TTC: Easier Access Phase III

[Sauga89]

They were put on hold several years ago, because the local stakeholder group recommended that the second exit face Danforth, which the TTC didn't want to do.

It was extra distance, and they had to buy a property on Danforth to do it.

But the TTC's proposed alternative was a mid block exit on Strathmore, which everyone hated, because it would have been an absurd walk to/from Danforth.

I don't recall if the TTC/City ever acquired a Danforth property.

@Northern Light probably knows this, but for everyone else, I dug up this slideshow from 2018 on the TTC website, which shows 10 options for a second Greenwood exit. The community favoured an entrance at Monarch Park and Danforth.

(EDIT: That option, Option C, would have required this property. I don't know if this property is heritage, but it would definitely make for a cool subway entrance.)

(Second Edit: It is listed as a heritage building in the city registry.)

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Drum, unless you have oodles of money lying around it will be impossible to add a second elevator in every station.

Exactly because in some cases the elevator had to be built in the middle of the street and then be covered over again or in the middle of the bus roadway of a station.

 

[Richard White]

Exactly because in some cases the elevator had to be built in the middle of the street and then be covered over again or in the middle of the bus roadway of a station.

What?

 

[txlseries4]

What?

THEY SAID EXACTLY BECAUSE IN SOME CASES THE ELEVATOR HAD TO BE BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND THEN BE COVERED OVER AGAIN OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BUS ROADWAY OF A STATION.

 

[PL1]

Exactly because in some cases the elevator had to be built in the middle of the street and then be covered over again or in the middle of the bus roadway of a station.

Coxwell, Donlands, Greenwood...

 

[drum118]

What?

NOT VERY station is able to handle a second elevator, but EVERYONE should be able to have access to any transit system second elevator regardless of cost. Only have to look at the US where elevators are finally being installed after decades of legal actions to get them.

Some stations can get away with a ramp system.

 

[Northern Light]

Speaking of second elevators........... while the official Easier Access Phase 4 document has not yet been publicly presented.......the TTC's long term capital plans now provide a list of stations prioritized for considering a second elevator:

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ttc/bgrd/backgroundfile-261186.pdf

From the above, on p. 8

To make that just a tad clearer:

College
Don Mills
Finch
Kennedy
King
Kipling
St. Andrew
St. Patrick
Union
and
York Mills

Head up the list of stations to be examined.

Of these, King is likely among the first, as this is being looked as part of the concourse expansion and additional exit projects.

This would likely be tied to the second exit project at St. Andrew, but I haven''t confirmed that.

College only makes sense if they rebuild and enlarge the main concourse, while this is something I very much support, I am unaware of any plans for such a project at this time.

 

[christiesplits]

They will be installing art on that concrete wall. Hopefully they cover all of the concrete with a nicer finish and not just install these art panels:

From: https://www.ttc.ca/about-the-ttc/TTC-Public-Art-Program
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The public art at the Donlands Station-Dewhurst Entrance was recently installed. Taken today:

 

[Northern Light]

The public art at the Donlands Station-Dewhurst Entrance was recently installed. Taken today:

View attachment 705712

I'm not sure @Molybdenum will be happy w/that as is............that's not a knock on the art, but rather the choice to leave the underlying wall unfinished. Note the anti-pigeon spikes on top of the work. These would not be necessary if there was tile finished all the way to the ceiling at a depth comparable to the art.

 

[GenerationLee]

The artist behind that work, April Hilcox, recently passed away. I'm sad that she can't be here to see it now installed at this entranceway, but I'm glad it's up for all to see.

 

[Molybdenum]

I'm not sure @Molybdenum will be happy w/that as is............that's not a knock on the art, but rather the choice to leave the underlying wall unfinished. Note the anti-pigeon spikes on top of the work. These would not be necessary if there was tile finished all the way to the ceiling at a depth comparable to the art.

At least the art itself is nice to look at. That trash can ought to be moved elsewhere though.

 

[Bordercollie]

From Warden earlier.

View attachment 678427View attachment 678428View attachment 678429View attachment 678430

The funny thing about some of these projects is that say stage 1 takes three months, there will be a four month gap until stage 2 starts. And then stage 2 will start and no work will be completed for a month in-between.

Perhaps they have to get another trade to come in? And the timing doesn't match?

This is also the same with Sheppard Yonge. They poured the slab to allow people to walk from the street into the station building but waited like 3 months to do the rest. That construction of repaving the station should have been completed in two months not 12.

These lead times for these projects are insane.

 

[Richard White]

The funny thing about some of these projects is that say stage 1 takes three months, there will be a four month gap until stage 2 starts. And then stage 2 will start and no work will be completed for a month in-between.

Perhaps they have to get another trade to come in? And the timing doesn't match?

This is also the same with Sheppard Yonge. They poured the slab to allow people to walk from the street into the station building but waited like 3 months to do the rest. That construction of repaving the station should have been completed in two months not 12.

These lead times for these projects are insane.

The issue with Warden is alot of the work is outside. It is hard to pour and cure contract below zero.

They can weld the structure together, get elevators up and running but they cannot pour concrete until it gets warmer. Unfortuantely, part of the welded structure is set into the concrete.

One good thing I have noticed is that they are clearing out the Kiss and Ride. They appear to be wanting to open it to vehicles at some point soon.

 

[Northern Light]

The issue with Warden is alot of the work is outside. It is hard to pour and cure contract below zero.

They can weld the structure together, get elevators up and running but they cannot pour concrete until it gets warmer. Unfortuantely, part of the welded structure is set into the concrete.

One good thing I have noticed is that they are clearing out the Kiss and Ride. They appear to be wanting to open it to vehicles at some point soon.

You can pour concrete in the winter, developers do it all the time.

However, if you do nothing to insulate it, curing/setting may take substantially longer

It depends on a number of factors. You may need to tent the work, you may heat the mix, you can add anti-freeze to some mixes......... there are lots of different ways to handle the issue.

But it does often slow work a bit.