Accessibility for people with disabilities on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) system is incomplete but improving. Most of the Toronto subway system was built before wheelchair access was a requirement under the Ontarians with Disabilities Act (ODA). However, all subway stations built since 1996 are equipped with elevators, and elevators have been installed in 45 stations built before 1996 (including 1 station that was expanded in 2002, Sheppard–Yonge). Over three-quarters (55 of 70) of Toronto's subway stations are accessible. [1] The original plan was to make all stations accessible by 2025; however, a few stations might not be accessible until 2026. [2]
All TTC trains offer level boarding for customers with wheelchairs and other accessibility needs. Buses, streetcars and trains have priority seating and dedicated wheelchair areas onboard. [3]
In 2014, the TTC began introducing new low-floor vehicles on its streetcar network. These accessible vehicles ultimately replaced the ageing, non-accessible Canadian and Articulated Light Rail Vehicle streetcars by December 29, 2019. [4] In December 2015, the TTC retired the last of its lift-equipped high-floor buses, which were introduced in 1996, making all TTC bus routes low-floor accessible. [5]
All TTC subway trains – the T series and Toronto Rockets – offer level boarding for customers with wheelchairs and other accessibility needs. They have priority seating identified in blue, and flip-up benches at designated wheelchair locations in each car. The location of these can be found by an exterior accessible icon beside the door, or on the Toronto Rockets, an additional exterior blue light beside the door.
The T1 series subway cars were the first trains to have:
All trains offer automated station stop announcements and, since 2019, visual side destination and route signs and external pre-boarding announcements broadcasting the route and destination the train is going to. The Toronto Rocket subway cars have twice the accessible seating compared to the T1 trains. The Toronto Rockets have visual displays (showing the next stop along with arrows pointing to which side doors will open on at the next stop) and electronic route maps to assist customers who are hearing-impaired and also verbally announce the side doors will open on at the next stop.
Accessible stations are equipped with elevators, wide fare gates, and access doors. The TTC provides a phone number, 416-539-LIFT, which provides a recorded message listing any elevators which are out of service. As of September 2024 [update] , 55 of 70 stations (79%) are accessible. [2]
In a 2015 report, the TTC stated that its target of having all stations accessible by 2020 would not be met and that it could not make all subway stations accessible by 2025 unless full funding was made available by governments. In March 2017, TTC CEO Andy Byford reaffirmed the agency's commitment to meeting the 2025 goal, pointing out that, at one point in its plan, 17 stations will be under construction simultaneously. [9] In May 2023, the TTC revised its target completion date for all stations from 2025 to 2024. [10] In September 2023, the TTC noted that some stations would not be completed by the 2025 deadline, and that contingency plans would be put in place. [2]
The completion plan for elevators in remaining stations is as follows: [11]
Station | Construction start | Original service date | Revised service date |
---|---|---|---|
College | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q3 |
Greenwood | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q2 |
Castle Frank | WIP | 2023 | 2024 Q3 |
Christie | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q3 |
Summerhill | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q1 |
Spadina (Line 1) | WIP | 2022 | 2026 Q3 |
Lawrence | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q3 |
King | WIP | 2022 | 2026 Q4 |
High Park | WIP | 2023 | 2025 Q2 |
Rosedale | WIP | 2024 | 2025 Q2 |
Museum | WIP | 2024 | 2025 Q4 |
Old Mill | 2024 | 2024 | TBA |
Warden | WIP | 2025 | 2026 Q2 |
Islington | WIP | 2025 | 2026 Q1 |
The remaining inaccessible Line 3 Scarborough stations (Lawrence East, Ellesmere, Midland and McCowan) were not part of the plans as these stations were slated to close permanently, concurrent with the retirement of Line 3 in November 2023. The closure of these stations occurred earlier in July 2023. Until the Line 2 Bloor–Danforth extension opens in 2030, accessible shuttle buses will be used in place of the existing Line 3 train service. [8]
Since the retirement of the last lift-equipped Orion Vs on December 4, 2015, all 170 bus routes have been 100% accessible, [5] using low-floor buses (Nova Bus LF Series and Orion VII). Not all stops along an accessible route are accessible (in particular, many subway stations where buses terminate are not accessible). The TTC's low-floor buses are identified by blue lights located on both sides of the front route display.
Each bus is equipped with a ramp at the front door and can lower itself at the front door. All buses have two onboard positions to park a wheelchair or scooter. Blue-coloured priority seating is available at the front of the bus for riders with disabilities. [12]
Accessible bus stops are designated with the blue International Symbol of Access (the wheelchair symbol). Narrow sidewalks may make some bus stops unsuitable for ramp boarding, requiring the driver to stop the bus 3 metres (9.8 ft) away from the stop or to have the passenger board from within a bus shelter. [12] As of 2021 [update] , there are several hundred such stops. The TTC plans to upgrade 180 such stops in 2021 plus another 400 stops by 2025. The City of Toronto will upgrade another 125 stops as part of road construction projects. [13] : 11
The TTC provides Wheel-Trans, a door-to-door accessible transit service, to registered clients who are unable to use the conventional transit system. In some cases, Wheel-Trans buses connect customers from their homes to accessible subway stations allowing the rider to use the conventional system for a portion of their journey. The service was created in 1975 as the challenges for people with accessibility needs became more public, and at a time where the entire surface system ran high-floor vehicles which were inaccessible, and subway stations did not have elevators.
As a result of the 2005 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which requires all public transport services in Ontario to become accessible by 2025, the TTC ordered 204 low-floor and accessible Flexity Outlook streetcars in 2009. These first entered service on August 31, 2014, on the 510 Spadina line. With the retirement of the last high-floor Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) streetcars on December 29, 2019, the entire TTC streetcar fleet consists of accessible Flexity Outlook vehicles. [4]
The Flexity Outlook streetcars are the TTC's first low-floor streetcars, and they are accessible for passengers using wheelchairs or mobility devices. [14] Only one step is needed to board at any door, making accessing the streetcar easier for older people, pregnant women, people travelling with small children, or those travelling with heavy luggage. [15]
An extendable loading ramp for riders using wheelchairs, strollers or other mobility devices is located at the second set of doors of the vehicle. A passenger can signal the operator to deploy the ramp by pressing the blue accessibility button by the inside or outside of this door. [16] The ramp has two modes: if the streetcar stop is alongside a curb or raised platform, only a short portion is extended (the operator can open the ramp either from inside the driver booth or from the outside of the vehicle); if only street level is available, the operator will exit the vehicle and a further length of the ramp would extend to allow access at that level. [17] [18]
Inside the vehicle, there are two dedicated areas for passengers with wheelchairs or mobility scooters, as well as priority seating for disabled people, older people, and pregnant women. [14]
All accessible streetcar stops are designated with the blue International Symbol of Access (the wheelchair symbol). A few streetcar stops are not accessible, requiring riders who need the wheelchair ramp to use another stop. All stops along Roncesvalles Avenue are not yet accessible because the platform height at these stops is not yet retrofitted to the Flexity doors. Other stops need the installation of curb ramps. Work to make these stops accessible was to be completed by 2022. [13] : 11
Service animals are allowed on the TTC during all hours of operation. [19]
All stations have yellow warning strips with bumps at the edge of the platforms, and most have tactile floor tiles that assist persons with visual impairments in locating elevators and other accessibility features. All vehicles are equipped with automated audible stop announcements. Surface vehicles and Toronto Rocket trains also have visual LED stop displays.
In 2015, the TTC tested the new External Route Announcement (ERA) system for buses (similar to the system already in place since 2014 on the commission's Flexity streetcars), that indicates the route, direction and destination as a pre-boarding announcement. [20] The announcements are made through a speaker located on the outside of the vehicle, when the doors are opened. As of 2019, all TTC surface vehicles and subway trains were equipped with this system in compliance with AODA requirements.
In January 2022, the TTC announced it had partnered with Magnusmode, the provider of MagnusCards – an app which helps guide autistic and neurodiverse persons in everyday life, to make using the TTC easier for these individuals. There are five TTC MagnusCards decks to guide a user on accessing a TTC subway station, subway train, streetcar and bus, and also to advise on fares, on using the TTC customer website and its trip planner, and on contacting TTC Customer Service. The smartphone app offers step-by-step instructions using visual clues, text or audio. [21]
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the public transport agency that operates bus, subway, streetcar, and paratransit services in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, some of which run into Peel Region and York Region. It is the oldest and largest of the urban transit service providers in the Greater Toronto Area, with numerous connections to systems serving its surrounding municipalities.
A tram stop, tram station, streetcar stop, or light rail station is a place designated for a tram, streetcar, or light rail vehicle to stop so passengers can board or alight it. Generally, tram stops share most characteristics of bus stops, but because trams operate on rails, they often include railway platforms, especially if stepless entries are provided for accessibility. However, trams may also be used with bus stop type flags and with mid-street pavements as platforms, in street running mode.
The Toronto subway is a rapid transit system serving Toronto and the neighbouring city of Vaughan in Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). As of September 2023, the subway system is a rail network consisting of three heavy-capacity rail lines operating predominantly underground. As of December 2022, three new lines are under construction: two light rail lines and one subway line.
Wheel-Trans is a paratransit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, provided by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It provides specialized door-to-door accessible transit services for persons with physical disabilities using its fleet of accessible minibuses or contracted accessible taxis. Users must register with the TTC who will typically grant access to those with permanent disabilities or show difficulty in traveling short distances. Wheel-Trans only provides service within the city of Toronto and accepts regular TTC fare.
Lawrence West is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of William R. Allen Road at Lawrence Avenue West. The station serves the local communities of Lawrence Heights, Lawrence Manor and Glen Park, and nearby destinations such as the Columbus Centre, Lawrence Heights Community Recreation Centre and Lawrence Allen Centre. Wi-Fi service is available at this station. The station has a Gateway Newstands in the north end concourse area at street level.
St. Clair West is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It spans the block north of St. Clair Avenue West to Heath Street, between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The station serves the local communities of Forest Hill South, Humewood, Bracondale Hill and Casa Loma.
Spadina is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Spadina Road, north of Bloor Street West. It is one of only three stations open overnight, along with Queens Quay station and Union station. Wi-Fi service is available at this station.
St. George is a station on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth of the Toronto subway. It is located north of Bloor Street West between St. George Street and Bedford Road. It is the second-busiest station in the system after Bloor–Yonge station, serving a combined total of approximately 136,050 people a day. Wi-Fi service is available at this station.
Union is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University of the Toronto subway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It opened in 1954 as one of twelve original stations on the first phase of the Yonge line, the first rapid transit line in Canada. It was the southern terminus of the line until the opening of the University line in 1963, and is today the inflection point of the U-shaped line. Along with Spadina station and Queens Quay station, it is one of three stations open overnight to support late-night streetcar routes.
Bloor–Yonge is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in Downtown Toronto, under the intersection of Yonge Street and Bloor Street, it is the busiest subway station in the system, handling over 200,000 passengers on an average weekday. Wi-Fi is available at this station.
St. Clair is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The station opened in 1954 as part of the original Yonge Street subway.
Lawrence is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located under Yonge Street at Lawrence Avenue, in the Bedford Park, Lawrence Park and Lytton Park neighbourhoods.
Sheppard–Yonge is an interchange station on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 4 Sheppard of the Toronto subway. The station is located at the southern end of North York City Centre. It is the fourth-busiest station in the system, after Bloor–Yonge, St. George and Union, serving a combined total of approximately 95,881 people per day in 2022.
Kennedy is the eastern terminal station on Line 2 Bloor–Danforth of the Toronto subway system. Opened in 1980, it is located east of the Kennedy Road and Eglinton Avenue intersection. With the adjacent Kennedy GO station on the Stouffville line of GO Transit, Kennedy is an intermodal transit hub and the fifth busiest station in the system, after Bloor–Yonge, St. George, Sheppard–Yonge, and Union, serving a total of approximately 50,503 customer trips a day.
Main Street is a station on Line 2 Bloor–Danforth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is located on the east side of Main Street a short distance north of Danforth Avenue. Connections to GO Transit's commuter train service on the Lakeshore East line can be made at Danforth GO Station, approximately 300 metres to the south on the east side of Main Street. Wi-Fi service is available at this station.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) uses buses and other vehicles for public transportation. In 2018, the TTC bus system had 159 bus routes carrying over 264 million riders over 6,686 kilometres (4,154 mi) of routes with buses travelling 143 million kilometres in the year. As of 2021, the TTC has 192 bus routes in operation, including 28 night bus routes. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 362,041,400, or about 1,240,300 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.
504 King is an east–west Toronto streetcar route in Ontario, Canada. It serves King Street in Downtown Toronto as well as Broadview Avenue on the east end and Roncesvalles Avenue on the west end of the line. The route consists of two overlapping branches: 504A between Line 2 Bloor–Danforth's Dundas West station and Distillery Loop, and 504B between Broadview station – also on Line 2 – and Dufferin Gate Loop. The two branches overlap on King Street between Dufferin and Sumach streets, both passing St. Andrew station and King station on subway Line 1 Yonge–University.
The Toronto Rocket (TR) is the fifth and latest series of rolling stock used in the Toronto subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned and operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the trains were built by Bombardier Transportation in Thunder Bay, Ontario, to replace the last remaining H-series trains, as well as increase capacity for the Spadina subway extension to Vaughan that opened in 2017. They operate in a six-car configuration on Line 1 Yonge–University and a four-car configuration on Line 4 Sheppard. The sets are stored and maintained at the Wilson and Davisville Yards. The first six-car TR train entered passenger service on Line 1 in July 2011, and four-car TR trainsets entered service on Line 4 in May 2016.
In 1921, the Toronto Transportation Commission (TTC) was created to integrate and operate the Toronto streetcar system. The system has had numerous different rolling stock throughout its history.
This article lists major incidents of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) since 1954, such as accidents and other notable unplanned events.
Table 1: Elevator and Easier Access Installations Completed To Date