Scarborough RT officially shuts down, leaving many concerned about commute times
Move comes after train derailment in July
The Scarborough RT, also known as Line 3, is officially shutting down, the TTC says.
The closure comes months ahead of schedule and in the wake of a derailment last month.
In a Thursday news release, the transit agency said a "comprehensive review" is still underway after a train on Line 3 derailed south of Ellesmere station on July 24, sending five people to hospital with minor injuries.
"The decision has been made to permanently close the line and begin to implement elements of the replacement plan," the statement reads.
"These measures will improve transit priority and operations, provide frequent, high-capacity bus service and ensure customers can plan their trips online in September."
Both Mayor Olivia Chow and the new TTC chair, Scarborough Coun. Jamaal Myers had suggested in recent weeks the line may be down for good, but the transit agency didn't confirm the decision until now.
WATCH | Here's a look at getting around Scarborough, post RT:
The Scarborough RT had been scheduled to be decommissioned on Nov. 19, 2023. Transit users will use shuttle buses until the Scarborough subway extension is completed.
The TTC says starting this week, workers began the installation of road markings and signage to establish bus-only lanes in the area of the line, with new shuttle routing to be implemented this weekend.
"It is essential to provide safe, reliable transit along this route, and that's what the City and TTC staff are doing," said Chow in a statement.
"The people of Scarborough deserve better. They need reliable and convenient transit while we wait for the Scarborough subway to open. The sooner we can have transit priority and a dedicated busway in place, the better it will be for the tens of thousands of people who normally rely on Line 3."
At a demonstration about Line 3 Wednesday, demonstrator Kevin Rupasinghe said making priority bus lanes and converting RT tracks into a busway need to be priorities for the city.
"There's 35,000 people a day who depend on the RT. They cannot be left behind on shuttle buses and mixed traffic. The last thing we need to see is more people starting to drive because the transit service here isn't working, so we need to invest in it. This needs to be a priority yesterday," he said.
Shutdown leaves Scarborough behind, say some
Some Scarborough residents say the permanent shutdown of the RT leaves the district behind.
Aditya Srinivasan, a TTC customer, said commute times have lengthened with the shutdown of the Scarborough RT and that will continue for years until the Scarborough subway extension is completed.
Srinivasan said it used to take the RT about 11 minutes to get from Kennedy station to the Scarborough Town Centre. Now, on the shuttle bus, it takes anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. That adds an additional 40 minutes to a commute, he said.
"I knew this was coming but I thought they would at least notify us before and not just do it so abruptly," he said.
Srinivasan said the public needs to be kept informed about the progress made on the Scarborough subway extension. The three-stop extension is not scheduled to be ready until 2030.
"That's crazy. I don't think it should take so long. There has to be more information shared with the public as to what the plans are and there should be some deadlines as to when these plans are achieved," he said.
Metrolinx should hold town halls with the public to ensure people know what's happening, he added.
'I think it's unfair,' Scarborough resident says
Marvin Veloso, another TTC customer, said the shutdown of the RT means there is a barrier being created for working people who live in Scarborough but work in downtown Toronto.
"I think it's unfair. I would like to see them do better. I think the derailment that happened a couple of weeks ago was mismanagement. It's really stressful to have seen that taken place and then not bouncing back and then following it up with more closures," he said.
"It's creating a lot more delays in people's commute," he added. "The TTC needs to be held accountable and also city planners, who have the power to make better decisions. We deserve better and I would like to see better services."
Judy Untal, another customer, said it was faster to take the RT than to ride a shuttle bus.
"It's much better if there's an RT. Right now, with the shuttle buses, it's OK. But it's really more reliable if there's an RT," she said.