According to a bulletin from the TTC’s Safety and Environment Department, effective May 24, 2026 some speed restrictions that hobble streetcar operations will be dropped.

• At crosswalks and signalized intersections, streetcars are now restricted to entering at 25 km/h. This will change so that cars can operate at up to the posted speed limit.
• The 10 km/h speed restriction at intersections on The Queensway will be removed, and cars can operate up to the posted speed limit.
• Intersections with special work, or with other explicit restrictions, continue to be subject to slow orders.
• Notwithstanding these changes, Operators are expected to drive defensively and adapt to road and weather conditions.

This is a first step in attempting to speed up streetcar routes, but the limits at special work (switches, crossings) remain in place. This will not change, if at all, without a thorough review of factors contributing to that long-standing policy including:

• Reliability of electric switch controllers,
• Benefits of double-blade switches for Flexity streetcar movement through turns, and
• Signaling to provide a positive indication for operators that switches are set and locked to the desired route.

That study is underway, but we are unlikely to see major changes quickly especially if replacement of existing track and controllers is needed. Related issues include:

• The number of manually operated switches at locations where streetcars regularly turn for diversions and short turns, and
• The degree, if any, of aggressive transit signal priority provided at existing and future switch locations.

It is not clear why there is a delay of over three weeks for this change to take effect, but it will be in place before the World Cup games.