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Yonge-University-Spadina (TTC)
Encyclopedia
The Yonge–University–Spadina Line (officially Route 1 Yonge–University–Spadina Subway) is the oldest and busiest subway line
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission
, has 32 station
s and is 30.2 km (18.8 mi) in length. It opened in 1954, and had extensions completed in 1963, 1973, 1974, 1978, and 1996. North York Centre Station
opened on an existing section of line in 1987.
The line's name has changed as it was extended. It was called "the subway" (Yonge subway is its retronym
) until 1963, then the "Yonge–University Line" until 1978, when the Spadina section was added. Briefly in 1966, the Yonge–University subway ran in two branches: one west along Bloor to Keele (Yonge–University–Bloor), the other east along Bloor and Danforth to Woodbine (Yonge–University–Danforth).
Although only two stations are on Spadina Road
, a larger portion of the line was originally planned to follow the Spadina Expressway
. The part of the expressway that was built was renamed William R. Allen Road
, but the name of the line was never changed. It is numbered as "Route 1" (formerly route 602), but its route number is used by the TTC predominantly for internal purposes and is rarely used by the public or on TTC maps.
The subway runs from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. The subway runs every 4–5 minutes, with frequent service (2–3 minutes) during rush hour periods. There is limited service (5 minutes) northbound from St. Clair West Station
from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.
The 320 Yonge Blue Night
bus provides late-night service when the subway is not in operation. This service operates frequently from Yonge from Steeles to Union Station. No bus service follows the University–Spadina line, though other night bus services, such as the 311 Bathurst, pass near some of the stations. Bus service is extended on Sundays to account for the 9:00 a.m. start.
On March 30, 1954, after five years of work, the first subway
in Canada opened to the public. The original Yonge Street
subway line went from Union subway station
near the namesake railway station
north to Eglinton Station
. Premier
Leslie Frost
and Mayor Allan A. Lamport
, among other important people, rode the first train that morning, going north from the yards at Davisville Station
, and then from Eglinton south along the entire line. The line was then opened to the public, and that day at 2:30 p.m., the last streetcar to travel Yonge Street made its final trip.
Nine years later, the University segment of the line opened, continuing the line from Union north to St. George Station
.
In 1973, the line was extended north to York Mills Station
, and the next year to Finch Station
as part of the North Yonge Extension project, bringing the subway to North York. Stations were also planned for Glencairn (between Eglinton and Lawrence, though another Glencairn Station
would be built on the Spadina line), Glen Echo (between Lawrence and York Mills) and Empress (between Sheppard and Finch, later opened as North York Centre Station
). In 1978, the Spadina segment of the line was opened, going from the north terminus of the University line to Wilson Station
.
In 1987, the North York Centre
station was added between Sheppard and Finch Stations.
On August 11, 1995 at 6:02 p.m., the Russell Hill subway accident occurred as a southbound subway train heading toward Dupont Station
crashed under Russell Hill Drive, killing three passengers. This accident prompted the Toronto Transit Commission to review its practices and put resources into safety.
In 1996, the Spadina expansion was opened, adding one new station, Downsview
.
northwest of Downsview Station, and into the city of Vaughan
to the proposed Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Six new stations are planned along the 8.6 km (5.3 mi) route, with 6.2 km (3.9 mi) in the City of Toronto and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) in York Region. Subway service on the extension is estimated to begin by late 2015.
Approximately 2,900 new parking spaces will be built at three stations along the extension in order to encourage commuters to use the subway system. Steeles West Station will have the most at 1,900 spaces, while Highway 407 Station will have 600 spaces, and Finch West Station will have 400 parking spaces.
The estimated cost of this extension is $2.09 billion in 2006 dollars, which will have escalated to $2.63 billion considering costs at the year of occurrence. The Province of Ontario has deposited $870 million into the Move Ontario Trust. The federal government has committed $697 million, but only recently released $75 million at the start of its fall election campaign. The City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality of York have committed to fund one-third of total project costs, with Toronto will contributing $526 million and York Region contributing $352 million.
In 2003, a temporary busway
was planned between Downsview Station and the campus, but was opposed by the university, which felt it would lessen government willingness to extend the subway. After numerous delays, construction on the York University Busway
started on July 25, 2008, with a short section of the busway opened on September 6, 2009 and the remainder opened on November 20, 2009.
The first construction contract was awarded on February 27, 2008. Construction has commenced in July 2008 with the relocation of sewers.
The TTC purchased two tunnel boring machine
s in the fall of 2010 from LOVAT Inc. for $58.4 million to dig tunnels on this extension, and is expecting two more boring machines in the spring of 2011. Tunnel boring for the extension began on June 17, 2011.
The extension north of Steeles Avenue has been maligned in the press for several reasons. The TTC had originally intended to extend the subway as far as York University, with a vast bus terminal complex at the future Steeles West Station
. However, provincial funding hinged on the line crossing the municipal border. The area around the future Vaughan Corporate Centre Station
is occupied by big-box store
s and highways, and lacks the dense development that surrounds most other subway stations. Although a station is planned for the 407 Transitway, most GO Transit buses will actually terminate at Steeles West Station, so as to avoid commuters having to pay an additional TTC fare to reach York University. The TTC has recently announced that it will incorporate a system in which GO Transit users do not have to pay an extra fare to use the subway to arrive at York University Station from the 407 Transitway.
. On June 15, 2007, the Ontario government announced plans to fund this extension as part of a network of rapid transit growth called MoveOntario 2020
.
Although completion of this subway expansion is many years away, a local group in York Region is lobbying for the cancellation of the planned busway along this route, which would be a part of York Region's Viva bus rapid transit.
The Yonge portion of the subway line operates at capacity during the morning rush hour, and could not carry the additional riders attracted to this extension. Once a new signal system is in place, the TTC claims it will be able to increase the frequency of trains from 2 minutes 30 seconds to every 1 minute 45 seconds. As of 2011, there is no proposal to increase capacity of Bloor-Yonge station, already the busiest in the entire network serving over 400 000 passengers each day.
GO Transit's long-term plan also calls for all-day service on its Richmond Hill line that would see express trains running every 15 minutes between its Langstaff Station adjacent to the Richmond Hill Centre terminal, and Union station in downtown Toronto, calling into question the additional need for a subway extension.
Toronto council approved the plan in principle in January 2009, but added caveats indicating that upgrades within Toronto would be needed to support the additional capacity from York Region. The plan, as approved, lists six new stations: Cummer/Drewery, Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Longbridge/Langstaff, and Richmond Hill Centre. As of 2009, TTC has no plans to expand this subway line in the "near future" but have VIVA Bus Rapid Transit bus lanes along Yonge Street from Finch Avenue to Highway 7, which would go into full service by 2013.
The line forms a rough U-shape. Its western leg starts at the northern terminus at Downsview Station
, at Sheppard Avenue
and Allen Road
. The line follows the Allen Road, which becomes a short expressway with the subway line travelling in its median for 6 km (3.7 mi). Continuing southeast below the Cedarvale and Nordheimer Ravines
, it turns south under a short stretch of Spadina Road.
After sharing the Bloor-Danforth Line's Spadina
and St. George
Stations, it turns south again under Queen's Park, passing to one side of the legislature, and running the full length of University Avenue beyond. It turns east onto Front Street to serve Union Station
, Toronto's main railway terminus, and then north.
The eastern leg runs straight up Yonge Street
for 16 km (9.9 mi), crossing the Bloor–Danforth Line again at Bloor-Yonge
and the Sheppard Line at Sheppard-Yonge, before reaching its northern terminus at Finch Station
. A roughed-in station exists below Queen Station for the proposed Queen streetcar subway.
The line is generally underground, but has several surface or elevated sections between Downsview and Eglinton West, and between Bloor and Eglinton; some portions of the section between Bloor and Eglinton were originally open and have since been covered over to permit other uses above the tracks. Sections between Bloor-Yonge and the track short of Summerhill
, and between St. Clair
and Eglinton
remain in their original open state. Between Summerhill and St. Clair, the track was originally in open cut, but has since been decked over. Evidence of this can be seen in the tunnel: there are no columns or walls between tracks, and ballast and drainage ditches are present, something not seen in the rest of the subway system. There are also tree stumps and the stubs of lamp posts in the tunnel. There are also clues outdoors: seemingly useless railings along the sides of a nearby street, which was once on an exposed bridge, and empty lots following the trains' right-of-way marked with signs warning heavy vehicles and equipment to keep off because they might fall through to the columnless tunnel below.
Most of the tunnel was constructed by a cut-and-cover method, but some was bored, as noted below. All stations, whether by transfer or fare-paid terminal, connect to surface TTC bus and/or streetcar routes. Other surface and train connections are noted below.
As of late 2010, 16 stations have elevators for wheelchair
access
. Elevator installations are underway at Lawrence West
and St. Andrew
stations.
The preferred alignment and placement for four stations for the proposed "Spadina North" extension beyond Downsview Station to serve York University
were finalized in September 2005. Six stations are planned: the tentative name for the new terminus in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is "Vaughan Centre
" based on the precedent set by North York Centre
and Scarborough Centre
, with intermediate stations called "Highway 407", "Steeles West
", "York University
", "Finch West
", and "Sheppard West
" (which might be renamed "Downsview Park"), with plans to rename Downsview Station "Sheppard West". If built, this extension would likely replace the portion of York Region Transit
's Viva Orange
bus rapid transit line that covers the Downsview – York University route.
The original design of the oldest stations in the subway system, which are on the Yonge line (from Union
to Eglinton
), are mainly utilitarian and consisted of Vitrolite
wall tiles. Eglinton Station is the only station to retain this wall treatment, though Queen Station retains a narrow band of original blue Vitrolite tiles near the ceiling at platform as well.
The design of the stations on the University line was mainly utilitarian and this style (sometimes referred to as “bathroom modern”) was later used for the Bloor–Danforth line as well. Queen's Park
and St. Patrick
stations have circular and semi-circular cross-sections because they are constructed in bored tunnels.
Lawrence
, York Mills
, Sheppard, and Finch
Stations are similar to each other in design, but have different colour schemes: Lawrence is red and yellow, York Mills is light and dark green, Sheppard is yellow and dark blue, and Finch is light grey, medium grey, and dark grey.
The Spadina line consists of unique art and architecture for each station. Glencairn
and Yorkdale
Stations had their art removed.
North York Centre station
, being an infill station, has a design that is very different from the other stations in the earlier North Yonge extension.
Downsview
, being the newest station on this line, also has art and architecture that is different from the earlier Spadina line.
The Spadina north extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre will feature unique art and architecture as well.
on the Yonge–University–Spadina Line could be installed by 2016. When this system is installed, the TTC will be able to run trains as often as every 105 seconds. The limit of the signal system now is every 150 seconds, the interval at which trains operate at rush hours.
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 operated 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:...
, has 32 station
Metro station
A metro station or subway station is a railway station for a rapid transit system, often known by names such as "metro", "underground" and "subway". It is often underground or elevated. At crossings of metro lines, they are multi-level....
s and is 30.2 km (18.8 mi) in length. It opened in 1954, and had extensions completed in 1963, 1973, 1974, 1978, and 1996. North York Centre Station
North York Centre (TTC)
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood...
opened on an existing section of line in 1987.
The line's name has changed as it was extended. It was called "the subway" (Yonge subway is its retronym
Retronym
A retronym is a type of neologism that provides a new name for an object or concept to differentiate the original form or version of it from a more recent form or version. The original name is most often augmented with an adjective to account for later developments of the object or concept itself...
) until 1963, then the "Yonge–University Line" until 1978, when the Spadina section was added. Briefly in 1966, the Yonge–University subway ran in two branches: one west along Bloor to Keele (Yonge–University–Bloor), the other east along Bloor and Danforth to Woodbine (Yonge–University–Danforth).
Although only two stations are on Spadina Road
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
, a larger portion of the line was originally planned to follow the Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
. The part of the expressway that was built was renamed William R. 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...
, but the name of the line was never changed. It is numbered as "Route 1" (formerly route 602), but its route number is used by the TTC predominantly for internal purposes and is rarely used by the public or on TTC maps.
The subway runs from approximately 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Sunday. The subway runs every 4–5 minutes, with frequent service (2–3 minutes) during rush hour periods. There is limited service (5 minutes) northbound from St. Clair West Station
St. Clair West (TTC)
St. Clair West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is at 370 St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The sports field of St. Michael's College School is directly above the length of the station; a...
from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.
The 320 Yonge Blue Night
Blue Night Network
The Blue Night Network is the overnight public transit service operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The network consists of a basic grid of 22 bus and 2 streetcar routes, distributed so that almost all of the city is within 2 km of at least one...
bus provides late-night service when the subway is not in operation. This service operates frequently from Yonge from Steeles to Union Station. No bus service follows the University–Spadina line, though other night bus services, such as the 311 Bathurst, pass near some of the stations. Bus service is extended on Sundays to account for the 9:00 a.m. start.
History
On March 30, 1954, after five years of work, the first subway
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
in Canada opened to the public. The original Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
subway line went from Union subway station
Union (TTC)
Union Station is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. Opened in 1954 along with the first twelve subway stations of Toronto, it is located between the Yonge Street and University Avenue sections of the line at 55 Front Street West between Bay Street and York...
near the namesake railway station
Union Station (Toronto)
Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
north to 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...
. 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...
Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
and Mayor Allan A. Lamport
Allan A. Lamport
Allan Austin Lamport, CM was Mayor of Toronto, Canada, from 1952 to 1954. Known as "Lampy", his most notable achievement was his opposition to Toronto's Blue laws which banned virtually any activities on Sundays. Lamport fought to allow professional sporting activities on Sundays...
, among other important people, rode the first train that morning, going north from the yards at Davisville Station
Davisville (TTC)
Davisville is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 1900 Yonge Street at Chaplin Crescent/Davisville Avenue...
, and then from Eglinton south along the entire line. The line was then opened to the public, and that day at 2:30 p.m., the last streetcar to travel Yonge Street made its final trip.
Nine years later, the University segment of the line opened, continuing the line from Union north to St. George Station
St. 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 ...
.
In 1973, the line was extended north to York Mills Station
York Mills (TTC)
York Mills is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 4015 Yonge Street at Wilson Avenue/York Mills Road...
, and the next year to Finch Station
Finch (TTC)
Finch is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 5714 Yonge Street between Finch Avenue East and West...
as part of the North Yonge Extension project, bringing the subway to North York. Stations were also planned for Glencairn (between Eglinton and Lawrence, though another Glencairn Station
Glencairn (TTC)
Glencairn is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on William R. Allen Road at 785 Glencairn Avenue....
would be built on the Spadina line), Glen Echo (between Lawrence and York Mills) and Empress (between Sheppard and Finch, later opened as North York Centre Station
North York Centre (TTC)
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood...
). In 1978, the Spadina segment of the line was opened, going from the north terminus of the University line to Wilson Station
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:...
.
In 1987, the North York Centre
North York Centre (TTC)
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood...
station was added between Sheppard and Finch Stations.
On August 11, 1995 at 6:02 p.m., the Russell Hill subway accident occurred as a southbound subway train heading toward Dupont Station
Dupont (TTC)
Dupont is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Spadina Road at 278 Dupont Street....
crashed under Russell Hill Drive, killing three passengers. This accident prompted the Toronto Transit Commission to review its practices and put resources into safety.
In 1996, the Spadina expansion was opened, adding one new station, Downsview
Downsview (TTC)
Downsview is a station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at the intersection of William R. Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West. The station is currently the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the...
.
Spadina extension
Construction has begun on an extension to York UniversityYork University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
northwest of Downsview Station, and into the city of Vaughan
Vaughan
Vaughan is a city in York Region north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughan is the fastest growing municipality in Canada achieving a population growth rate of 80.2% between 1996–2006, according to Statistics Canada having nearly doubled in population since 1991. Vaughan is located in Southern...
to the proposed Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. Six new stations are planned along the 8.6 km (5.3 mi) route, with 6.2 km (3.9 mi) in the City of Toronto and 2.4 km (1.5 mi) in York Region. Subway service on the extension is estimated to begin by late 2015.
Approximately 2,900 new parking spaces will be built at three stations along the extension in order to encourage commuters to use the subway system. Steeles West Station will have the most at 1,900 spaces, while Highway 407 Station will have 600 spaces, and Finch West Station will have 400 parking spaces.
The estimated cost of this extension is $2.09 billion in 2006 dollars, which will have escalated to $2.63 billion considering costs at the year of occurrence. The Province of Ontario has deposited $870 million into the Move Ontario Trust. The federal government has committed $697 million, but only recently released $75 million at the start of its fall election campaign. The City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality of York have committed to fund one-third of total project costs, with Toronto will contributing $526 million and York Region contributing $352 million.
In 2003, a temporary busway
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
was planned between Downsview Station and the campus, but was opposed by the university, which felt it would lessen government willingness to extend the subway. After numerous delays, construction on the York University Busway
York University Busway
The York University Busway is the collective name for a series of bus lanes and bus only roadways leading from Downsview station to York University, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used by the Toronto Transit Commission's 196 York University Rocket and York Region Transit's Viva Orange bus...
started on July 25, 2008, with a short section of the busway opened on September 6, 2009 and the remainder opened on November 20, 2009.
The first construction contract was awarded on February 27, 2008. Construction has commenced in July 2008 with the relocation of sewers.
The TTC purchased two tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
A tunnel boring machine also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through anything from hard rock to sand. Tunnel diameters can range from a metre to almost 16 metres to date...
s in the fall of 2010 from LOVAT Inc. for $58.4 million to dig tunnels on this extension, and is expecting two more boring machines in the spring of 2011. Tunnel boring for the extension began on June 17, 2011.
The extension north of Steeles Avenue has been maligned in the press for several reasons. The TTC had originally intended to extend the subway as far as York University, with a vast bus terminal complex at the future Steeles West Station
Steeles West (TTC)
Steeles West is a planned station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be built on its western branch, the Spadina line. If built, it would be a temporary terminus, until the line is extended further to Vaughan Corporate Centre...
. However, provincial funding hinged on the line crossing the municipal border. The area around the future Vaughan Corporate Centre Station
Vaughan Corporate Centre (TTC)
Vaughan Corporate Centre is the working name of a planned station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be built on its western branch, the Spadina line. Construction has now begun at Highway 7 and Millway Avenue, west of Jane Street...
is occupied by big-box store
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
s and highways, and lacks the dense development that surrounds most other subway stations. Although a station is planned for the 407 Transitway, most GO Transit buses will actually terminate at Steeles West Station, so as to avoid commuters having to pay an additional TTC fare to reach York University. The TTC has recently announced that it will incorporate a system in which GO Transit users do not have to pay an extra fare to use the subway to arrive at York University Station from the 407 Transitway.
Yonge extension
Proposals have also been put forward to extend the Yonge Street portion of the line beyond Finch to Steeles and into York Region, most likely ending at the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal of Viva bus rapid transitViva (bus rapid transit)
Viva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was...
. On June 15, 2007, the Ontario government announced plans to fund this extension as part of a network of rapid transit growth called MoveOntario 2020
MoveOntario 2020
MoveOntario 2020 is a plan proposed by the Government of Ontario that would fund 52 rapid-transit projects throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in Ontario, Canada.-History:...
.
Although completion of this subway expansion is many years away, a local group in York Region is lobbying for the cancellation of the planned busway along this route, which would be a part of York Region's Viva bus rapid transit.
The Yonge portion of the subway line operates at capacity during the morning rush hour, and could not carry the additional riders attracted to this extension. Once a new signal system is in place, the TTC claims it will be able to increase the frequency of trains from 2 minutes 30 seconds to every 1 minute 45 seconds. As of 2011, there is no proposal to increase capacity of Bloor-Yonge station, already the busiest in the entire network serving over 400 000 passengers each day.
GO Transit's long-term plan also calls for all-day service on its Richmond Hill line that would see express trains running every 15 minutes between its Langstaff Station adjacent to the Richmond Hill Centre terminal, and Union station in downtown Toronto, calling into question the additional need for a subway extension.
Toronto council approved the plan in principle in January 2009, but added caveats indicating that upgrades within Toronto would be needed to support the additional capacity from York Region. The plan, as approved, lists six new stations: Cummer/Drewery, Steeles, Clark, Royal Orchard, Longbridge/Langstaff, and Richmond Hill Centre. As of 2009, TTC has no plans to expand this subway line in the "near future" but have VIVA Bus Rapid Transit bus lanes along Yonge Street from Finch Avenue to Highway 7, which would go into full service by 2013.
Stations
Downsview (TTC)
Downsview is a station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at the intersection of William R. Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West. The station is currently the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the...
, at Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue is an east-west principal arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A small portion of a continuation of the road in Pickering, Ontario is also called Sheppard Avenue.-History:...
and 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...
. The line follows the Allen Road, which becomes a short expressway with the subway line travelling in its median for 6 km (3.7 mi). Continuing southeast below the Cedarvale and Nordheimer Ravines
Castle 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....
, it turns south under a short stretch of Spadina Road.
After sharing the Bloor-Danforth Line's Spadina
Spadina (TTC)
Spadina is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Out of all the interchange stations, this one is the least-used with approximately 47,570 people using both platforms each day...
and St. George
St. 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 ...
Stations, it turns south again under Queen's Park, passing to one side of the legislature, and running the full length of University Avenue beyond. It turns east onto Front Street to serve Union Station
Union (TTC)
Union Station is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. Opened in 1954 along with the first twelve subway stations of Toronto, it is located between the Yonge Street and University Avenue sections of the line at 55 Front Street West between Bay Street and York...
, Toronto's main railway terminus, and then north.
The eastern leg runs straight up Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
for 16 km (9.9 mi), crossing the Bloor–Danforth Line again at Bloor-Yonge
Bloor-Yonge (TTC)
Bloor-Yonge is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina and the Bloor–Danforth subway lines operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 733 Yonge Street at Bloor Street West/East...
and the Sheppard Line at Sheppard-Yonge, before reaching its northern terminus at Finch Station
Finch (TTC)
Finch is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 5714 Yonge Street between Finch Avenue East and West...
. A roughed-in station exists below Queen Station for the proposed Queen streetcar subway.
The line is generally underground, but has several surface or elevated sections between Downsview and Eglinton West, and between Bloor and Eglinton; some portions of the section between Bloor and Eglinton were originally open and have since been covered over to permit other uses above the tracks. Sections between Bloor-Yonge and the track short of Summerhill
Summerhill (TTC)
Summerhill is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its address is 1189 Yonge Street, with the entrance actually being on Shaftesbury Avenue, which is at the north end of the station platforms...
, and between St. Clair
St. Clair (TTC)
St. Clair is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its address is 1441 Yonge Street, at the intersection with St. Clair Avenue East, but its street entrances are on St. Clair and on Pleasant Boulevard. The station's site has no frontage on...
and Eglinton
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...
remain in their original open state. Between Summerhill and St. Clair, the track was originally in open cut, but has since been decked over. Evidence of this can be seen in the tunnel: there are no columns or walls between tracks, and ballast and drainage ditches are present, something not seen in the rest of the subway system. There are also tree stumps and the stubs of lamp posts in the tunnel. There are also clues outdoors: seemingly useless railings along the sides of a nearby street, which was once on an exposed bridge, and empty lots following the trains' right-of-way marked with signs warning heavy vehicles and equipment to keep off because they might fall through to the columnless tunnel below.
Most of the tunnel was constructed by a cut-and-cover method, but some was bored, as noted below. All stations, whether by transfer or fare-paid terminal, connect to surface TTC bus and/or streetcar routes. Other surface and train connections are noted below.
As of late 2010, 16 stations have elevators for wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
access
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
. Elevator installations are underway at Lawrence West
Lawrence West (TTC)
Lawrence West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on William R. Allen Road at 655 Lawrence Avenue West. It opened in 1978 in what was then the Borough of North York...
and St. Andrew
St. Andrew (TTC)
St. Andrew is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto, Ontario, Canada subway. It is located at 147 University Avenue at King Street West. It opened in 1963, named for the nearby St...
stations.
The preferred alignment and placement for four stations for the proposed "Spadina North" extension beyond Downsview Station to serve York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
were finalized in September 2005. Six stations are planned: the tentative name for the new terminus in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is "Vaughan Centre
Vaughan Corporate Centre (TTC)
Vaughan Corporate Centre is the working name of a planned station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be built on its western branch, the Spadina line. Construction has now begun at Highway 7 and Millway Avenue, west of Jane Street...
" based on the precedent set by North York Centre
North York Centre (TTC)
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood...
and Scarborough Centre
Scarborough Centre (TTC)
Scarborough Centre is a station on the Scarborough RT line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located north of Ellesmere Road between Brimley and McCowan Roads, just south of Highway 401...
, with intermediate stations called "Highway 407", "Steeles West
Steeles West (TTC)
Steeles West is a planned station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be built on its western branch, the Spadina line. If built, it would be a temporary terminus, until the line is extended further to Vaughan Corporate Centre...
", "York University
York University (TTC)
York University is a planned station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. When built, it will be located on the grounds of York University’s main Keele campus, near Ian Macdonald and York Boulevards, and it's expected to open in late 2015...
", "Finch West
Finch West (TTC)
Finch West is a future station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which is under construction. It will be at the corner of Keele Street at Finch Avenue West, and it is expected to open in 2015.-Description:...
", and "Sheppard West
Sheppard West (TTC)
Sheppard West is a Toronto Subway station under construction on the western branch of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located where the GO Transit Barrie line crosses Sheppard Avenue West, on an extension of Bakersfield Street...
" (which might be renamed "Downsview Park"), with plans to rename Downsview Station "Sheppard West". If built, this extension would likely replace the portion of York Region Transit
York Region Transit
York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
's Viva Orange
Viva Orange
Viva Orange, or the Martin Grove-York University-Downsview line, is a line on the Viva bus rapid transit system in York Region, north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its entire route is also served by other agencies' bus rapid transit services...
bus rapid transit line that covers the Downsview – York University route.
Design
Union (TTC)
Union Station is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. Opened in 1954 along with the first twelve subway stations of Toronto, it is located between the Yonge Street and University Avenue sections of the line at 55 Front Street West between Bay Street and York...
to Eglinton
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...
), are mainly utilitarian and consisted of Vitrolite
Vitrolite
Vitrolite was an opaque pigmented glass manufactured by Pilkington Brothers in the United Kingdom and The Vitrolite Company then Libbey Owens Ford in the United States...
wall tiles. Eglinton Station is the only station to retain this wall treatment, though Queen Station retains a narrow band of original blue Vitrolite tiles near the ceiling at platform as well.
The design of the stations on the University line was mainly utilitarian and this style (sometimes referred to as “bathroom modern”) was later used for the Bloor–Danforth line as well. Queen's Park
Queen's Park (TTC)
Queen's Park is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located at 671 University Avenue at College Street, the station opened in 1963....
and St. Patrick
St. Patrick (TTC)
St. Patrick is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 449 University Avenue at Dundas Street West.-History:...
stations have circular and semi-circular cross-sections because they are constructed in bored tunnels.
Lawrence
Lawrence (TTC)
Lawrence is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 3101 Yonge Street at Lawrence Avenue....
, York Mills
York Mills (TTC)
York Mills is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 4015 Yonge Street at Wilson Avenue/York Mills Road...
, Sheppard, and Finch
Finch (TTC)
Finch is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 5714 Yonge Street between Finch Avenue East and West...
Stations are similar to each other in design, but have different colour schemes: Lawrence is red and yellow, York Mills is light and dark green, Sheppard is yellow and dark blue, and Finch is light grey, medium grey, and dark grey.
The Spadina line consists of unique art and architecture for each station. Glencairn
Glencairn (TTC)
Glencairn is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on William R. Allen Road at 785 Glencairn Avenue....
and Yorkdale
Yorkdale (TTC)
Yorkdale is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on William R. Allen Road just south of Highway 401. It opened in 1978 in what was then the Borough of North York, and was named for the nearby Yorkdale Shopping Centre, to...
Stations had their art removed.
North York Centre station
North York Centre (TTC)
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood...
, being an infill station, has a design that is very different from the other stations in the earlier North Yonge extension.
Downsview
Downsview (TTC)
Downsview is a station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at the intersection of William R. Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West. The station is currently the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the...
, being the newest station on this line, also has art and architecture that is different from the earlier Spadina line.
The Spadina north extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre will feature unique art and architecture as well.
Voice announcement system
As with all subway lines, the Yonge–University–Spadina Line uses an automated voice system on board its trains to announce each stop as the train arrives.Toronto Rocket
The new Toronto Rocket trains were scheduled for delivery starting between late 2009 and early 2010 but delayed until late 2010. The first train began revenue service in July 2011 with an estimated of up to six so far (as of November 2011) in revenue operation. They are the first subway trains on the system (and the first in North America) to incorporate full-open gangways, allowing riders to move freely through the entire train, a visual display, already in use on TTC buses and streetcars. The displays and active route map indicate the train's position, the next station and the side of the train on which the doors open at the next stop.Automatic train control
The TTC estimates that automatic train controlAutomatic Train Control
Automatic Train Control is a train protection system for railways, ensuring the safe and smooth operation of trains on ATC-enabled lines. Its main advantages include making possible the use of cab signalling instead of track-side signals and the use of smooth deceleration patterns in lieu of the...
on the Yonge–University–Spadina Line could be installed by 2016. When this system is installed, the TTC will be able to run trains as often as every 105 seconds. The limit of the signal system now is every 150 seconds, the interval at which trains operate at rush hours.
External links
- TTC website
- TTC Transit City LRT proposal
- TTC Spadina subway extension website
- Transit Toronto (not affiliated with the Toronto Transit Commission)