My Thoughts on the TTC's 2023 Annual Service Plan

 Hey everyone! Early this week, TTC began their consultation period for some of their proposed changes for 2023. While this doesn't include every potential change, these tend to be bigger items. In this piece, I will provide some initial thoughts about them. Spoiler: they are... peculiar!

Changes related Line 3 Scarborough RT Shutdown

Towards the end of 2023, the TTC will have to shut down the RT. I won't bring my thoughts into this here, because they are extensive, but overall the TTC has had its hand tied in this issue.

The initial plan approved by the board will extend a number of routes from Scarborough Centre to Kennedy, via Kennedy and Midland in opposite directions. Once the RT tracks are ripped out, it will be replaced by a busway.

These changes proposed have the goal of bringing more isolated parts of Scarborough, like Malvern, Armadale, and Morningside Heights closer to either the subway or GO train by extending some routes. I will first show the changes I strongly approved of. 

The first change would see the 902 Markham Rd Express extended to Warden Station. This makes a lot of sense: this simplifies boarding locations at Sheppard, and reduces travel time. I think that operating the local north of Sheppard would be the best, as it would allow for more consistent service on Markham Road between Nashdene and Passmore (where the 102C diverts onto Dynamic).

A new stop is proposed at Milliken GO on the 953 Steeles East Express, allowing for a transfer to the Stouffville GO Line. I think this is good. As the survey correctly mentions, making the transfer between modes free would make this a very attractive option, as would the impending two-way, all-day service, but this has yet to happen. We are still a year and a half away, so there is lots of time for this to occur. Additionally, if the Remington Centre gets built, with a bus loop, I think that the stop at Midland could be removed, meaning there should be net no change in travel times with this additional stop.

Now are three changes I don't really approve of. These would see the 39A Finch East extended down Neilson to Centenary, and new branches of the 905 Eglinton East Express and 985 Sheppard East Express up Neilson. I think these are so odd. I guess they improve connections to other transit, but because TTC does not provide stopping patterns, or frequency, it matters little. Take the 905 extension. Is someone from Morningside Heights benefitting by taking this bus to Kennedy, Guildwood GO, or Eglinton GO? Probably not, as it isn't much quicker. I also wish more corridors were used: for example, the 985C via Nugget. Alternatively, maybe a super-express version of the 133 Neilson would be better, stopping only at Markham, Scarborough Centre, Ellesmere and Lawrence. Not only would it run the fastest route, it would provide a consistent location to catch from, and still connects to the GO Train at Kennedy.

Changes Related to the Opening of Line 6 Finch West LRT

Much of last year's ASP was related to altering bus routes for the opening of Line 5, and now we do the same for Line 6. There are three areas in focus here, which I will speak to one-by-one.

Firstly, we have the changes around Finch West Station. The main route in question, the 107 York University Heights is the latest iteration of an area constantly changing. It runs a large loop between Sheppard and Steeles, in both directions, but outside of rush, the frequency falls out of service standard. It's not great. This plan would break the loop, which would guarantee service every 30-minutes or better. This is done by restructuring the 101 Downsview Park. This route, in fall, will be changed to run through Stanley Greene and end at Downsview Park Station, which is already good enough as it improves access to Downsview Park from the west. When Line 6 opens, it will take over the 'St Regis' portion of the 107. Overall, I think this a very good change.

The next area is around Emery Station. I have posted two maps below so you can compare the 'before' and 'after'. Please note the 36 Finch West will be discontinued west of Keele when Line 6 opens.

I kinda hate this? The industrial area along Fenmar and Toryork will be hard to serve, no matter what. I appreciate the 984 Sheppard West Express ending at Emery, in order to allow passengers to go further west, but I'm not convinced on it being the Fenmar service. Additionally, it makes an inconsistent boarding location with the local at Weston and Sheppard. The new 'Toryork' route from Pioneer Village is weird. I know TTC wants to replace the 60C Steeles West with something more permanent, but I'm not sure this is the way to go. I also note that customers on Toryork would be able to get off Line 6 at Emery, but would not be able to get back on since the route runs out to Pioneer Village.

Personally, I would have rather a Toryork route just be a loop: one branch serves Toryork and Milvan counterclockwise, the other serves Fenmar and Milvan clockwise. It wouldn't be perfect, but would be good enough. Additionally, I would have built a bus terminal at Emery for the Sheppard West services to end at, but alas.

In the same area, the 384 Sheppard West Blue Night will be extended to Islington Loop via Weston and Steeles. I like this in idea, but not practice. Weston should have night service the whole way, from Bloor to Steeles, and the 353 Steeles Blue Night should be extended west to Islington anyways. This plan makes a gap on Steeles, so passengers will have to head down Jane to Sheppard, then back up. Making the 384 do these things makes me less confident will will ever see changes to the 353 and the potential 389.

The map does not show how the 337 runs north via Islington and south via Kipling. I wish they would have the 384 run via Kipling to Kipling and Finch, both ways, so the 337 can run both ways via Islington.

The last change has yet to be defined. With the 36 discontinued, the leftover 'tail' of Humberwood will be left over. Initially, the TTC proposed that the 37A Islington be extended from Humberwood Loop to Humber College, which I support. However, the TTC wants input to see where customers on Humberwood want to go. It seems to me that the TTC was a route to Mount Dennis via the Highway 27 Employment Area, but we shall see.

Conclusion

So those were my initial thoughts on the 2023 ASP. Obviously, my opinion is not fact, so if these changes affect you, please read through the proposal yourself. The survey, along with the above information can be found here.