TTC introduces new express bus services
Toronto Mayor John Tory and TTC Chair Josh Colle, today highlighted five new and revised express bus routes across the city that launched March 28 making it easier and quicker for customers to get to where they need to go.
Funding for the five routes – 188 Kipling South Rocket, 185 Don Mills Rocket, 186 Wilson Rocket, 199 Finch Rocket and 24E Victoria Park Express – is part of the unprecedented $95-million investment in public transit made by Toronto Council last year. These routes are the first to be introduced as a result of the TTC’s Express Bus Network Study. A long-term plan for additional express routes will be presented to the TTC Board in June.
The new regular-fare express services are part of a suite of service improvements that have been approved by the TTC Board, which also includes 10-minutes-or-better frequency, all-door-boarding on streetcars, additional subway trains in the rush hours and restoration of all-day-every-day service cut in 2011. This batch of service improvements is benefiting more than 14 million riders annually.
QUOTES
“Getting around the city remains the number one priority for Torontonians. That’s why in my first budget as Mayor, we made the single largest investment in transit in recent memory,” said Mayor John Tory. “Today we are seeing real results from this investment which will make it easier for the people of Toronto to get to work and home to their families.”
“The five new and enhanced express bus routes starting this week will offer TTC customers a faster and more direct route to their destinations,” said TTC Chair Josh Colle. “These service improvements are the beginning of a longer-term plan for a robust express bus network throughout the city.”
“It's important that people are able to get where they need to go quickly and easily,” said Councillor Mark Grimes, Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “I want to thank the staff at Humber College for working with me, and the TTC for listening to our needs here in Etobicoke. The 188 Kipling South Rocket will significantly improve the commute for the residents of Etobicoke-Lakeshore, including thousands of Humber College students who rely on the TTC.”
Details of the new and revised routes (map of new routes is below)
188 KIPLING SOUTH ROCKET
New express service
A new 188 KIPLING SOUTH ROCKET limited-stop express bus route operates on Kipling Avenue between Kipling Station and Lake Shore Boulevard, supplementing the 44 KIPLING SOUTH local bus route. Buses on the new service stop only at Kipling Station, The Queensway, Evans Avenue, Birmingham Street, Lake Shore Boulevard, and then all stops south of Lake Shore Boulevard. The new express service operates every seven to eight minutes, from approximately 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday.
185 DON MILLS ROCKET
New express service
A new 185 DON MILLS ROCKET limited-stop express bus route operates between Pape Station and Steeles Avenue, supplementing the 25 DON MILLS local bus route. The route stops at only 17 stops at major intersections and busy locations, compared to 60 stops on the local service, providing faster travel along the corridor. The express service operates every 10 minutes or better every day of the week, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday to Friday, and approximately 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
186 WILSON ROCKET
Revised express service
A new 186 WILSON ROCKET limited-stop express service operates along the Wilson Avenue/Elmhurst Road/Humber College corridor, between York Mills Station and Humber College. The new service replaces the 96E WILSON EXPRESS service, and supplements the existing 96 WILSON and 165 WESTON RD NORTH local bus services. In addition to faster and more frequent express service west of Wilson Station, this change will also introduce new express service between Wilson Station and York Mills Station. The new express service will operate every nine to eleven minutes from Monday to Friday, between approximately 6 a.m. and 6:40 p.m.
199 FINCH ROCKET
Revised Express Service
The 199 FINCH ROCKET route has been revised, extending west to York University and east to Morningside Heights.
Three branches are now operating:
199A FINCH ROCKET (Finch Station to Scarborough Centre Station) – operating all day, Monday to Friday and from approximately 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
199B FINCH ROCKET (York University to Scarborough Centre Station via Finch Station) – this new service operates Monday to Friday, from approximately 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
199C FINCH ROCKET (Finch Station to Morningside Heights) – this new service operates during the morning and afternoon peak periods, Monday to Friday, providing express service between Finch Station and McCowan Road, and local service east of McCowan Road to Morningside Heights.
24E VICTORIA PARK
New express service
New express service operates on the 24 VICTORIA PARK route between Victoria Park Station and Steeles Avenue, stopping only at major intersections and select busy stops, providing a faster trip for customers along the corridor. Service on the 24E VICTORIA PARK (Victoria Park Stn-Steeles Express) branch operates between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. in the morning peak period and between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the afternoon peak period, from Monday to Friday. Buses operate every 8 to 9 minutes.
