TTC board members have voted to eliminate more than 70 streetcar stops, with the aim of improving service for commuters travelling in Toronto.
The decision was made on Wednesday on the recommendation of a report which suggested that removing the stops will improve pedestrian safety, as well as reduce riders’ commuting times.
According to the report, some of the stops are too far away from traffic signals or pedestrian crosswalks to be safe for disembarking passengers.
“It’s about safety and ensuring we have as few mid-block stops as possible so that customers who are boarding or exiting the streetcar…they can cross the street safely,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross told reporters on Wednesday.
A total of 72 streetcar stops, from about 600, will be chopped from a number of routes, including one located at Queen Street West and McCaul Street. That stop is located about 105 metres from the one at Queen Street West and John Street.
According to the report, stops should not be closer than 200 metres from each other.
The report also called for the removal of so-called “Sunday stops,” which were established decades ago to reduce walking distances to nearby churches. A total of 42 of those will be removed.
The TTC board also voted on Wednesday to move 20 stops so that they are located closer to intersections and pedestrian crosswalks.
Prior to Wednesday’s vote, several city councillors objected to the removal of stops in their constituencies.
The report noted that Coun. Paula Fletcher, for example, said some Sunday stops now service local recreation centres and hospitals, not just churches. Similarly, Coun. Pam McConnell said that removing the stop at Queen and York streets would add sidewalk congestion to an already busy area.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Zuraidah Alman
