29 Dufferin

 Hey guys! Today's route is the 29 Dufferin, which operates with two branches:

• 29A Dufferin: Wilson Stn to Exhibition (Dufferin Gate)
• 29C Dufferin: Wilson Stn to Exhibition (Princes' Gate)

There is also the 929 Dufferin Express service, which operates during weekday daytimes and early evening. It offers limited stops, and duplicates the 29A... mainly. Sometimes it duplicates the 29C when construction limits access to Dufferin Gate Loop, like what will happen in January.

This route is notorious for delays and being very busy, which has led it to being described at 'Sufferin on the Dufferin.' It is really hard to argue with this statement.

The Route

All 29 Dufferin buses depart the upper level of Wilson Station via west on Wilson and south on Dufferin. The stretch of Dufferin until Lawrence is a mix of industry, big-box stores, single-family homes, and Yorkdale Shopping Mall. Personally, this is one of my least favourite places to walk in the city. South of Lawrence, the single-family homes continue, with a few high-rises. The west side of Dufferin between Tycos and Castlefield is entirely industrial. 

Near Eglinton, Dufferin narrows, and is lined by single-family homes for almost the entire way to King. There are a few notable exceptions: Galleria Mall at Dupont, a commercial stretch along Bloor near the connection to Dufferin Station, Dufferin Mall at Sylvan, and some condos and offices near both Queen and King. 

29A buses enter Dufferin Gate Loop via Springhurst and Fort Rouillé, but the 29C buses continue into Exhibition Place. When not hosting events, Exhibition Place is relatively empty. Buses travel south on Dufferin, east on Saskatchewan, and east on Manitoba, before looping via Manitoba, Canada, Princes', Nunavut, and Nova Scotia. Buses end their trips on Canada beside the Enercare Centre (Kind of related, but there is a road in Exhibition Place named after every province and territory, except Northwest Territories. Odd).

Sights to See

• Yorkdale Mall
• Orfus Road Shopping District
• Galleria Mall
• Dufferin Mall
• Exhibition Place

Subway Connections

• Wilson
• Dufferin

Commuter Rail Connections

• Exhibition

Frequency and Ridership

The 29A operates off-peak on weekdays, and during the evening on weekends, while the 29C operates at all other times. However, this is subject to change come January. Due to construction forcing all 504 services into Dufferin Gate Loop, the 29C will run at all times to clear space in the loop.

Service during the daytime on weekdays ranges from every 6' to every 6'30, using articulated buses. Early evening service is every 5'30, and late evening is every 7'. Service during Saturday early mornings is every 8', during mornings is every 5'15, and during afternoons is every 3'15. When buses are cut back on the 29A, service is every 8'45 during early evenings, and every 10' during late evenings. Sunday service is every 10' during the early mornings and the evenings, with morning service being every 6'45 and afternoon service being every 4'15.

The 29 Dufferin is incredibly busy. 27,900 people use this route during the weekdays, and this does not include the nearly 15,000 who use the 929. Saturdays carry 40,100 (!), and Sundays carry 24,800. That's actually insane!

Thoughts

This route's passengers do suffer. The road itself is narrow, and there does not seem to be any political will to make some changes to this route to improve service, besides the RapidTO program, which I will discuss in the next section. Obviously there is a need for some type of higher-order transit, but we all know how transport decisions are informed in this city/province. Sigh. The 929 was a welcome addition, but it only skips three stops south of Bloor. I get it, as major roads are close together, but it doesn't necessarily make things faster.

Future

Normally, this section is only a few lines, but this time it will be a few paragraphs.

Firstly, Line 5 along Eglinton will have a station at Dufferin, named Fairbank. Transfers can be made on street.

Secondly, as mentioned above, there are plans for RapidTO bus lanes on Dufferin in a few years. While there is need for them, I can already imagine the chaos of consultation and discussion over them. Dufferin is narrow, and bus lanes mean less lanes for cars. Personally, I don't care, but obviously some people very much do. Unlike the current lanes on Eglinton East, these changes will require significant adjustment to the way the road functions. North of Lawrence, however, the road is wide, but the lanes until Wilson will only be two kilometres, so it would probably not be worth it.

Third, the TTC has proposed, in their 2021 Annual Service Plan, to weekend daytime service on the 929 Dufferin Express. Considering that 40,000 people take the 29 currently on Saturdays, this is much needed. It will see a reduction to local service, but the net benefit is quite large.

Fourth, a new condo development will replace Galleria Mall at Dufferin and Dupont. The TTC has mentioned a route may operate through it. While it could be the 29, I highly doubt this will happen, and so it will likely be the 26 Dupont that provides through service.

Fifth, Dufferin Station is a mess. There is heavy through service, but transfer made to the subway on street are... annoying. It regularly takes a few sets of lights to get through Bloor going southbound, and that's where ridership is lower! This station was not built with a bus loop as it was not necessary at the time. In hindsight, what a mistake! The school at the southwest corner of the intersection may be closed soon (or it has already? idk), and the TTC has considered buying the property for a loop. This would be a good investment, and allow service to be tailored to match demand.

Lastly, with the 121 Fort York-Esplanade being cut to Union Station in the west next year, there must be a way found to serve Ontario Place. The 29 may be extended, but the TTC prefers the option of a shuttle from Exhibition Loop to the Central Entrance.