St. Clair West (TTC)
Encyclopedia
St. Clair West is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is at 370 St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The sports field of St. Michael's College School
is directly above the length of the station; a Loblaws
supermarket is located over the entrance to the station on the north side of St. Clair Avenue
During weekday morning rush hours, many northbound trains on the Yonge–University–Spadina line are short-turned, resulting in more frequent service south of the station and less frequent service north of it.
St. Clair West is not currently wheelchair-accessible, although there is an elevator at the Heath Street exit.
to Wilson Station
. Its south end was then in the City of Toronto while its north end was in the Borough of York
.
The 1995 Russell Hill subway incident occurred on August 11, 1995, between this station and Dupont Station
to the south on the southbound line. The impact site was closer to Dupont Station than to St. Clair West Station.
St. Clair West was one of two Spadina line stations designed by the TTC's in-house architects (the other being Wilson
). It is a colourful station featuring a wide variety of interior finishes such as ceramic tiles, brick and sculptural concrete surfaces. Backlit orange panels and an abstract tile pattern resembling a barcode
at platform level distinguish the station from others in the system. The underground waiting area for connections to surface routes is exceptionally spacious. The TTC built its first underground streetcar loop at this station.
The abstract
enamel
mural
Tempo by Gordon Rayner is on the mezzanine
level. Buskers often take advantage of the unusual acoustics
caused by the station's open architecture.
resumes. The emergency exit used in the Russell Hill accident opens out into the ravine just west of Spadina.
Northbound the subway runs below the Cedarvale Ravine
, following the ravine's meanders to the northwest.
Both ravine segments were constructed via cut-and-cover; the ravines were restored after construction.
, the Spadina Museum
, Casa Loma
, and Forest Hill Village. It is adjacent to the Corso Italia neighbourhood. The station is also close to St. Michael's College School
, a private all boys school.
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is at 370 St. Clair Avenue West between Bathurst Street and Tweedsmuir Avenue. The sports field of St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
is directly above the length of the station; a Loblaws
Loblaws
Loblaws is a supermarket chain with over 70 stores in Canada, headquartered in Brampton, with stores across Ontario and Quebec. Loblaws is a division of Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest food distributor...
supermarket is located over the entrance to the station on the north side of St. Clair Avenue
During weekday morning rush hours, many northbound trains on the Yonge–University–Spadina line are short-turned, resulting in more frequent service south of the station and less frequent service north of it.
St. Clair West is not currently wheelchair-accessible, although there is an elevator at the Heath Street exit.
History
This station was opened in 1978, as part of the subway line extension from St. George StationSt. George (TTC)
St. George is a station on the Yonge-University-Spadina and Bloor-Danforth lines of the subway system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 323 Bloor Street West at St. George Street. This is the second busiest station, after Bloor-Yonge Station, serving a combined total of approximately ...
to Wilson Station
Wilson (TTC)
Wilson is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of Allen Road at 570 Wilson Avenue.2257 parking spaces surround the station in four commuter lots.-History:...
. Its south end was then in the City of Toronto while its north end was in the Borough of York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
.
The 1995 Russell Hill subway incident occurred on August 11, 1995, between this station and Dupont Station
Dupont (TTC)
Dupont is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on Spadina Road at 278 Dupont Street....
to the south on the southbound line. The impact site was closer to Dupont Station than to St. Clair West Station.
Architecture and art
Wilson (TTC)
Wilson is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the median of Allen Road at 570 Wilson Avenue.2257 parking spaces surround the station in four commuter lots.-History:...
). It is a colourful station featuring a wide variety of interior finishes such as ceramic tiles, brick and sculptural concrete surfaces. Backlit orange panels and an abstract tile pattern resembling a barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
at platform level distinguish the station from others in the system. The underground waiting area for connections to surface routes is exceptionally spacious. The TTC built its first underground streetcar loop at this station.
The abstract
Abstract art
Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which may exist with a degree of independence from visual references in the world. Western art had been, from the Renaissance up to the middle of the 19th century, underpinned by the logic of perspective and an...
enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
Tempo by Gordon Rayner is on the mezzanine
Mezzanine (architecture)
In architecture, a mezzanine or entresol is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in...
level. Buskers often take advantage of the unusual acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
caused by the station's open architecture.
Subway infrastructure in the vicinity
The line continues southbound under Nordheimer Ravine, then goes into bored tunnel under Russell Hill to reach Spadina Road, where cut-and-cover tunnelingTunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
resumes. The emergency exit used in the Russell Hill accident opens out into the ravine just west of Spadina.
Northbound the subway runs below the Cedarvale Ravine
Cedarvale Park (Toronto)
Cedarvale Park is a park located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bordered by very steep hills, and is located in the Cedarvale neighbourhood of Toronto. The Spadina subway line tunnels underneath it, between St. Clair West and Eglinton West stations...
, following the ravine's meanders to the northwest.
Both ravine segments were constructed via cut-and-cover; the ravines were restored after construction.
Nearby landmarks
Nearby landmarks include the Nordheimer RavineCastle Frank Brook
Castle Frank Brook is a buried creek and south-west flowing tributary of the Don River in central and north-western Toronto, Ontario, originating near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and Dufferin Street....
, the Spadina Museum
Spadina House
Spadina Museum, also called Spadina , is a historic manor on Spadina Road in Toronto, Canada that is now a museum operated by the City of Toronto Cultural Services. The museum preserves the house much as it existed and developed historically...
, Casa Loma
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival style house in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a museum and landmark. It was originally a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Casa Loma was constructed over a three-year period from 1911–1914. The architect of the mansion was E. J...
, and Forest Hill Village. It is adjacent to the Corso Italia neighbourhood. The station is also close to St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
, a private all boys school.
Surface connections
- 33 Forest Hill to Eglinton Ave.
- Route 90: Vaughan
- 90 to Eglinton Ave.
- 90A to Oakwood Ave.
- 126 Christie to Christie StationChristie (TTC)Christie is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 726 Bloor Street West at Christie Street/Grace Street.-History:...
- 512 St. Clair
- Eastbound to St. Clair subway station (Yonge Street)
- Westbound to Gunns Loop (west of Keele Street)
- 126 Christie to Christie Station