Hi all! It's been a while since I have wrote a blog post, but I've had a few ideas recently that I want to put to paper.
Since my last post, TTC has opened both Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West. While Line 6 is a 1:1 replacement for the former 36 Finch West bus, with only a small handful of accompanying surface network changes. Line 5 is the real game changer, provided a second east-west line across the City, with stations in five of the six boroughs. Many bus routes were modified to provide connections to the new stations.
Over the past few months, as I have gotten used to using Line 5 and remembering the new bus routes, I have noticed that my travel patterns have changed. I wanted to write about them, and how new lines both provide opportunity, but can also be challenging to predict outcomes of. I have listed the three main changes I have noticed, in level of how predictable they would have been prior to Line 5 opening.
Change 1 - High Predictability
My most common transit trip is to take the 24 or the 924 to Line 2 at Victoria Park Station, and travel west. While this is still my principal route when heading to work, or just downtown in general, Line 5 provides a great alternative.
Now, when there is trackwork on Line 2 on the weekend, I can get off at O'Connor Station and hop Line 5, completely avoiding the shuttle buses. I also check my phone when approaching O'Connor Station, to see if Line 2 is having a service disruption. If so, I can take the new line. The travel times are quite similar, I can slot the options in as needed, without concern of me being late.
Change 2 - Medium Predictability
When I want to travel west but am not heading downtown, I used to walk to Ellesmere, and take either the 95, 995, or 996, with the latter being my option if travelling through Yonge Street on a weekday. While this is still a valuable trip, I am finding that taking the 24 and Line 5 is a good option, especially if I am travelling on a weekend when the 996 doesn't run and I wish to get to the western side of Line 1.
Change 3 - Low Predictability
I did not visit or travel through Little Jamaica much prior to Line 5 opening, due in part to associated construction and traffic. Since Oakwood Station has opened, I have been transferring in and exploring this neighbourhood a lot more.
Prior to Line 5 opening, if coming from the western part of downtown to home, I would take either the 511 to Bathurst Station or the 63 to Ossington Station, taking Line 2 east. Now, I opt for the 63 and take it direct to Oakwood Station and head home that way, via Line 5. I have found it much easier and less busy than my old route.
Lessons Learned
While transit agencies can predict some changes in trips prior to a line opening, especially when it directly replaces a bus route, some trips do not become apparent until after the line opens. This can be a challenge as resources may not be sufficient if ridership is higher than predicted. When Line 1 was extended to Vaughan, the 36 between Keele and Yonge was reduced to every 7 minutes during peak. This was insufficient, and service was increased quite quickly to every 4 minutes.
With Line 5's opening, the 35 Jane was split at Eglinton, with a new 27 route replacing the 35 south of Eglinton. This was based on an expectation that those on Jane north of Eglinton would prefer the connection to Mount Dennis Station on Line 5, and not Jane on Line 2. However, many people are transferring between the 35 and 27 at Jane and Eglinton. This is harder to solve than the above example: extra buses aren't the solution, and it means that routes may have to be redesigned to accommodate travel patterns.
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