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.
- Removal of speed restrictions related to trolley pole operation notably at low underpasses.
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.
Steve Munro 
Aside from the very germane topic of Toronto’s glacial streetcars (some routes more glacial than others) I think I’ve finally found the way to post in this string without being blocked by WordPress’s labyrinth of single leaf switches:
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No mention of the LRTs in this? I would have to assume it applies. That said, given the difference in gauge and switch systems, I can’t fathom a legitimate reason to delay unless they intend to change the signage prior to this.
Steve: Another consideration is that the LRTs are subject to software enforced speed profiles that have to be changed.
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“effective May 24, 2026”
Serious question: why not tomorrow?
Steve: I suspect there are locations with posted speeds where the signs have to be removed. Also there’s the question of sorting out how this will apply to Lines 5 and 6. I only just received this news a few hours ago, and will inquire about these points but don’t expect an answer until there are folks around to clarify things.
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Thanks for the much needed update! Glad to see that the TTC is being held to account .
Any word regarding the speed restrictions on entering valleys such as bridge underpasses and entering underground portals? Or speed restrictions underground such as Spadina?
Steve: Nope. This was just for surface operations at intersections.
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And yet another point subsequent to this:
Does the TTC inherit ownership of the LRT RoW produced by Metrolinx, or just the operating rights/responsibilities?
Steve: Just operating responsibilities.
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I ask this just for the folks at the TTC who read your blog…
Will they be releasing a map of the network with the speed limits, go slow orders, special work slow orders etc. similar to the subway map.
Steve: I wouldn’t hold my breath. It would be a rather embarrassing map.
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Do single blade switches have that much of an impact on speed, or is it really having to stop and check their position that is the issue? I would also think that single blade switches would be less likely to get jammed up with snow or other debris.
Steve: The question is whether double blade switches would reduce the possibility of derailment, but the bigger change is better switch controllers, positive verification of switch position and associated priority signals.
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The entire 510 Spadina line would be highlighted in red.
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Would you happen to have any word on the ridiculous and pathetic speed restriction between York and the Bay St tunnel on Queens Quay?
The TTC initially attributed it to a “weather related winter restriction”, but this has been in place for virtually 2+ years and 509/510 streetcars literally crawl at 5km/h.
Steve: I have a query in to the TTC about various outstanding speed restrictions.
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Trolley poles under low clearance? Where on the network are trolley poles still in use?
Steve: There might be odd bits that have not been converted, but certainly nowhere that is a part of a regular route and under a bridge or in a tunnel.
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Is this a temporary change for the world cup or will this be an ongoing measure?
Steve: It’s an official change to the streetcar rulebook, and so that’s permanent.
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Good thing we have the, ah, World Cup. But I think that was last year. This year it’s FIFA. Is that the World Cup too?
Steve: Yes, it is. Last year was the World Series.
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And….the TTC is removing stops.
It won’t improve “service reliability” one bit. Unless the eventual goal is to remove all stops and keep streetcars snoozing in the loops.
Steve: One problem with removing stops at the same time other changesy occur, notably removal of speed limits, is that it’s impossible to tell if the stop removal on its own made any difference.
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We need to relax speed limits for all vehicle types and not just streetcars. Why discriminate against buses and cars?
Steve: We’re not discriminating against buses and cars, only allowing streetcars to drive at the same speed other vehicles are already do.
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I would hope that this takes into account the difference in braking performance and distance to stop required between rubber tired vehicles and steel wheel on steel rail friction. Something the Operators cannot always predict and car and truck drivers do not anticipate.
Hence the original reason for slower intersection speeds as was a lessons learned on Spadina Streetcar route where collission history highlighted the challenge.
Steve: That all sounds very good except it ignores the fact that the slow operation did not apply to previous generations of streetcars. On Spadina, problems arose more from motorists and pedestrians ignoring the right-of-way.
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Is this a bulletin that’s available online for the public to read?
Steve: I published almost the entire text in the article.
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