Yesterday we were discussion the potential of the Relief Line extending north to Eglinton, and whether or not that would provide sufficient relief to the Yonge Line. I found some TTC data about that option, that shows that the Relief Line to Eglinton would be rather poor performing, compared to other Relief Line extensions, and especially when compared to the extension to Sheppard.
To summarize: TTC projected that the Relief Line Short would divert 4,700 pphpd from the Yonge Line in peak hour. They projected that the extension to Eglinton would divert only an additional 700 pphpd from the Yonge Line. It was also projected that the Relief Line to Eglinton would add only 1,200 peak hour riders to the Relief Line.
For the section north of Eglinton, Metrolinx projected it would divert 12,000 passengers from Yonge Line, more than twice the relief projected for a Relief Line with an Eglinton terminus, and with Relief Line ridership of about 20,000 pphpd, approximately equal to the ridership of the Yonge and Bloor danforth lines.
Relief Line Short
Peak DRL Ridership: 11,700 pphpd
Yonge Relief: - 4,700 pphpd
Relief Line Eglinton:
Peak Extension Ridership: +1,200 pphpd
Yonge Relief: - 700 pphpd (Total: 5,400)
Relief Line Sheppard:
Peak Extension Ridership: + 7,000 pphpd (approx) (Total: 19,000 pphpd)
Yonge Relief: -5,000 pphpd (Total: 11,600)
So it appears that the Relief Line to Eglinton is a bit of a red herring, with it being by far the worst performing segment of the Relief Line, having peak hour ridership of only 1,200 pphpd, and diverting 700 people from Yonge. This component needs to be examined further by City Planning, but the results remain consistent, it will be difficult to recommend such a poorly performing extension of the Relief Line, unless it's bundled with a commitment to immediately extend it north to Sheppard.
