Toronto Eglinton Line 5 | ?m | ?s | Metrolinx | Arcadis

[A.Malik.77]

It's for consistency with the directional signage. A couple reasons why this was felt to be important (aside from the graphics): the overhead signage avoids words so it never actually describes what each icon represents, so this was an opportunity to help clarify for those that might not be used to seeing those icons or might not be visual learners, and the OG Crosstown sign package treats LRT and Subway as distinct modes (whereas as you point out, current Metrolinx standard is to treat both as part of the same ‘category’ of mode in order to reconcile the use of subway style single digits and the very real differences in how people would perceive LRT services when compared to subway). The Crosstown West extension will trigger a number of signage changes just by virtue of the fact that the terminus is changing (at surface stops I think it's roughly half the signs), so that will probably be the juncture at which all of line 5 gets updated to match (easier to get these things funded as a line item in a much larger project capex budget versus trying to cover it with opex… the way the Crosslinx agreement is written doesn't allow for a lot of flexibility to change things so having the new infrastructure as a trigger for the update bolsters the ability to do it effectively). The maps will need to be updated several times before then so it's far from a permanent thing

Appreciate the response, straight from the horses’s mouth!

 

[Mind_the_gap]

I seriously wanted to chime in about floor numbering...

For all the legalese we emphasize toward safety in North America, ie. not getting sued - why do we get this wrong?

Every stairwell, elevator, floor number should be signed/numbered the same way.

Below grade floors should be numbered -1, -2, -3 etc, while ground level should be 0/G with a thick green ring around the button (following our new "Running Man" green standard).

How do we expect people to evacuate concisely if we can't this right?

Ps. I used to work for the Bay/Dundas Crappy Tire, and my biggest complaint among customers was they couldn't figure out the floor numbering for the parkade.

I always had to tell them it was an Eaton Centre issue, not Us. Our elevators had the roof collapsing in on themselves...

I don't give a sh** about consistency between TTC and Metrolinx - this should be consistency nationwide, like Exit signs.

 

[JasonParis]

I personally wish we used the European numbering standard: 0 for ground level, -1 and below for underground levels, and 1 and above for upper floors. That said, it does mean the term “first floor” refers to what we currently think of as the second floor. These Mx elevators can be quite confusing, and they often lack clear descriptions of what’s located on each level.

 

[rickvbiker]

That sounds extremely counterproductive. By having no access to utilities, MX will have to charge less rent to whomever takes over these retail spaces. Who are they expecting to attract to these spaces? Newspaper vendors?

One would think that part of the business approach to building a transit line is to make every station as profitable as possible. Isn't this part of how the Japanese make their transit profitable?

I don’t think the TTC has obtained the leases for the retail spaces in Line 5 stations from Metrolinx.

If I understand this document, the TTC only received permission from the board to negotiate "Omnibus Station Retail Agreement" with Metrolinx in October 2025.

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/8e6f-2025-298-ECLRT-Omnibus-Agreement.pdf

I’ve been keeping an eye out for RFPs for the retail spaces that the TTC would sublet, but nothing yet.
Hopefully the RFPs will give an indication of the availability of water and power in the spaces.

 

[turbanplanner]

I don't know if this has been mentioned and I can't be bothered to go back through every post to see...but am I missing something here? Is this a new style of designing elevators?

So in this picture Street level is 1 and we descend to level 2...this is also prevalent at multiple stations. At Eglinton Station we start at level 2 and then descend to level 4 (skipping 3 entirely) every other elevator I've been on the lowest level is 1 or 0 and it raises with each level you ascend. Why is it different on Line 5?

View attachment 716137

Mount dennis has floor -1

Bonus for the last min sloppily applied buttons, also, I noticed SEVERAL elevators on the line where only 1 of the buttons would light up when pressed (they were controls at each door)

 

[A 6264]

More signage that needs fixing: I notice most bus platforms on Line 5 have signs that just show the bay number, not the bus routes that use them. You have to search for a sign on a wall that shows which routes use which bays. Anyone who isn't a daily rider on any given route, will probably need to recheck the platform lists and wall maps every time, especially since they might move around over time.

 

[turbanplanner]

I always had to tell them it was an Eaton Centre issue, not Us. Our elevators had the roof collapsing in on themselves...

What??

 

[nottoban]

I seriously wanted to chime in about floor numbering...

For all the legalese we emphasize toward safety in North America, ie. not getting sued - why do we get this wrong?

Every stairwell, elevator, floor number should be signed/numbered the same way.

Below grade floors should be numbered -1, -2, -3 etc, while ground level should be 0/G with a thick green ring around the button (following our new "Running Man" green standard).

How do we expect people to evacuate concisely if we can't this right?

Ps. I used to work for the Bay/Dundas Crappy Tire, and my biggest complaint among customers was they couldn't figure out the floor numbering for the parkade.

I always had to tell them it was an Eaton Centre issue, not Us. Our elevators had the roof collapsing in on themselves...

I don't give a sh** about consistency between TTC and Metrolinx - this should be consistency nationwide, like Exit signs.

Again, this is already part of the building code. The fact it was implemented while not complying with code (and indeed Project Co came up with a rather elaborate and bespoke system for identifying floors) makes me wonder how the stations received occupancy permits, or if the liability being taken on by Metrolinx in adopting TTC's approach was fully understood (ie if there's a fire leading to death or injury and confusion is determined to be a factor, MX could be on the hook)

 

[duffo]

More signage that needs fixing: I notice most bus platforms on Line 5 have signs that just show the bay number, not the bus routes that use them. You have to search for a sign on a wall that shows which routes use which bays. Anyone who isn't a daily rider on any given route, will probably need to recheck the platform lists and wall maps every time, especially since they might move around over time.

Not sure how feasible it is but like Dufferin Station, indicating exits to access NB/SB stops would be a major help. I guess it's something you figure out after one time... but at Fairbank I took the wrong exit and just caught the 29 by a second.

 

[ARG1]

I seriously wanted to chime in about floor numbering...

For all the legalese we emphasize toward safety in North America, ie. not getting sued - why do we get this wrong?

Every stairwell, elevator, floor number should be signed/numbered the same way.

Below grade floors should be numbered -1, -2, -3 etc, while ground level should be 0/G with a thick green ring around the button (following our new "Running Man" green standard).

How do we expect people to evacuate concisely if we can't this right?

Ps. I used to work for the Bay/Dundas Crappy Tire, and my biggest complaint among customers was they couldn't figure out the floor numbering for the parkade.

I always had to tell them it was an Eaton Centre issue, not Us. Our elevators had the roof collapsing in on themselves...

I don't give a sh** about consistency between TTC and Metrolinx - this should be consistency nationwide, like Exit signs.

How are the basement floors represented in Braille? I imagine there might be an issue with blind people clicking the wrong button because they accidentally missed the '-' symbol/equivalent.

 

[GenerationLee]

I'm increasingly under the impression that this line, while fast, efficient, and to the point, really feels undersized for the job it's taking on as a midtown connector route. And will be in the future as I suspected.
The train wait times remain underwhelming, which, will be fixed soon, but overall, the station designs - the narrowness of stairways, escalators (so many, I cant imagine maintenance schedules in a few months and year, let alone now), and the somewhat odd (read, narrow/one sided) approach to how the Crosstiwn connects to the subway at Yonge and Eg West (well, I cant speak to the latter actually...) gives me concern for the future.

I understand some of these things are inherent sacrifices made in inserting a transit line underneath existing subways and nearby infrastructure, but some of these workarounds really seem overengineered in some cases.

And some design issues are just pathetic. Take this for example. Are we trying to engineer the future of waste disposal with less material used to house house disposal units?

 

[afransen]

I'm increasingly under the impression that this line, while fast, efficient, and to the point, really feels undersized for the job it's taking on as a midtown connector route. And will be in the future as I suspected.
The train wait times remain underwhelming, which, will be fixed soon, but overall, the station designs - the narrowness of stairways, escalators (so many, I cant imagine maintenance schedules in a few months and year, let alone now), and the somewhat odd (read, narrow/one sided) approach to how the Crosstiwn connects to the subway at Yonge and Eg West (well, I cant speak to the latter actually...) gives me concern for the future.

I understand some of these things are inherent sacrifices made in inserting a transit line underneath existing subways and nearby infrastructure, but some of these workarounds really seem overengineered in some cases.

And some design issues are just pathetic. Take this for example. Are we trying to engineer the future of waste disposal with less material used to house house disposal units?
View attachment 716567

The transparent waste receptacles is a security measure to thwart bombings, etc. They could have a bit of a cage to keep the bags from spilling messily though.

 

[Bojaxs]

I'm increasingly under the impression that this line, while fast, efficient, and to the point, really feels undersized for the job it's taking on as a midtown connector route. And will be in the future as I suspected.
The train wait times remain underwhelming, which, will be fixed soon, but overall, the station designs - the narrowness of stairways, escalators (so many, I cant imagine maintenance schedules in a few months and year, let alone now), and the somewhat odd (read, narrow/one sided) approach to how the Crosstiwn connects to the subway at Yonge and Eg West (well, I cant speak to the latter actually...) gives me concern for the future.

I understand some of these things are inherent sacrifices made in inserting a transit line underneath existing subways and nearby infrastructure, but some of these workarounds really seem overengineered in some cases.

And some design issues are just pathetic. Take this for example. Are we trying to engineer the future of waste disposal with less material used to house house disposal units?
View attachment 716567

Of course it's undersized! This is what the subway crowd has been arguing for a decade! But the pro-LRT folks insisted that ridership along Eglinton didn't warrant a subway.

The response now is "add a third car to each train". That will maybe hold us out for another year.

Wait till more development finishes along Eglinton, and the extension to Renforth is completed. The situation will only get worse.

The whole point of building a subway along Eglinton was to "future proof" the line for ridership increases.

They need to add some kind of raised edge along the bottom of the garbage bins to prevent spillage onto the platforms.

 

[zang]

How are the basement floors represented in Braille? I imagine there might be an issue with blind people clicking the wrong button because they accidentally missed the '-' symbol/equivalent.

As much of an issue as having to determine what B#, P#, L#, LL# are I suspect.

 

[GenerationLee]

Of course it's undersized! This is what the subway crowd has been arguing for a decade! But the pro-LRT folks insisted that ridership along Eglinton didn't warrant a subway.

The response now is "add a third car to each train". That will maybe hold us out for another year.

The whole point of building a subway along Eglinton was to "future proof" the line for ridership increases.

Oh I'm fully aware. I just shake my head at the whole matter. Its the right fit for Finch, but in the future, Eglinton will densify to a degree wherein a subway will be a must.