heat island effect by lowering the temperature of the surrounding area by a few degrees, and to reduce runoff. The TTC had to repair the roof anyways, since it had been leaking since 2000. The plants atop the 835-square-metre roof are low-maintenance sedum
Sedum
Sedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. It contains around 400 species of leaf succulents that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, varying from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have...
s. Victoria Park
Victoria Park (TTC)
Victoria Park is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 777 Victoria Park Avenue, one block north of Danforth Avenue. The station itself can be accessed by pedestrians via Victoria Park Avenue, or via Albion Avenue, or via a walkway that leads...
and Dufferin
Dufferin (TTC)
Dufferin is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 1126 Bloor Street West at Dufferin Street...
stations are slated to have green roofs as well.
Nearby landmarks
Nearby landmarks include the York-Eglinton BIABusiness improvement district
A business improvement district is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. Grant funds acquired by the city for special programs and/or incentives such as tax abatements can be made available to assist...
, Little Jamaica, and the Oakwood-Vaughan and Humewood-Cedarvale
Humewood-Cedarvale
Humewood-Cedarvale is a neighbourhood in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, historically part of the York borough. The neighbourhood is bordered by Bathurst Street to the east, Eglinton Avenue to the north, Winnett Avenue to the west and St. Clair Avenue to the south...
neighbourhoods.
Subway infrastructure in the vicinity
South of the station, the line continues underground below Everden Road to reach the Cedarvale RavineCastle Frank Brook
Castle Frank Brook is a buried creek and south-west flowing tributary of the Don River in central and north-western Toronto, Ontario, originating near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street....
, then continues southeast below the ravine. Moving northward, tracks continue on the surface, in the median of Allen Road.
Surface connections
- Route 32: Eglinton West
- 32 to Renforth Loop
- 32A to Renforth and Skymark
- 32C to Jane & Lawrence via Trethewey
- 32D to Jane & Emmett
- Route 63: Ossington to Liberty VillageLiberty VillageLiberty Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded at the north by King Street West, the west by Dufferin Street, the south by the Gardiner Expressway, the east by Strachan Avenue, and the northeast by the CP railway tracks...
- Route 316: Ossington Blue Night to Eglinton West Stn
- Route 109: Ranee
- Route 63: Ossington to Liberty Village
- 109B to Neptune via Marlee and Flemington
- 109C to Neptune via Marlee and Varna