As
we clean up from a great birthday party, where is the TTC 50 years
after our first subway opened? On Tuesday, the federal, provincial
and city governments agreed to direct one billion dollars toward new
subway cars and buses, money to rebuild streetcars and their tracks,
and environmental assessments for subway expansion. On Wednesday,
the Ontario government announced an additional $90 million for
Toronto, to be used on day to day transit operations.
TTC chair
Howard Moscoe tells In Transit that the accounting is “a bit of a
shell game”, but nonetheless the threat of a fare hike is gone, and
more money is to go toward rebuilding the TTC’s infrastructure.
There is further promise of funds, including from the provincial gas
tax, but Moscoe says the city is still on the hook for much of the
cost of rehabilitating subway tunnels, replacing transit vehicles
and other costs required to maintain the system exactly as it is
now.
“At least we’re
part way there,” he says. “Actually, it was a very good week for the
TTC. Now, if we can just find the capital funds to expand the system
-- that’s the next priority.” Billions more will be required to
build new subway or streetcar lines, investment that many say is
decades overdue. The province is also providing around five million
dollars to increase ridership on surface routes. In coming weeks, In
Transit will explore what improvements TTC riders can expect, and
what projects remain to be funded.
This Sunday,
the 50 year old bus bays at Eglinton station will close, to be
replaced by a temporary facility next door. Evelyn Muncaster of
Toronto writes, “Have you any idea why it is taking so long for
whatever renovation/construction work is being done at the Eglinton
and Eglinton West stations? It must be going on two years now at
Eglinton and about a year at Eglinton West. A 5 star hotel could
have been built by now. Do you know what they are doing and when
they expect this work to be completed?” Jason Deline of Toronto also
wrote in, saying that Eglinton station has “been a shambles for
quite some time.”
The bus
terminal at Eglinton and Yonge has been in use for a half century
now, and after exposure to the elements, salt and heavy buses, the
structure must be replaced. Susan Reed Tanaka, a construction
manager with the TTC, says the former Eglinton bus garage, located
just south of the current bus bays, will be home to a temporary
boomerang-shaped terminal. Look in today’s Metro for a TTC notice
about the changeover.
Starting April
4, a new passageway will connect the main part of the station to the
temporary platforms. The southern entrance to Eglinton will reopen
as well, but a new elevator from track level to the bus area will
not be ready until later this year.
I checked into
Hotel Eglinton West for a brief visit recently, inspecting its
closed off sections and many temporary signs -- it’s a bit of a
maze. Ms. Reed Tanaka says the station is one of four throughout the
system that are having new elevators installed. This project began
in September 2003, and such projects typically take between 20 to 24
months.
“It’s a
difficult site,” she says, requiring a contractor to build inside a
station that is in almost constant use. The TTC restricts when and
how work is done, as Eglinton West is a very busy transfer point.
She reports that signs describing the project had to be bolted down
after the previous ones disappeared. As for including a date on
construction signage, she replies “that’s a good suggestion.”
The same
applies to work at Eglinton station on the Yonge line. In Transit
suggested more detailed signs be placed for riders, describing the
kind of work underway, and how long it will take. In the same spirit
that live announcements can reduce frustration whenever there is a
subway delay, effective signs can inform riders why construction is
necessary, and what inconveniences to expect.
Send e-mail to
transit@eddrass.com. Include
address and phone number.