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TTC 2024 Service Plan Update

The 2024 Service Plan was presented and approved at the November 22, 2023 TTC Board meeting.

Construction Plans for 2024

The presentation includes a chart showing major construction plans in 2024. The overhead projects are for the completion of migration to pantograph-only overhead. (It is hard to believe that they would take Queens Quay and Fleet out of service during the CNE in Q3, but I’m not planning the City’s infrastructure projects.)

The overhead projects raise the question of whether they will actually occur on time. Past work has been scheduled, diversions implemented, and then nothing happened. Riders should not have to put up with disorganized project scheduling.

The only major track project (beyond completion of St. Clair West Station and the 501 Queen via Adelaide connection) is on King West from Dufferin to Shaw. In the Service Plan report, one set of diversion routes was shown for the 504 King, 29/929 Dufferin and 63 Ossington routes. This has been revised, and there are now two options under consideration, both different from the one in the report.

Here is the original plan which has two phases with the second being for the duration of the intersection replacement at Dufferin planned for June/July 2024. Note the removal of service on King west of Dufferin in this version.

For phase 1 (mid-February to late June, August to late October) there are two new options which preserve service on King between Dufferin and Roncesvalles by extending 63 Ossington buses west to Sunnyside Loop. In both options, the 504 King service diverts north via Shaw to Queen, but the difference lies in what happens at Dufferin Street.

In option 1 (left below), the 501A Queen cars divert south to Dufferin Loop. Service on Queen west of Dufferin is provided by the 504 King cars with the 504B service running to Humber Loop until late evening. Late evening service through to Long Branch will be provided by the 501C as it is today.

In option 2 (right below), the 501 Queen cars stay on Queen Street, and the 504B diverts south to Dufferin Loop.

508 Lake Shore cars operate via Queen and Shaw in both options.

The 29/929 Dufferin bus service only diverts for the period that the King/Dufferin intersection is closed (not shown here).

The TTC is conducting a survey to determine which of these is preferable to riders.

Their King West project page is here.

Service Reliability

Service reliability will be addressed on various fronts. The phrase “expanding beyond on-time performance and adding emphasis on consistent, well-spaced, and completed service” is very gratifying. If the TTC actually pulls off this change in focus, it should repair many long-standing issues that the simplistic terminal departure metrics completely ignore.

With the change in ridership patterns, there are new periods requiring better service. Even with the system as a whole running at less that 100% of pre-covid ridership, there are routes and time periods that are over 100%. This is compounded by traffic congestion that is, in some places, worse than in 2019.

Budget Directions

The chart below shows two possible futures for TTC service. On the left is at best a stand pat scenario where service is trimmed to reduce the call on City subsidy and savings, if any, might go to reduce deficits, not to support operations. On the right is a scenario for improvement with better funding and service quality.

The 2024 budget will likely appear at the TTC Board in December, but the final choice will be up to Council and, indirectly, to other governments and their support for municipal spending.

5 thoughts on “TTC 2024 Service Plan Update”

  1. So, much as I applaud a desire to serve King Street through Parkdale…

    The 63 is already a hash most days, especially in afternoons, particularly due to Strachan being clogged up by drivers trying to get to the Gardiner. Extending the 63 through Parkdale would add a *second* spot where it can be delayed by Gardiner-bound drivers – at Jameson. It won’t serve Parkdale very well and it might make the rest of the service worse.

    I don’t really see other good options, though. It’d be tempting to turn the 29 onto King instead, but that bus is a mess too.

    (All this because of one missing southbound-to-westbound curve at King and Dufferin, sigh)

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  2. Jarek says: (All this because of one missing southbound-to-westbound curve at King and Dufferin, sigh)” Of course, that intersection is being rebuilt so they COULD add it though most likely won’t! (Or will decided to do so and then forget, as seems to be their norm.)

    Steve: The castings would have been ordered at least a year ago, and so to speak, the die is already cast. One point to note: there is a manhole on the northwest corner that would be very close to or could conflict with a curve there, and it might indicate a conflicting underground structure.

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  3. Steve, you will understand, I will give priority to streetcars over sewers anytime (see my comments on locating the proposed Queens Quay east portal for WELRT). The Dufferin-King streetcar junction is crucial not just for the WWLRT, but also for the ability of streetcars to bypass blockages along King or Queen, as has been mentioned many times on this blog before. Therefore, the potential problem of a missing curve at Dufferin-King is important.

    I looked at the TTC website. From the site:

    “Construction is expected to take place in five phases from February 2024 to November 2024:

    • Phase one: from mid-February to late-July 2024, will include water main replacement on King Street West from Dufferin Street to Shaw Street.
    • Phase two: from mid-May to mid-June 2024, will include streetcar track renewal on King Street West from Dufferin Street to Fraser Avenue.
    • Phase three: from June to July 2024 (5 weeks), will include ‘full’ streetcar track renewal at the intersection of King Street West and Dufferin Street.
    • Phase four: from August to September 2024, will include top layer streetcar track renewal on King Street West from Fraser Avenue to Atlantic Avenue.
    • Phase five: from September to late-October 2024, will include top layer streetcar track renewal on King Street West from Atlantic Avenue to Shaw Street.

    As details regarding this work are finalized the website will be updated ”

    Note Phase three, “will include ‘full’ streetcar track renewal at the intersection of King Street West and Dufferin Street.”

    Meanwhile, Steve, you doubt about the TTCs ability to actually do a complete job:

    Steve said:

    “The castings would have been ordered at least a year ago, and so to speak, the die is already cast. One point to note: there is a manhole on the northwest corner that would be very close to or could conflict with a curve there, and it might indicate a conflicting underground structure.”

    My opinion on this is:

    1. While I am not that familiar with shops making rails to order, I do have decades experience in metal products manufacturing as manager of cost accounting. Any shop would welcome a revised and larger order. A year’s lead time sounds excessive, but I would not be surprised if that were the actual case considering that it is the TTC ordering product.
    2. The City and TTC are co-ordinating on this King Street West project. Therefore, it would make sense if that Dufferin-King manhole were moved out of the way to allow the streetcar track.
    3. But, to leave nothing to chance, the website has a couple of contact persons listed, and so, if a dozen of us readers called them, I am sure that plans for the corner would be clarified favourably.
    4. I note that the Dufferin-King streetcar junction construction is planned to be completed before the start of the CNE.
    5. Thanks, Steve, for such a comprehensive review.

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  4. Thank you for all the work you put in for us, Steve. You’re genuinely the best.

    With the extension of the 63 to Sunnyside loop, could we see a potential return of the 163 Oakwood? I’ve seen some newer signs for the 163 make their return to Lawrence West station and I’m ultimately curious.

    Steve: The Map for the Line 5 route changes shows the 63 Ossington staying as it is with no 163 on the map. It’s hard to keep track of what they’re up to.

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  5. Steve – as others have said, thank you for all of your incredible work.

    Steve: You’re very welcome!

    I wasn’t sure where to post this question – when Line 5 finally opens, has there been any talk of extending the 405 community bus to Mount Dennis?

    Steve: Not that I have seen, although this would obviously make sense.

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