Historicist: "The city that nobody loves"
Newsstand: November 23, 2009
The Daily Photoist: November 23, 2009
Urban Planner: November 23, 2009
Despite extensive coverage by both online and print media, Monday's splitting of the 24-kilometre Queen streetcar route came as a bit of a surprise to many, necessitating lengthy explanations at the new turnpoints (Parliament, Shaw), as well as the odd enraged passenger (a particularly vocal, slightly off-kilter, middle-aged man waiting at Shaw screamed, "Where is the Long Branch and all those f**king c**ksuckers at?!"). In the name of research, Torontoist travelled the entire length of the route, beginning at Yonge and Queen, continuing all the way east to Neville Park, and then traversing the entire 24 kilometres to Long Branch, getting off and on as required. To see how we fared, see the photo gallery above.
Regardless of the split, riding across Toronto on the Queen streetcar—if you have the time—should be on everyone's list of things to do before they die. Viewing the breadth of our colourful city with its storefronts, landmarks, green spaces, and people beats TV any day.
All photos by Ayngelina Brogan/Torontoist.
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I rode from Spadina to Berkeley last night on a car that was designated to only go as far as Parliament. When we passed Nathan Phillips Square (appropriately) the driver made an extended announcement that boiled down to:
-detailed explanation of the changed service
-City council's idea not TTC
-If you like call your councillor if you don't like also call your councillor
Based on the tone and content of the announcement my sense was that TTC drivers do not approve. Though it was pretty long and detailed it didn't sound like he was operating from a script so maybe this is just one driver's opinion.
The driver we talked to said it's hard to know where the other cars are when inside those loops at Parliament and Shaw. And that he can't sit and manage the gap in those loops because of the traffic, whereas as the end of the line he could. Ultimately, he didn't think people (passengers) would really go for it, especially late and night and in cold weather.
Easy solution: Have three routes.
Maintain the 'old' 501 route from end to end but operate it with a larger interval, say 10 or so minutes. Operate the splits - a 521 for the western split and a 531 for the eastern split - with a smaller interval (more regular service) than the 501 to encourage people to use the splits.
As to the gaps, it's time for the TTC to enter the 21st century and provide GPS/mapping information inside the cab. Display a few cars ahead and behind with their gaps, with the system suggesting that they slow or speed up and the driver will be able to adjust accordingly.
I use the 501 line every day and I like the new configuration. The line as previously configured is waaaay too long and accidents/traffic snarls would lead to short turns anyways. Splitting the line into overlapping east and west branches doubles the efficiency in the core zone between Parliament & Shaw, so if you don't have far to go, you can get there faster. Personally, I'd have liked the western branch to go as far as Broadview before turning around (instead of Parliament) but maybe the track configurations aren't as ideal.
Who in the west end goes past Parliament, anyway? har har...
I have a feeling people will soon stop complaining about this and will eventually just accept it as 'the way it goes.'
why the hell they haven't buried the streetcar lane and built another subway line is beyond me- way to go @mayormiller!
Seconded.
I've spoken to five TTC drivers so far who thoroughly endorse the split, so I'm assuming David's example is a rarity. I'll keep asking, though.
I'm lucky in that both sides of the split serve my entire commute, but as someone boarding at or near Bathurst the difference when compared to last week is shocking. I used to wait anywhere up to 20 minutes for an eastbound car in the morning, and then have to hop on one of the next three because of severe crowding. I found myself walking up to Dundas, taking a cab, and questioning daily why I bother to buy a metropass. Something *had* to be done, and though it's still early days I think this is simple and effective enough to be the solution.
@torontosportsmedia: Please stick to the Post's comments sections. Thank you!
What would happen if every second streetcar short turned?
You'd have half a chance that you'd not have to stand out in the rain and cold to continue your trip.
Or, . . . the next arriving car would be the one you wanted.
Half the eastbound and westbound cars short turning and the other half going the full route. Is that so hard?
I eagerly await your theories as to how the TTC can keep both short-turning and full-trip cars to schedule necessary to maintain the every-other arrangement, considering the length of the route and consequent delays at some point were the main problems in the old arrangement.
I live at Lakeshore and Islington and so far it seems to be working well, more streetcars seem to be coming more or less evenly spaced. Transit out this way has never been great, it wasn't uncommon to wait 30 minutes then have 3 or 4 streetcars arrive all at once, even though I haven't been taking it as often as I used to during the summer, recently only 2 or 3 times a week, I have noticed fewer streetcar packs going down Lakeshore. I still believe they should have at least 1 streetcar that just runs between Humber Loop and Long Branch so it doesn't get bogged down in downtown traffic and provides somewhat reasonable service for those of us who are just traveling along Lakeshore in south Etobicoke, not all of us are always traveling to downtown and back, it'd be nice to have decent transit in the neighbourhood, especially in the colder months when just walking or biking really aren't options.
If memory serves me correctly, there was a time back in the '70s and '80s when there were only Humber - Long Branch cars and Queen - Long Branch cars.
I thought that every second streetcar was a Humber - Long Branch car.
On paper yes - every second streetcar did go all the way to Long Branch. But in reality there were too many unscheduled short turns when going westbound, either at Roncesvalles or Humber Loop, so that sometimes you'd have to wait 30 minutes for a Long Branch car, ESPECIALLY at night and whenever it gets really cold, of course. I've heard drivers phoning in to their supervisors with "i don't have many people on board" before announcing that the Long Branch streetcar will short-turn instead of going all the way west. So if you are waiting west of humber loop to go west along the lakeshore, chances are you'd be waiting a looong time. They also sometimes would short-turn if the next streetcar is only 5 minutes behind them, but when those minutes are compounded the waiting period for that dude on the lakeshore gets longer and longer.
I also live near Islington/Lakeshore, I still haven't decided if the new system is better or just the same, I seem to wait longer in the morning for a streetcar going east though. Not sure if just unlucky so far or if that's the way it's going to be.
Dangerous Dan's is on the corner of Queen and Broadview, not Queen and Logan, which is home to a Starbucks.
You can even see the Broadview street sign in the photo.
Oops, fixed. Thanks.