TTC signal project to close Yonge-University subway in October
The Toronto Transit Commission is re-signaling the Yonge-University-Spadina (YUS) subway line to improve safety, reliability and capacity on Canada’s busiest subway system. To complete the installation, commissioning and testing of this phase of the re-signaling project, the TTC will close a portion of the subway line over a nine day period this October, specifically:
- Bloor to St. George stations – Sat. Oct. 12 to Mon., Oct. 14 (Thanksgiving Day)
- King to Osgoode stations – Tues., Oct. 15 to Fri. Oct. 18
- Bloor to St. George stations – Sat., Oct. 19 to Sun., Oct. 20
The entire signal system replacement on the YUS, including the new Spadina subway line extension, will be completed by 2018.
TTC customers and businesses are familiar with weekend and partial closures of the subway for the ongoing signal system replacement work, and other vital work, such as the second platform construction at Union Station. During the closures for signal upgrade work, crews typically install new cables, control panels or special track work in the tunnels. This work is labour intensive and can’t all occur during the normal maintenance window afforded the TTC each night when subway service ends, though work does continue in those areas each night.
The TTC is co-ordinating this October’s closure with City of Toronto staff to develop a traffic plan to mitigate the impacts of the closure. The plan will utilize a shuttle bus service for each weekend closure as well as the weekday closure between King and Osgoode stations from Oct. 15-18. Details of the routings, including a shuttle bus routing change required during the Waterfront Marathon, will be outlined in September. The TTC will have customer service staff across the line to assist the public and help passengers get to their destinations.
Future closures elsewhere on the YUS will be required for the replacement of the entire signal system and track work. Dates and locations will be announced well in advance of those closures. And while there is no good date to close a portion of the subway, the TTC appreciates and thanks all of its customers, businesses and the public-at-large for their patience and understanding as this work progresses. Critical subway infrastructure – be it signal systems, tunnel structures or track beds – requires constant maintenance and, after more than half a century of service in some cases, full replacement. When complete, the subway system will be more reliable, efficient and provide greater capacity for the TTC’s 1.7 million daily riders.