TTC to boost bus, streetcar, subway service in September
CBC
The Toronto Transit Commision (TTC) is increasing the frequency and total hours of service on buses, streetcars and subways starting next month.
The new service hours, which will take effect Sept. 1, will return service to 97 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, the transit agency said in a news release issued Tuesday. TTC ridership levels are expected to reach approximately 80-85 per cent compared to those in 2019, it said.
"Overall, the changes will increase frequency, improve reliability, and strengthen connections throughout the city," the agency said.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow encouraged residents to use transit instead of driving to help relieve traffic congestion.
"The congestion [in the city] is growing," Chow said at a news conference Tuesday.
"A key thing is to [have] less cars on the roads. How do you do that? By having more people taking transit. We're heading in the right direction."
Starting Sept. 1, customers on 16 bus routes will benefit from more room on board or shorter wait times with more frequent service added, while 23 routes will see "improved service reliability," the agency said.
The TTC is also adding six new and revised routes in northeast Scarborough, east Scarborough and south Etobicoke. The new routes include 154 Curran Hall, 185 Sheppard Central and 904 Sheppard-Kennedy Express. The revised routes include 54 Lawrence East, 80 Queensway and 85 Sheppard-West.
You can find a complete list of service changes beginning September on the transit agency's website.
The agency also plans to restore more than 100 extra scheduled bus trips and make route adjustments to accommodate students boarding at multiple locations surrounding schools, starting Sept. 3.
As the new school year kicks off, the TTC will also launch a year-long pilot program to provide free transit for student field trips for those in grades 7 to 12. The program is in partnership with the Toronto public, Catholic and French school boards.
Additionally, subway service on Line 1 Yonge-University will be increased to address issues of crowding by shortening wait times by roughly one minute. The TTC said trains will arrive every two to three minutes during weekday morning and afternoon rush hours and every four to five minutes in the early afternoons and evenings between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
More trains will also be added to service Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, with additional service increases planned to start in October.
The TTC said it will also be adding more frequent trips on the 312 St Clair and 306 Carlton routes. It will also introduce a new 303 Kingston Rd overnight service, to provide more options for transit riders daily between 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
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