TTC: Other Items (catch all)

[Steve X]

Something that I have been wondering is if the TTC would be open to the idea of constructing a multi-level bus garage as a means to save space. I bring this up because iirc the TTC expects that it will reach garage capacity by 2028 and who really knows where a new garage would be built. Given some of the ridiculous deadheading the downtown routes do (I believe the 19 Bay for example deadheads from Mount Dennis) it would make sense to construct a new garage nearer to downtown however space there is at a premium so short of renovating Lake Shore to handle 40' buses (which I believe the TTC ruled out) it seems it would be wise to try a build a multi-level garage. New York for example has multiple examples of this and even the TTC at one time had Davenport Garage which was 2 stories. I believe in these kinds of garages the 1st floor is where the maintenance bays are, while the 2nd floor and beyond are bus parking.

Just to show some examples from New York:

Grand Avenue Depot (Grand Ave - 49th Place): 200 Bus Capacity
View attachment 704425

Mother Clara Hale Depot (Malcom X Blvd - 146th St): 150 Bus Capacity
View attachment 704426

Tuskegee Airman Depot (Lexington Ave - 99th St):

View attachment 704428

It would be cheaper to deadhead for the few downtown routes than to buy and construct a garage downtown for many years.

Is it worth it to build a multi level garage? Well you see NYC is mostly made up of multiple level low rise residences anywhere near Manhattan while many residential units near our downtown remain houses. When developers buy a strip, they just turn it into a high rise due to the high land cost.

So it’s probably not the best to build a huge garage downtown.

 

[drum118]

It would be cheaper to deadhead for the few downtown routes than to buy and construct a garage downtown for many years.

Is it worth it to build a multi level garage? Well you see NYC is mostly made up of multiple level low rise residences anywhere near Manhattan while many residential units near our downtown remain houses. When developers buy a strip, they just turn it into a high rise due to the high land cost.

So it’s probably not the best to build a huge garage downtown.

It would be cheaper if they did the Commissioner garage two levels with a third one for staff parking. Even going four floors will work

Zurich has the trams store and service on the ground level with bus maintenance, buses store on the second level with staff parking on the third. I need to check photos I shot to make sure if parts were store underground one level. Paris has a number of 2-3 level garages underground with residential on top of them as well mixed use.

 

[nfitz]

The SafeTTC app seems to be only for reporting emergency, dangerous, or immediately unsafe conditions, something roughly equivalent to 911, although now that I read their description it does also mention "harassment" and "suspicious activity" (whatever that means?). I think there maybe there needs to be something that better explains what should and shouldn't be reported. I'm guessing they don't want us wasting their time by reporting things that some may consider to be a problem, but are far too trivial to be considered an emergency.
Something like a crack/meth enthusiast walking around inside a subway car yelling random racial/sexual epithets and occasionally throwing objects around is unpleasant and somewhat annoying, but not an emergency and not really 'harassment' either, and somehow I doubt it would be anything TTC security could or would want to do anything about anyway.

Safety check is pretty inclusive. I used that one a couple of days for the completely unconscious person, who could have been dead for all I know. (Didn't twitch a muscle while i was there).

Suspicious activity is another. And there's also other.

I'd think screaming racist epithets and throwing stuff is very reportable.

 

[JBR]

Something that I have been wondering is if the TTC would be open to the idea of constructing a multi-level bus garage as a means to save space. I bring this up because iirc the TTC expects that it will reach garage capacity by 2028 and who really knows where a new garage would be built. Given some of the ridiculous deadheading the downtown routes do (I believe the 19 Bay for example deadheads from Mount Dennis) it would make sense to construct a new garage nearer to downtown however space there is at a premium so short of renovating Lake Shore to handle 40' buses (which I believe the TTC ruled out) it seems it would be wise to try a build a multi-level garage. New York for example has multiple examples of this and even the TTC at one time had Davenport Garage which was 2 stories. I believe in these kinds of garages the 1st floor is where the maintenance bays are, while the 2nd floor and beyond are bus parking.

Just to show some examples from New York:

Grand Avenue Depot (Grand Ave - 49th Place): 200 Bus Capacity
View attachment 704425

Mother Clara Hale Depot (Malcom X Blvd - 146th St): 150 Bus Capacity
View attachment 704426

Tuskegee Airman Depot (Lexington Ave - 99th St):

View attachment 704428

TTC still has Danforth Garage just sitting there being used as a division for subway and CSA’s. But the garage is still in the back. Toronto Police have pulled their plans to build a new police division there so the entire site is once again back to the drawing board. I guess what I’m getting at is why not use Danforth for downtown and short East York routes. It would cut down on deadheading significantly. I could see the NIMBYism happening over diesel fumes, so make it an EV only garage.

Also, too add to your NYC garage pics, have you ever been to The Port Authority bus terminal on 42nd. That place is wild…

 

[APTA-2048]

Just want to throw it out because I learned this on my recent visit: Montreal is almost done building an underground bus garage.

 

[Voltz]

Just want to throw it out because I learned this on my recent visit: Montreal is almost done building an underground bus garage.

Someone forgot to tell them the garage wasn’t for their other rubber tire vehicles.

 

[Richard White]

TTC still has Danforth Garage just sitting there being used as a division for subway and CSA’s. But the garage is still in the back. Toronto Police have pulled their plans to build a new police division there so the entire site is once again back to the drawing board. I guess what I’m getting at is why not use Danforth for downtown and short East York routes. It would cut down on deadheading significantly. I could see the NIMBYism happening over diesel fumes, so make it an EV only garage.

I believe the site is still very much active for MOW purposes.

When I was there for the open house earlier this year there was noticeable activity on the site. It's not like it is empty and does serve a useful purpose.

 

[JBR]

I believe the site is still very much active for MOW purposes.

When I was there for the open house earlier this year there was noticeable activity on the site. It's not like it is empty and does serve a useful purpose.

It’s storage for materials
Probably cheaper to retrofit the site for buses vs buying land and building brand new within the same proximity to downtown.

 

[Steve X]

I really don't understand why are we even discussing the needs of a downtown garage in 2025. Unlike NYC or Montreal, the primary surface transit node are streetcars.

The 19 Bay itself operates with a maximum of 4 buses in the afternoon. Gone are the pre-pandemic days where a couple dozen buses flock the route.
The 65 Parliament operates with 6 buses max.
The 75 Sherbourne operates with 10 buses max.
The 94 Wellesley operates with 9 buses max.
The 97C Yonge branch operates with 3 buses.
The 114 Queens Quay East bus operates with 8 buses max.
The 121 Esplanade-River operates with 4 buses max.
Add the seasonal 202 Cherry Beach with 3 buses and throw in 20 buses for streetcar shuttles, it sums up to 67 buses. Add 20% spare ratio and it's up to 90 buses.

TTC wants to build a big garage with 250-300 buses. Building one downtown would mean 200+ buses are going to deadhead out of downtown traffic as they are not even needed there. That's a BS about of wasted resources to operate the garage on top an expensive BS proposal. Even if TTC builds a small garage, they still need to build another garage elsewhere. So this discussion is frankly quite naive and not well thought. TTC could use a new HQ more than a new downtown garage.

 

[Bordercollie]

I think Rogers has turned on 5G in random tunnels including Finch to Sheppard and Spadina to St Clair W. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

ALao there is now a Tim's in the fair paid area at Sheppard Yonge where Starbucks used to be.

 

[81-717]

ALao there is now a Tim's in the fair paid area at Sheppard Yonge where Starbucks used to be.

I still remember when there was a Cinnabon there. The best thing they had were churros, no idea why those were only around for a very short time before being discontinued & never seen again.