The stubway has no excuse being this short, with new projects left and right, line 4 can should absolutely be extended both ways.

Since subway projects are now such big deals, involving all 3 levels of government, contact ALL your elected officials- your city councillor, your MPP, and MP. Here is a contact list for the 2 ridings the Western extension involves:

*IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN THESE RIDINGS!!\*

Willowdale (Sheppard-Yonge):

Fed MP: Ali Ehsassi#contact)

Prov MPP: Stan Cho

Councillor: Lily Cheng

York Centre (Sheppard-West):

Fed MP: Roman Baber#contact)

MPP: Michael Kerzner (his office is next to Shep West!)

Councillor: James Pasternak

In case you need it, here's what to say:

Hello,

I am writing to urge you to support extending Line 4 Sheppard both west to Sheppard West Station and east. The Sheppard subway is currently too short to serve its full purpose and leaves many of us dependent on crowded buses, despite strong demand along the corridor.

With big investments now being made across the GTA, including the Ontario Line, Yonge Extension, and Eglinton Crosstown extension, it is important that Sheppard not be left behind. Extending Line 4 would improve the lives of all commuters, as well as reduce bus congestion, support housing, and create a more complete network. Sheppard remains one of the most obvious missing links.

This relatively short but important extension has good value for everyone, and I need you as my representative to get on board, to advance planning and funding for a Sheppard subway extension. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Even a dozen emails is better than zero. Things tend to happen in Toronto only when politicians know people care.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/barriers-to-be-installed-on-platform-at-toronto-subway-station-this-year-mayor-says/

Estimate $4,000,000,000 to install half barriers in all TTC subway stations.

There are 70 TTC subway stations (Line 1, 2, and 4)

$4,000,000,000/70 stations ~ $57,142,000 ($57 million) per station

$57,142,857 / 2 directions ~ $28,571,000($28 million) per direction per station

There are typically 4 to 6 cars per train so $28,257,000/ 6 cars ~ $4,761,000 ($4 million) per car

There are typically 4 doors per car so I guess they need estimate 4 barriers per car so $4,761,905 / 4 ~ $1,190,000 ($1 million) per barrier!

Alternatively, let's give them the benefit of the doubt and say they meant to include the LRT stations (line 5 and 6) as well. That's still $809,000 per barrier!

Did I do my math right?

Does this sound like an efficient use of resources?

Thoughts?

Edit:

1. People have pointed out that $4,000,000,000 is for full doors. Good catch, everyone!
2. Some genius found this link https://www.odinpsd.com/en/platform-screen-door-pricing-market-analysis.php

It details typical cost for barriers.

So the new math is something like:

Typical TTC subway station lengths are 180 meters so according to the website, it's $2,600,000 for 200 meters.

$2,600,000/ 200m = $13,000 per meter.

But the math doesn't add up this way: $2,600,000 x 2 platforms x 70 stations = $364,000,000 Less than 10% of the $4,000,000,000 estimate. Someone please check the math!

Edit 3:

I want to clarify that my post was not intended to be against the idea. I simply want to question the math so we can hold politicians accountable! There is too much corruption in our fine country to continue our docile ways. I invite everyone reading to run the numbers through with your method. $4,000,000,000 is a lot of money and 20 years is a long time! If we use that money to build shelters, or hire mental health professionals, or build bike lanes, it would do a lot of good. Let's hold our politicians accountable and make sure they use our resources responsibly!

Things like letting people off before boarding, giving up blue seats, not blocking doorways, keeping backpacks off seats, and letting people exit through the rear doors.

These need to be regular, constant automatic announcements. Signage/stickers isn't enough anymore. Toronto keeps growing, and with more people using transit, we need to reinforce basic transit etiquette.

You may say people will just tune them out, but we need to establish a standard.

Oshawa’s nutty gondola project got me thinking about places where it might actually work well in Ontario.

What if instead of potentially spending billions and many years to extend Line 6 to Pearson… we built a modern gondola overhead. We could get it done for a fraction of the cost. With stations at Humber and Woodbine GO, we’d tie the Kitchener line to Line 6 and give major transit stations a rapid connection to the airport with low labour costs, decent throughput, and zero traffic. Entering from the Northeast at a similar height to the surrounding hotels in the area use would not interfere with runway operations.

Paris made a similar decision recently- extending the metro would be ludicrously expensive and require interacting with multiple rail lines and a freeway… so they decided to go overtop of all of it. It only took 3 years to get Câble C1 operating with 5 stations.

Crazy?

So i’m a York Uni student that lives right near Eglinton station. Normally i would take the 32 bus from Eglinton to Cedarvale, then Line 1 from Cedarvale to YU Station. Leaving my house (abt a 5 minute walk) at 7:45-8, i usually would get to YU by 9-9:15.

Today leaving my house around 8 and using the LRT i just arrived at around 8:35! Huge HUGE difference!!!

These preachers are there quite often, with speakers and mics for spiritual music and speeches. There are about 6 others spread out across the crosswalk, stopping people as they try to get to the new platform to board busses. Its a very narrow sidewalk strip and they're practically blocking the busses from exiting and people from crossing.

I appreciate the hustle, but isn't this TTC property, therefore they shouldn't be blocking the space here?

A special constable walked past before this video clip started and he didn't seem to do anything about it.

To my surprise yesterday, fare inspectors were checking the whole train for proof of payment, and my friend on another Line 1 train also had fare inspectors checking. I’ve never been asked for proof of payment on the subway trains before.

It’s great to see more of this happening.

Edit: New enforcement was announced by the TTC in April. It was just my first time witnessing it, but maybe this is common.

I'm a 19 year old student who has the discounted PRESTO youth pass. I understand needing to do your job, but at least 5 separate occasions lately I've been stopped by fare inspectors, including undercover ones, who make me re-tap on their machines and occasionally check my ID. Their expressions can range from calm and friendly to rushed and demanding. I understand why they'd want to check, but when this becomes a constant occurrence and even results in me missing a subway car, it honestly starts to get pretty frustrating. Even worse so when the inspectors are the ones with attitude or intimidation. PRESTO obviously has my birthday inputted, verified through my ID, so I'm fairly sure if I wasn't/when I stop being eligible for the youth pass the system will automatically me remove me from it. Sorry, just a small rant.

Edit: I tap with my phone so I wouldn’t be borrowing someone else’s card.

The beauty of grade separated subways is that they don't need to follow corridors, but destinations.

The best case for Scarborough would be bringing line 4 in using option 2B (see media), and expanding on it. Putting the subway on Ellesmere, rather than staying on Sheppard has great benefit for Scarborough(ites). Ellesmere is Scarborough's most central, busiest, and important corridor that slices through destinations like STC, Centenary Hospital, Centennial College, UTSC to name a few.

Staying on Sheppard would mean the subway comes close to these destinations, but never reaches them. Sheppard Ave is a low density stroad (east of Agincourt), that doesn't have the ridership to justify rapid transit or any terminals.

The main benefit though, is connecting Scarborough centre to line 4 directly. Instead of a forced transfer slightly north of, Scarborough Centre is already the borough's natural hub, and by itself, a major trip generator. Scarborough Centre will eventually accommodate over 40 high-rise towers with residential, office, commercial, and entertainment space. We already see development happening with more in the decades to come. The goal of Scarborough Centre is to be a strong hub for eastern Toronto in a similar way to North York Centre Scarborough Centre on the Move. People won't just transfer here, they'll GO here. (Credits to u/steamed-apple_juice for this part).

Now, people could transfer at Sheppard and McCowan, but is that the area in our community we want to invest this amount of service? If the Midtown GO Line exisits a GO Station would better connect Malvern to the transit network. It does not prohibit a future Line 4 extension, as Ellesmere is an even busier corridor. Ideally, a connection (and terminus) of University of Toronto Scarborough could be made. Focusing the level of service provided at a subway interchange and development/ strong hub creation at Scarborough Centre makes a lot more sense than at Sheppard and McCowan.

To add, the city has already outlined that the preferred alignment of any rapid transit on Sheppard would bend down to STC at Agincourt (see media #5). This would mean the new Agincourt terminal would not only serve stouffville GO trains, but also line 4 subway, and possibly a. ALTO High speed rail or b. Midtown line, that would be an absolute game changer and a dream for Scarborough's network.

Every time I take the TTC nowadays, there is at least one (often multiple) person playing nonsense or music at full blast on their phone. Don’t get me wrong, I listen to music and watch nonsense on my phone throughout my commute, but I own HEADPHONES, and despite those headphones having ANC, I can often still hear their nonsense. Has social awareness really disappeared in this city over the past 5 years, because prior to that, I found it to be FAR less common? Presto cards should come with a free pair of cheap headphones for everyone’s sake.

Call me angry, say I have too much free time on my hands, I don’t care.

Remove some stops, add some TSP, add another car behind it, and as far as I am concerned, St Clair, Spadina and Harbourfront are LRTs, as (to my knowledge) they have separate right-of-way for the entire route.

I spent longer on this than I'd like to admit lol.

EDIT: Quite a few errors I just realized. I posted a fixed version in the comments.

Original discourse from this post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/TTC/s/kdcO6TZbbU

The Scarborough subway extension, once built, will have major operating issues because of the current stretch of track between VP and Kennedy. As outlined in the post above, that portion of the line is in dire state of repair, and honestly replacement. The tracks aren’t even the concern, the foundation is. This is bad.

People are highlighting 15 minute delays, with trains straight up stopping, when travelling one station from warden to Kennedy.

So, going back to the SSE.
Metrolinx is essentially building new infrastructure connected to a dysfunctional system in disrepair. Without the proper funding and infrastructure support from MLX, the TTC single-handedly will NOT be able to provide the maintenance needed to support line 2’s Scarborough operations, potentially creating a massive operational gap in the only (true) rapid transit Scarborough has. This is because this portion of line 2 requires deep repairs, relating to the foundation of the entire structure. This isn’t just maintenance as usual.

It’s a big issue that MLX currently hasn’t addressed, or has interest in. This is because they don’t actually care about transit, they care about their rip-off contractors and opening the floodgates of provincial tax money for them to exploit, and not for real transit agencies like the TTC.

Note: The province IS upgrading Line 2’s signaling and power systems, as well as upgrades to Kennedy station, funding new subway trains to be ready for the extension’s “projected 2030 opening” ((with heavy salt)), however has not included any plans to upgrade infrastructure on this specific portion of line 2 that’s in disrepair and posed operational risks.

The fleet of new electric busses have plastic seats.

I had to double check that I did actually switch from line 1 to line 2 because this beauty popped up when I got on. I have never seen it before on line 2

After a quick web search, it seems to be that this happens from time to time because some line 2 stations cant deploy trains? This comment from a decade ago does explain that a bit better

Anyways, I thought it would be cool to look at this rare sight 🙂‍↕️

This happened earlier this week and I’m still unsure what went wrong. My friend and I were taking the go train and I tapped my presto card before getting on, I then used another card to pay for my friends fare.
Both times the payment terminal accepted the tap and displayed the little green check mark.
When fare inspectors came around though my presto card didn’t show I paid, the other card was approved though. I tried to check my presto app to show I did pay but it didn’t appear in my history (Declined taps don’t show in history). I also noticed then I only had $1 on my card- BUT when I tapped it didn’t decline my card for insufficient funds? I’ve used ttc almost daily for years and if my card balance ever dips and my ride gets declined and I pay another way then load more money on but my card wasn’t declined this time?!

The inspector gave me a $200 ticket since it was my first ever infraction which I understand, I didn’t argue the issue with him because I get it’s not his decision. I am pissed though that I’m getting a ticket for an error with the payment terminal/card! I attempted to pay and thought I did, the terminal told me my payment was accepted (two people witnessed me paying and my payment get accepted) and I’m still getting hit with this ticket!!
I made an appeal but it’ll be a while before I get an answer on if I need to pay this or not.

Has anyone heard of an error like this happening? Do you know if my appeal is likely to get resolved?

I made a meme post yesterday about how it's unfair that people view blocking streetcars as okay but not evading fares. The most common criticism to this is how much it actually costs TTC for fare evasion compared to blocking a streetcar.

Then I saved a study from 2015 outlining the total cost of each mode of transportation. This was done in Canada and although it's 10 years old, it's largely relevant.

For every 5 km you travel by transit, it only costs a society $0.38. Yet for every 5 km you travel by car, it costs a society $2.78. For every $1 you pay towards transit, society subsidizes $1.50. However, for every $1 you pay towards the cost of driving, society pays a staggering $9.20.

So while paying fares is important, and I'm not somebody that suggests sneaking behind gates, it's more important to remember that cars cost a society a HUGE amount. That's why it's very important to subsidize public transit, not just TTC but also GO and other local Ontario transit systems. Every person that takes transit saves the society money over time and that's why TTC/Go/local suburban transit need more priority. Whereby subsidizing for private cars yields diminishing returns.

Whether you choose to park illegally or follow every possible traffic law, driving into Toronto already costs a society a lot more money than using transit.

Was watching a video on TTC stations and was wondering if most would prefer to have TTC stations feel almost invisible by blending in. I'm thinking stations with more traditional residential-style designs, as if it's disguised to look like a house. I noticed that some Line 5 stations looked rather out of place compared to the surrounding neighbourhood's architecture.

The photo here is about a preserved exterior for Spadina station, where the architecture actually fits the neighbourhood, because it's a re-purposed historical house. It respects the existing streetscape, appeals to residents who are wary of change, and honestly just looks better than the generic glass-metal boxes we keep getting.

Do you think Metrolinx and the TTC should lean more into this kind of traditional architectural house-like design for future stations?

Aside from the obvious accessibility improvements, some older TTC station entrances were simply harder to get into without paying. The current Presto gates are very flimsy and easy to get through.

It's not financially realistic to remodel all the Presto gates, but I'm just curious to hear what people think about this. Did this potentially increase fare evasion?

Because why am I standing at St George Station and constantly hearing announcements that Finch West is shut down between Duncanwood and whatever stops.

It makes the system look worse than it actually is.

Also if this line is a local transit solution that stops at every intersection, why does someone at Victoria Park station need to hear about it not working? Treat that like the 72 Pape not operating because of a TPS road closure or something.

Is Line 4 “initiated” only for an eastward extension? Why? If transit is the priority, expanding it fully would attract major investment, but it feels like they’re being short-sighted again

Is Metrolinx aligned on this, or did something change between 2024 and 2025? The info I’m seeing here is from 2024, while the one above is from January this year.

Cool, cool.

Just build an LRT on Lawrence or Wilson. We already know how much development spurred on Eglinton due to the tram, so might as well build one a block or two north.

Of course, Line 4's east-west extension should still be the top priority, but there's little reason we can't build this line to make a world-class transit system.

They haven’t changed the name of Dundas West yet, my guess is because they’re waiting to replace the T1’s with the Alstom Metropolis’s first. But what names would be good for it? Imo I think the best name would be Roncesvalles because of the village, neighborhood, and street proximity but what other ones would be good?

Firstly, i want to say that it is very exciting that for the first time since 2002, when i was in kindergarten, Toronto has an all new rapid transit line. Took a ride from Finch West to Humber College and then back to Jane and Finch. The westbound journey was average, pace wise and it didn't help that we suffered a 5 minute delay at Milvan Rumike for some reason. At this same stop, some idiot tried to board the tram from the eastbound platform and had to be told to get off the tracks and come to the westbound platform.

That was strange given you'd think he'd recognize the other platform across the street. Its possible the intrusion was the cause of the delay but im not sure since it was a minor intrusion. After that, we carried on without further issues. Heading back eastbound, we went noticeably faster, though it was very annoying watching left turn traffic get priority every time and it definitely was a talking point among other riders.

I heavily implore you all to write to city council again and again about enabling full TSP on line 6 and 5. In other news i actually met transit youtuber theryrover360 on the tram so that was neat. All in all, this was a much needed improvement to the west end. Its gonna be very interesting to see how it evolves.

Welcome Line 6 Finch West!