TTC: Scarborough Busway Construction (portion of the former Scarborough RT route)

[TwinHuey]

Edit: This was originally posted to the Scarborough RT Conversion to a Park thread in March 2024 before the busway was decided. Happy to see it used for transit as opposed to sitting abandoned.



Apologies for the length of this post.

I don't think anyone would disagree that we need more cycle infrastructure in Scarborough.

Regardless of whether or not the guideway remains or is removed, we need to take a hard look at keeping the SRT right of way for a multi use trail.

Developments in the Scarborough Town area bring many more cyclists. The proposed development at 100 Borough alone has parking planned for over 1,700 bicycles.

There is no current cycling infrastructure connecting this section of Scarborough to anywhere else, let alone the rest of Toronto.

It is important to note the SRT right of way connects to the proposed West Scarborough Rail Path.

West Scarborough Railpath proposal gathers steam as Toronto mayoral and Ward 20 candidates pledge support

“Look at how many people came,” Misha Perozak said on a rail bridge over St. Clair Avenue, part of what may one day be a multi-use trail connecting southwestern Scarborough

www.toronto.com

A multi use trail along the SRT / West Scarborough Rail Path would allow cyclists riding from Scarborough Town to directly connect with:

• The Meadoway: Zoo - Harbourfront - Martin Goodman Trail
• Warden Woods: Gus Harris Trail - Danforth Cycle Track

Moving forward with this amazing cycling super highway would bring many challenges, but it is not impossible.

Understood it is a real long shot, but to quote @Northern Light "nothing wrong w/thinking big thoughts, they would never get done if someone didn't!"

Today I flew the SRT route with the drone, starting at Scarborough Town and ending at Kennedy Station where the West Scarborough Rail Path begins.

15 images

 

[Allandale25]

Motivated by @Northern Light, I've created a thread for the "Scarborough Busway". The TTC's page for the Environmental Project Report for this project is here and the main project page is here.

Removal of the former Scarborough RT track has started. Pictures below from Damian W.K. Baranowski.

 

[TwinHuey]

Not sure how to move a post to this thread, but for some 'before' images here is a link to shots taken along the entire route last March.

Scarborough RT Conversion To Park

I looked and googled to see if this was already posted. I support this idea and wonder if it could be done in a piecemeal way as funds become available? Say 100m at a time. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/scarborough-rt-line-study-1.7152565

urbantoronto.ca

 

[Paclo]

Not sure how to move a post to this thread, but for some 'before' images here is a link to shots taken along the entire route last March.

Scarborough RT Conversion To Park

I looked and googled to see if this was already posted. I support this idea and wonder if it could be done in a piecemeal way as funds become available? Say 100m at a time. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/scarborough-rt-line-study-1.7152565

urbantoronto.ca

I've copied those photos over to this thread for you @TwinHuey

 

[T3G]

Always sad to see a piece of history passing away like this.

The little train that couldn't.

 

[81-717]

Always sad to see a piece of history passing away like this.

The little train that couldn't.

Passing away?? Literally every single one of them still exists. SRT fans really can't complain.

 

[nfitz]

Passing away?? Literally every single one of them still exists. SRT fans really can't complain.

How is pulling out the track not "passing away"?

 

[81-717]

How is pulling out the track not "passing away"?

How is 9 of the cars being preserved, and the rest getting a second life in another city "passing away"??

 

[nfitz]

How is 9 of the cars being preserved, and the rest getting a second life in another city "passing away"??

I see nothing about cars in T3G's post. The news today is that the tracks are being ripped up. And this is what the post before his was about.

I don't even see any talk about the cars themselves in the entire thread!

 

[cplchanb]

I see nothing about cars in T3G's post. The news today is that the tracks are being ripped up. And this is what the post before his was about.

I don't even see any talk about the cars themselves in the entire thread!

i wonder if foamers will go dumpster diving for these ripped up track and LIM sections.

 

[jje1000]

One question- is the busway considered a permanent transit infrastructure replacement, or is it also just temporary until the Scarborough Subway extension opens?

 

[Richard White]

One question- is the busway considered a permanent transit infrastructure replacement, or is it also just temporary until the Scarborough Subway extension opens?

I would assume temporary in the same way the York U busway was temporary until the TYSSE opened.

Edit: It will likely be more temporary than the York U Busway.

I can't see it remaining in use after the subway is open for anything more than shuttles.

 

[nfitz]

I can't see it remaining in use after the subway is open for anything more than shuttles.

The Kennedy express bus (which I assume will go back to 943) only stops at Lawrence, and then Ellesmere. I could see it maybe running on the transitway.

 

[mossynukes]

The Kennedy express bus (which I assume will go back to 943) only stops at Lawrence, and then Ellesmere. I could see it maybe running on the transitway.

The 943 was pulled during the COVID service reductions and hasn't returned due to a lack of resources and demand for the route. We do not know if it will ever return. If it does, I do see it running on the transitway albeit on its peak-only 10-minute weekday headways.

After 5 or so years of significant usage, the busway will be viewed by many as useless, unlike the York University busway, which is very well utilized to this day.

 

[just east of the creek]

With the tracks out, could this not be retrofitted to be useful as a busway, similar to the O-Bahn in Adelaide Australia. The O-Bahn is an elevated guided busway handling over 30,000 commuters daily. And although numbers are not directly comparable, the line handles 30,000 plus commuters per day. And its a pretty neat ride. Efficient, frequent, pretty comfortable.

Or streetcars for that matter?

I understand that line 3 is designated to be a linear park. With due respect, as parks are important, are we overlooking a better alternative. Or does the non-political driven engineering say otherwise?

I just seems as if there is no imagination to solving these transit issues, but then again, this thought may be completely unfair to the TTC and any forward thinkers they have. I forget at times in my 'fantasy' world, that this is a Doug Ford nation, and if the project is not focused on a single operator vehicle, or a tunneled subway, he has zero interest, unless the political winds say yes (so a tunnel in Brampton y'say!)

My apologies if this was previously discussed ad nauseum.