TTC: Other Items (catch all)

[generalcanada]

From the moat, so you would not go past union.

These doors:

View attachment 622009

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The intent is to have a single entry point so that TTC / Police can easily close entry if the station reaches dangerous crowding conditions.

Which it will. not sure if we all forgot but you cant fix this.
Funneling people into a chokepoint is just going to cause confusion
Someone said it right above. Union should just be closed and have everyone spread to all the other stations

 

[Northern Light]

Someone said it right above. Union should just be closed and have everyone spread to all the other stations

St. Andrew station is much more capacity constrained than Union.

Much smaller concourse, fewer fare gates, and less vertical circulation capacity (stairs/escalators to platforms).

I'm not sure how removing the capacity at Union wouldn't just shift the problem to a smaller station and make it that much worse.

King is also pretty constrained, particularly its principle entrance, its a bit better if you can get people to enter through the CIBC entrance/exit..........

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I agree the method of crowd control contemplated here has its own problems.

I think it would serve the City well to:

a) Manage crowds further away from Union, trying to regulate the flow in that direction.

b) Run Artic buses, with all-door loading, from key locations, express to Line 2.

Which, by the way, they are doing, in part, with an express that will run up Jarvis to Sherbourne Station.

But my impression is that I'm one of relatively few who know that.......and that the communication strategy needs a bit of a boost over the next few days.

 

[Amare]

I really dont get what the city is trying to accomplish with this.

If they want to alleviate the issue than dont focus New Year's celebration festivities along the waterfront, do it like the good old days and have it on Nathan Phillips Square so that way people can use Osgoode or Queen. Or split the festivities between Nathan Phillips Square and the Harbourfont.

This really isnt rocket science, but it seems they want to go for round 2 of a messy situation.

 

[Jonny5]

b) Run Artic buses, with all-door loading, from key locations, express to Line 2.
Which, by the way, they are doing, in part, with an express that will run up Jarvis to Sherbourne Station.
But my impression is that I'm one of relatively few who know that.......and that the communication strategy needs a bit of a boost over the next few days.

Can confirm I never heard about this until right now.

 

[DSC]

Can confirm I never heard about this until right now.

Well hidden on TTC website.

 

[Jonny5]

Well hidden on TTC website.

View attachment 622019

Hidden as always.

That's a bit of a distant pick-up point, and I bet many will think it's too far to spend the time to walk there and its better to go to the subway, assuming they even know about the bus option.

Also the "every five minutes" bit is funny, as we know they can't properly manage service like that, but also this is an occasion where you shouldn't be on a schedule like that. An express point-to-point bus service to handle a crowd surge actually is where you want the opposite. Have the buses all on standby and start loading them up, multiple buses at a time as needed, and simply have them go as soon as they are full. No need to wait and depart precisely every five minutes, but I bet that's what they will do.

The one time they don't need rigorous line management will be the one time they will have it.

 

[nfitz]

Also the "every five minutes" bit is funny, as we know they can't properly manage service like that, but also this is an occasion where you shouldn't be on a schedule like that. An express point-to-point bus service to handle a crowd surge actually is where you want the opposite. Have the buses all on standby and start loading them up, multiple buses at a time as needed, and simply have them go as soon as they are full. No need to wait and depart precisely every five minutes, but I bet that's what they will do.

The one time they don't need rigorous line management will be the one time they will have it.

They do exactly as you describe on Woodbine Avenue after fireworks displays. And I'm sure that's what they'll do this time, with no attempt to keep a clock-face.

St. Andrew station is much more capacity constrained than Union.

Much smaller concourse, fewer fare gates, and less vertical circulation capacity (stairs/escalators to platforms).

I'm not sure how removing the capacity at Union wouldn't just shift the problem to a smaller station and make it that much worse.

Perhaps part of the logic is that a lot of people would be getting off the subway at Union to get to the GO trains? So if you stop most people entering TTC Union through the main entrance, then you won't end up with people crushing in two different directions at the same time. But I doubt relatively few will be getting off at King or St. Andrews. Though if everyone tries to get on at the Brookfield entrance, it will pile people up outside the station in the west Bay teamway, rather than in the mezzanine and on the platform.

BTW, where doo they do these New Years Eve events - I've never been in Toronto at New Years, until I'm way too old for such things.

 

[Steve X]

Well hidden on TTC website.

View attachment 622019

They will all be stuck in traffic like all the Woodbine beach fireworks buses.

 

[nfitz]

They will all be stuck in traffic like all the Woodbine beach fireworks buses.

I frequently walk up Woodbine after the fireworks. This really hasn't been a problem for years, since they started closing Woodbine to personal vehicles south of Kingston Road. The buses don't really sit not moving anymore - except just before the fireworks, heading south, when too many idiots are trying to drive somewhere that no longer exists.

When did you last see this?

 

[txlseries4]

I frequently walk up Woodbine after the fireworks. This really hasn't been a problem for years, since they started closing Woodbine to personal vehicles south of Kingston Road. The buses don't really sit not moving anymore - except just before the fireworks, heading south, when too many idiots are trying to drive somewhere that no longer exists.

When did you last see this?

This past summer on the Coxwell bus was a nightmare.

Getting there (southbound) was okay until Queen where it took about 10 minutes to get through the intersection.

Leaving was just awful. Crowd management to load the busses was good, but once on Lower Coxwell all went to shit. Cars were getting through police and, people had been allowed to park on the west side, so some were doing a u-turn and going north and backing up all the busses, because people were turning left onto Eastern Ave and Queen. I was on a bus with friends barely north of Lake Shore for 20-30 min before we decided to get out and walk to Coxwell Station, and lots of people were doing the same. There were so many busses backed up from Eastern down to Lake Shore. I’m fairly sure I got to Danforth before the bus I was on did.

The odd car going northbound to Queen was turned around by police (at lake shore cars were being directed west instead of north but some got through), but it’s baffling that at Eastern, and/or Queen they didn’t have police to force everyone to only go straight.

 

[nfitz]

This past summer on the Coxwell bus was a nightmare.

Getting there (southbound) was okay until Queen where it took about 10 minutes to get through the intersection.

Leaving was just awful. Crowd management to load the busses was good, but once on Lower Coxwell all went to shit. Cars were getting through police and, people had been allowed to park on the west side, so some were doing a u-turn and going north and backing up all the busses, because people were turning left onto Eastern Ave and Queen. I was on a bus with friends barely north of Lake Shore for 20-30 min before we decided to get out and walk to Coxwell Station, and lots of people were doing the same. There were so many busses backed up from Eastern down to Lake Shore. I’m fairly sure I got to Danforth before the bus I was on did.

The odd car going northbound to Queen was turned around by police (at lake shore cars were being directed west instead of north but some got through), but it’s baffling that at Eastern, and/or Queen they didn’t have police to force everyone to only go straight.

Take Woodbine. The main service has always mostly been on Woodbine. At one point the buses were going down Woodbine and then back up Coxwell; but as far as I know it's primarily been on Woodbine the last few years. I certainly see many bi-directional buses when I walk along Woodbine, which doesn't get slowed because of the road closure all the way up to Kingston (which is north of Dundas at that point).

 

[PL1]

Take Woodbine. The main service has always mostly been on Woodbine. At one point the buses were going down Woodbine and then back up Coxwell; but as far as I know it's primarily been on Woodbine the last few years. I certainly see many bi-directional buses when I walk along Woodbine, which doesn't get slowed because of the road closure all the way up to Kingston (which is north of Dundas at that point).

Agreed on Woodbine. Dundas ends at Kingston Rd

 

[DSC]

If anyone actually found the TTC announcement about accessing Union Station on the TTC website (Under News) they may be no better off. Brookfield Place is on Bay NORTH of Front St (not south).

 

[christiesplits]

Access to TTC’s Union Station subway changing this New Year’s Eve

Dec. 27, 2024

The way TTC customers access the subway after New Year’s Eve celebrations on the waterfront will be different this year.

The change supports a City of Toronto initiative to improve safety at Union Station by restricting access to the interior – a move the City hopes will reduce the crowding and congestion seen in the two previous years.

TTC customers seeking access to the subway station will have to enter through the Brookfield Place doors on Bay St., south of Front St. The City and Toronto Police will monitor access and customer flow through these doors to prevent interior crowding.

If the TTC station becomes overcrowded, customer flow will be managed from outside, potentially requiring customers to line up on Bay Street before being admitted.

As a result, the TTC advises customers who plan on attending celebrations in the central waterfront area to find alternatives to Union Station. These options include using other Line 1 stations such as St. Andrew, Osgoode, King and Queen.

Alternatively, satellite locations are being set up by the City that offer secondary events and a great view of the fireworks show.

The TTC is FREE ALL NIGHT and will have extra bus, subway and streetcar service to get you safely to and from all event locations.

For a full list of our New Year’s Eve service, visit https://www.ttc.ca/riding-the-ttc/Updates/Ride-the-TTC-for-free-on-New-Years-Eve

Alternatives to the Central Waterfront include City events at:

Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
• Dance lessons by Dance Together Festival
• Pop-up circus performances by INCIRQUE

Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
• View short films from the National Film Board of Canada projected onto the side of the Canada Malting Silos
• Pop-up circus performances by INCIRQUE
• Stage show with DJ performance by Traxx & Feels and countdown at 11:45 p.m. hosted by drag sensation Sanjina DaBish Queen

Alternative Viewing Locations for fireworks:
• Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
• Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
• Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.
• HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
• HTO Park West, 375 Queens Quay W.

For a full list of City events, visit www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/new-years-eve/

Which it will. not sure if we all forgot but you cant fix this.
Funneling people into a chokepoint is just going to cause confusion
Someone said it right above. Union should just be closed and have everyone spread to all the other stations

After the highly publicized chaos at Union Station last year, my gut tells me that the crowds for the free waterfront fireworks will be a bit smaller this year. Also, I wonder if the GST holiday might encourage people to attend bars and restaurants across the city instead?

 

[Jonny5]

After the highly publicized chaos at Union Station last year, my gut tells me that the crowds for the free waterfront fireworks will be a bit smaller this year. Also, I wonder if the GST holiday might encourage people to attend bars and restaurants across the city instead?

The cynic in me says bars and restaurants will have a special NYE service with prices 13% higher than last year.

But I think a bigger factor is NYE was Sunday last year, so it was the middle day of a long weekend that most people have off work.

This year it's on Tuesday which might cut down on the number of people wanting to go out as it is a regular business day, well not really "regular," but most people will have had to work during the day at some point, and that will leave people tired and more willing to stay at home than go out, even if Wednesday is a holiday.