How can the TTC improve?

The TTC has a capacity issue on routes. Reece Martin at RMTransit on YouTube has a good video discussing some changes that the TTC could use to improve. I have my own ideas as well that I will get into below.

Here is the video

One of the things Reece mentions in this video, is removing some bus stops. For example they could remove one of two at certain intersections. Currently there are some intersections that have a bus on each side of the traffic light. One of those could be removed and then that would start to speed up routes. But that isn’t all. Express buses need to be rolled out all across the system. With traffic signal priority and possible bus lanes on those roads.

I am sure you are thinking the most obvious question. How do we add express routes when we don’t have enough buses. Well it’s simple. Make the express routes true express. Limited stops, long stretches with no stops at all. Slowly reducing some of the local service and replace it with the express buses. Taking the very high frequent local service and replacing it with really frequent express buses. Replacing the corridors service with express routes will help people traveling the longer distance to get there sooner. The trade off is local service running less often. Express bus routes can travel the entire length of the route much quicker than a local service. That means the express bus can do more trips, than a local bus.

For example in Vancouver the route 9 operates from Boundary road to Alma with some trips extending to UBC. That route is a local transit route operating via Broadway, Alma, and 10th Ave to UBC. The 99 is an express version of the same route. Starting at Broadway/Commercial skytrain station and running to UBC. Looking at the schedules for most times of the day, the 99 is about 10 minutes faster. The 9 only operates to UBC in the peak hours. Now it may not seem like a lot, but the 99 operates with articulated buses. On that route you board at all stops through all 3 doors. The 9 is a local bus that operates with 40 footer buses. Boarding is supposed to be front door only.

But let’s look at the bigger differences between these routes. The original trip I compared was a bus leaving at 7:37 am from Broadway/Commercial going to UBC on both routes. The route 9 arrives at UBC at 8:25. The 99 at 8:16. But the biggest difference on these routes is the frequency. The 9 runs during the morning rush hour heading to UBC leaving Broadway/Commercial every 8-9 minutes. But not all trips go to UBC, in fact some do not even go to Alma in the morning rush. The buses that travel to UBC operate about every 15 or so minutes.

The 99 on the other hand is a very frequent route. Between 6-7am there is 13 buses headed to UBC. 20 buses scheduled between 7-8 am. By comparison there is 12 trips total on the local service in that same time period. In Toronto there are several corridors that could benefit from this type of enhanced service. Especially in Scarborough with the line 3 closure and no replacement service until 2030 at the earliest. In fact there is options in Scarborough that could be implemented immediately and would make a huge impact.

One of the ideas would be to eliminate 2 routes that currently operate between the old Scarborough station and Kennedy. Yes I do understand that some people would have to transfer to a second bus to Kennedy. The 38 that operates from Rouge Hill to Kennedy via University of Toronto Scarborough and Scarborough station. That route could be shortened so it does not go to Kennedy. The 938 is the express routing of the route 38. It operates from University of Toronto Scarborough and goes to Kennedy. That route could be changed to be a little more drastic. And because of the new routing of that bus it could help to reduce service on other local routes.

The 938 should be rerouted to travel down to Kingston road via Morningside. It would have minimal stops and operate all along Kingston road. Kingston turns into Eastern, and then Front Street and it should operate into downtown. Yes it is a long route, but it would save people from a transfer at Kennedy, and if they are going into downtown it save transferring to the Yonge Line. It also provides relief on the 905, the 116, and 86 in the area before Eglinton Ave. It provides relief on the 12 and could technically eliminate the branch of the 12 that operates to the University of Toronto Scarborough.

If that branch was eliminated and all the buses were added to the 938, the service would be pretty decent going into downtown. Also the few buses from the shortened 38 could be added to it also. It would also allow people to travel to buses along the route that would serve some of the line 2 stations and head south. This route could be a potential relief line service providing a slight relief to lines 1 and 2. Currently a lot of people transfer from line 2 to line 1 at Yonge and Bloor station. If some people were to take a bus south instead of north to Line 2 and transfer, it would mean less congestion at Yonge/Bloor station. It could also provide relief from the 501 and 503 route. Eastern is just a very short walk from Queen street and the streetcar service there.

Another option for improving service, would be to simplify the 52 service, and bring back the 58. The 58 could operate Lawrence West Station to the Airport. The 52 service could operate along Lawrence West and then up to the Finch West LRT once it opens. Along the main corridor there could also be an express bus running all day service. Some of the branch routes of the 52 could be heavily modified also. Personally I would change the 52A to be the old 58 route. The B and D branches could be merged into one route and start at Royal York. In that stretch between the airport and Royal York there would be transfer options to the express bus. The 52G and F could extend from Royal York to Finch where it could connect to the Finch West LRT.

By making those changes, the TTC could essentially run the 58 every 10 minutes and all the 52 branches every 15 minutes. All the buses that get freed up could be used to run a 952 service from the airport to Lawrence Station. I would also take the 52/58 service and only run it to Lawrence West Station. From there I would have a separate route operating to Lawrence station.

There are a few reasons for this, one being it would provide a more reliable service between the two subway stations. Another reason is it would provide consistent service west of Lawrence West station. Sometimes people stand at a bus stop waiting for some buses to go by before there is one going to Lawrence. The last reason to implement these changes, is so that anyone wanting to go all the way to Lawrence station can do so by taking the express bus. It would make less stops and be faster, especially if the bus does not enter Lawrence West Station and only stops on the road going Eastbound at least.

One point Reece made in the video is the TTC has talked for years about overcrowding on the Yonge line. He basically asked why there is no express service on Yonge. By implementing some bus lanes on Yonge as well as signal priority for buses at red lights, and of course a reduction of parking in some areas building a reliable express bus service on Yonge would work.

It would also be good because the 97 could do the local pickup/drop offs and passengers could transfer at subway stations to the express route. The express bus could operate just from subway stations, with no stops in between. All 97 trips could operate via Yonge Blvd and operate as branches. Steeles to St Clair one branch and Eglinton to Humber college on Queens Quay as the other branch. That means the entirety of Yonge street is covered by bus service as well as the subway.

These are little changes that can go a long way to improving the TTC. But it’s not just these options that could be done. GO is planning major upgrades to 5 train lines that all have stations within Toronto. The TTC could feed the stations better to allow for seamless transferring between GO trains bus service. With the new fare integration coming, GO will be a built in relief to the TTC. Changing some bus service will go a very long way to improving transit in Toronto.

I know there are changes coming when the Eglinton Crosstown and the Finch West lines both open, but the city needs to manage the routes and feed the trains better. Also, building routes now as a way to be ready for all the growth in the Port Lands redevelopment and at the old Ontario Place. As the Port Lands we know there is going to be the East Harbour station. That will be a new GO station with transfers to the Ontario Line, and eventual street car service once Broadview is extended. Well the 938 suggestion I made would be traveling through that area.

The service on some of the routes that travel down to Queens Quay could be extended over to a temporary terminus near the future East Harbour station so that as construction projects near completion on buildings throughout that area the bus service is already in place. This is where we could actually see some other new changes brought in. At the temporary terminus, we could see the 72 end there. People would need to transfer but transferring could be done to one of say 3 or 4 other bus routes that operate to the terminus and potentially connect people to areas they would need to go easier. This could be a way to minimize the dire need of the Waterfront East LRT.

I think now would be a good time to start construction of the streetcar extension from the Distillery district down to the waterfront and the temporary terminus as well. Then once East Harbour is built the 504 could extend from the temporary terminus to the station. Right now there are a lot of ideas floating around, and they just need to be implemented. Especially if it means faster more reliable service for many people. Would make traveling long distances easier and hopefully means ridership would go up across the city.

Feel free to leave your thoughts below and check out the video above. Also check out the RMTransit channel on YouTube