Toronto buses and trolley buses
Encyclopedia
Toronto Transit Commission buses are transit bus
es used for public transport
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Buses are owned and operated by the Toronto Transit Commission
(TTC). With over 140 routes in operation, the TTC attracts over 400 million riders each year. Each route is further divided into branch routes which take slightly different paths from the original route. Express routes are also provided during rush hour
s. The system is available 24 hours each day, where during nights, different routes are operated than during the day and are limited. Apart from within Toronto, some bus routes extend beyond the city limits into Mississauga and York Region, where a fare zone takes effect. Almost all buses are accessible
while most of them are also equipped with bicycle rack
s. In 2009, the TTC began its first bus rapid transit
service in the city, the York University Busway
.
The TTC owns over 2,000 buses as of 2010, holding the third largest bus fleet in North America, behind New York City Transit Authority
(6,263) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(2,911).
initiated in 1849, when the first public transport
system in Toronto, the Williams Omnibus Bus Line
, was launched. The service began with a fleet of six horse-drawn
stagecoach
es. After ten years, the use of streetcars
were introduced in the city as the Toronto Street Railway (TSR) was established in 1861. After a year of competition between the two companies, the TSR had surpassed Williams Omnibus Line in ridership.
Up until 1921, several private and publicly owned transport systems were established and eventually ended up being merged into one another or abandoning. Electric streetcars were widely used in Toronto and surrounding settlements during the new millennium. After the establishment of the Toronto Transportation Commission
(TTC) (predecessor of the Toronto Transit Commission
until 1954), streetcar routes were taken over from predecessors in 1921. It ran bus routes by using motor bus
es for the first time in the city. The TTC also experimented the use of trolleybus
es from 1922 to 1925. Gray Coach
, an intercity bus
line by the TTC, began operation in 1927. As the coach service increased in ridership, the TTC built the Toronto Coach Terminal. By 1933, the TTC introduced the local bus and streetcar stop design, a white pole with a red band on the top and bottom. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the city began replacing various street railway routes extending to surrounding municipalities with bus routes. Between 1947 and 1954, the TTC acquired new trolleybuses and converted several streetcar routes to use them.
A few private bus operations existed alongside the Toronto Transportation Commission, including Hollinger Bus Lines in East York
(1921–1954), Danforth Bus Lines in North Toronto
and King City
(1926–1954), West York Coach Lines in York
(1946–1954), and Roseland Bus Lines in North York (1925–1954). All services were later taken over by the TTC in 1954, making it the sole public transit operator in the newly-formed Metropolitan Toronto
.
In 1966, plans were made to replace all streetcar routes with buses in the next 20 years. The plan was cancelled in 1972 and streetcar routes were rebuilt. Two years before the cancellation of the plan, GO Transit
was established by the Government of Ontario
with Gray Coach serving as its operator for most of its routes. The TTC operated its first dial-a-bus
services under GO Transit in 1973. In 1975, the first paratransit
service, Wheel-Trans, was established by a private operator. The TTC also began using minibus
es for minor routes, which would be replaced by regular buses by 1981.
After a history of no service during dark hours, the TTC implemented the Blue Night Network
by 1987 for buses and streetcars. The following year, the TTC took over Wheel-Trans services. In 1989, the TTC began using buses fuelled by compressed natural gas
(CNG). The TTC sold Gray Coach Lines to the Scotland-based Stagecoach Group
in 1990 while also introducing "community buses," providing minibus service in a few residential neighbourhoods. In 1993, the TTC ceased the use of electric trolley buses. Accessibility
expanded to regular buses in 1996 with the use of lift-equipped buses. This was further improvised two years later when low-floor bus
es were added to the fleet.
The TTC experimented with hybrid electric bus
es during the mid-2000s. The first hybrid buses entered service in 2006, the same time CNG-fuelled buses were retired.
With the announcement of Transit City
in 2007, the TTC announced it would introduce new bus rapid transit
(BRT) routes in certain transit corridors. By 2008, the TTC increased service to 31 bus routes, extending operating hours as well. In 2009, the TTC opened its first BRT route when route 196 York University Rocket was rerouted to the York University Busway
.
(TTC). In addition to regular bus routes, which operate from 5:00 AM to 1:30 AM from Monday to Saturday and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Sundays, the TTC also operates rush hour only express routes (usually denoted by an E after the route number though exceptions exist), all day express buses termed "rockets" (190 series), downtown non-stop express buses (140 series), a night bus service (part of the Blue Night Network
300 series numbered bus routes), and community bus routes (400 series), which serve a few suburban Toronto neighbourhoods.
A route is referred to by its route number and name (for example, 58 Malton). The name of the route is usually named after the road or community which it primarily serves, though there are few that do not accurately represent the route (a comparatively short section of the 109 Ranee for example serves Ranee Avenue); a branch route is denoted by a letter after the original number (for example, 58A Malton). A branch route travels in the same street and direction as the original route but will take a slightly different path and/or have different terminals. All of the TTC's regular routes, except for two (99 Arrow Road and 171 Mt. Dennis), connect to a subway or RT
station.
(formerly Mediacom and TDI) and formerly by Transad (now Transad Outdoor Media). In addition, CBS Outdoor is responsible for all other forms of advertising on the TTC.
Bike racks were tested at Wilson garage during 2005 and 2006 using the Orion V, VI and later VII bus models. TTC staff concluded that the pilot project was not a success and that it should be discontinued, but the Commission disagreed, and voted to not only continue it, but to direct that bike racks will be installed on all new buses starting in 2007. The Commission has since directed staff to look into the cost of retrofitting the entire bus fleet with bike racks. The original bike rack model will not be used on newer buses, due to it blocking the high beams on the Orion VII, and a different model from the same manufacturer will be used starting on 2007 deliveries. None of this is included in the five-year capital budget.
The TTC's latest order of hybrid buses came factory-equipped with these racks, and all 200 of Wilson's accessible Orion VIIs are already equipped, or soon to be equipped, with these racks in addition to the remaining Orion Vs. (The Orion VIs were retired in 2006.)
Transit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
es used for public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
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...
. Buses are owned and operated by the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
(TTC). With over 140 routes in operation, the TTC attracts over 400 million riders each year. Each route is further divided into branch routes which take slightly different paths from the original route. Express routes are also provided during rush hour
Rush hour
A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening, the times during when the most people commute...
s. The system is available 24 hours each day, where during nights, different routes are operated than during the day and are limited. Apart from within Toronto, some bus routes extend beyond the city limits into Mississauga and York Region, where a fare zone takes effect. Almost all buses are accessible
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
while most of them are also equipped with bicycle rack
Bicycle carrier
A bicycle carrier, also commonly called a bike rack, is a device attached to an automobile or bus for transporting bicycles.- By vehicle type :Bus mounted bike carriers are usually attached to the front of the bus...
s. In 2009, the TTC began its first bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
service in the city, the York University Busway
York University Busway
The York University Busway is the collective name for a series of bus lanes and bus only roadways leading from Downsview station to York University, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used by the Toronto Transit Commission's 196 York University Rocket and York Region Transit's Viva Orange bus...
.
The TTC owns over 2,000 buses as of 2010, holding the third largest bus fleet in North America, behind New York City Transit Authority
New York City Transit Authority
The New York City Transit Authority is a public authority in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City...
(6,263) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
(2,911).
History
Bus service in TorontoToronto
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...
initiated in 1849, when the first public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
system in Toronto, the Williams Omnibus Bus Line
Williams Omnibus Bus Line
Williams Omnibus Bus Lines was the first mass transportation system in the old City of Toronto, Canada with four six-passenger buses. Established in 1849 by local cabinetmaker Burt Williams, it consisted of horse-drawn stagecoaches operating from the St. Lawrence Market to the Red Lion Hotel in...
, was launched. The service began with a fleet of six horse-drawn
Horse-drawn vehicle
A horse-drawn vehicle is a mechanized piece of equipment pulled by one horse or by a team of horses. These vehicles typically had two or four wheels and were used to carry passengers and/or a load...
stagecoach
Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of covered wagon for passengers and goods, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, usually four-in-hand. Widely used before the introduction of railway transport, it made regular trips between stages or stations, which were places of rest provided for stagecoach travelers...
es. After ten years, the use of streetcars
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
were introduced in the city as the Toronto Street Railway (TSR) was established in 1861. After a year of competition between the two companies, the TSR had surpassed Williams Omnibus Line in ridership.
Up until 1921, several private and publicly owned transport systems were established and eventually ended up being merged into one another or abandoning. Electric streetcars were widely used in Toronto and surrounding settlements during the new millennium. After the establishment of the Toronto Transportation Commission
Toronto Transportation Commission
Before 1954, the Toronto Transit Commission was called the Toronto Transportation Commission.-History:Toronto's first public transportation company was the Williams Omnibus Bus Line and owned by undertaker Burt Williams. The franchise carried passengers in horse-drawn stagecoaches along Yonge...
(TTC) (predecessor of the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
until 1954), streetcar routes were taken over from predecessors in 1921. It ran bus routes by using motor bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es for the first time in the city. The TTC also experimented the use of trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es from 1922 to 1925. Gray Coach
Gray Coach
Gray Coach was an inter-city bus line based in Toronto, Ontario, from 1927 to 1991.-Overview and history:Gray Coach Lines was a suburban bus operator founded in 1927 by the Toronto Transportation Commission. From 1927 to the 1930s, Gray Coach acquired numerous and smaller competitors in the Greater...
, an intercity bus
Intercity bus
An intercity bus is a bus that carries passengers significant distances between different cities, towns, or other populated areas. Unlike a municipal bus, which has frequent stops throughout a city or town, an intercity bus generally has a single stop at a centralized location within the city, and...
line by the TTC, began operation in 1927. As the coach service increased in ridership, the TTC built the Toronto Coach Terminal. By 1933, the TTC introduced the local bus and streetcar stop design, a white pole with a red band on the top and bottom. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the city began replacing various street railway routes extending to surrounding municipalities with bus routes. Between 1947 and 1954, the TTC acquired new trolleybuses and converted several streetcar routes to use them.
A few private bus operations existed alongside the Toronto Transportation Commission, including Hollinger Bus Lines in East York
East York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
(1921–1954), Danforth Bus Lines in North Toronto
North Toronto
North Toronto was a town located in the northern part of the Old Toronto district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It occupies a geographically central location within the current boundaries of the city of Toronto. It is a relatively narrow strip, centred around Yonge Street; it extends from the CP...
and King City
King City, Ontario
King City is an affluent, unincorporated village in King Township, Ontario, Canada, located just north of Toronto. It is the largest community in King Township, with 1,629 dwellings and a population of 4,902.-History:...
(1926–1954), West York Coach Lines in 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...
(1946–1954), and Roseland Bus Lines in North York (1925–1954). All services were later taken over by the TTC in 1954, making it the sole public transit operator in the newly-formed Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
.
In 1966, plans were made to replace all streetcar routes with buses in the next 20 years. The plan was cancelled in 1972 and streetcar routes were rebuilt. Two years before the cancellation of the plan, GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
was established by the Government of Ontario
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
with Gray Coach serving as its operator for most of its routes. The TTC operated its first dial-a-bus
Telebus
A Telebus , Dial-a-bus , or Dial-a-ride service is a bus service that operates in a mode partway between a normal scheduled bus service and a taxi. The academic name for these services is demand responsive transport...
services under GO Transit in 1973. In 1975, the first paratransit
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
service, Wheel-Trans, was established by a private operator. The TTC also began using minibus
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
es for minor routes, which would be replaced by regular buses by 1981.
After a history of no service during dark hours, the TTC implemented the Blue Night Network
Blue Night Network
The Blue Night Network is the overnight public transit service operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The network consists of a basic grid of 22 bus and 2 streetcar routes, distributed so that almost all of the city is within 2 km of at least one...
by 1987 for buses and streetcars. The following year, the TTC took over Wheel-Trans services. In 1989, the TTC began using buses fuelled by compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG). The TTC sold Gray Coach Lines to the Scotland-based Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
in 1990 while also introducing "community buses," providing minibus service in a few residential neighbourhoods. In 1993, the TTC ceased the use of electric trolley buses. Accessibility
Accessibility
Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible. Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" and benefit from some system or entity...
expanded to regular buses in 1996 with the use of lift-equipped buses. This was further improvised two years later when low-floor bus
Low-floor bus
A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...
es were added to the fleet.
The TTC experimented with hybrid electric bus
Hybrid electric bus
A hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses....
es during the mid-2000s. The first hybrid buses entered service in 2006, the same time CNG-fuelled buses were retired.
With the announcement of Transit City
Transit City
Transit City was a plan for developing public transport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was first proposed and announced by then-Toronto Mayor David Miller and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Adam Giambrone on March 16, 2007...
in 2007, the TTC announced it would introduce new bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) routes in certain transit corridors. By 2008, the TTC increased service to 31 bus routes, extending operating hours as well. In 2009, the TTC opened its first BRT route when route 196 York University Rocket was rerouted to the York University Busway
York University Busway
The York University Busway is the collective name for a series of bus lanes and bus only roadways leading from Downsview station to York University, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is used by the Toronto Transit Commission's 196 York University Rocket and York Region Transit's Viva Orange bus...
.
Operations
There are over 140 bus routes, not including branches, that span a total length of 6934.1 kilometres (4,308.7 mi), operated by the Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
(TTC). In addition to regular bus routes, which operate from 5:00 AM to 1:30 AM from Monday to Saturday and from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Sundays, the TTC also operates rush hour only express routes (usually denoted by an E after the route number though exceptions exist), all day express buses termed "rockets" (190 series), downtown non-stop express buses (140 series), a night bus service (part of the Blue Night Network
Blue Night Network
The Blue Night Network is the overnight public transit service operated by the Toronto Transit Commission in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The network consists of a basic grid of 22 bus and 2 streetcar routes, distributed so that almost all of the city is within 2 km of at least one...
300 series numbered bus routes), and community bus routes (400 series), which serve a few suburban Toronto neighbourhoods.
A route is referred to by its route number and name (for example, 58 Malton). The name of the route is usually named after the road or community which it primarily serves, though there are few that do not accurately represent the route (a comparatively short section of the 109 Ranee for example serves Ranee Avenue); a branch route is denoted by a letter after the original number (for example, 58A Malton). A branch route travels in the same street and direction as the original route but will take a slightly different path and/or have different terminals. All of the TTC's regular routes, except for two (99 Arrow Road and 171 Mt. Dennis), connect to a subway or RT
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...
station.
Fleet and storage
Shelters
Prior to the 1980s, the bus shelters on TTC routes were installed and maintained by the TTC and the city. A number of shelters are installed by CBS OutdoorCBS Outdoor
CBS Outdoor is the outdoor advertising division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation. It is the third largest outdoor media owner in revenue terms...
(formerly Mediacom and TDI) and formerly by Transad (now Transad Outdoor Media). In addition, CBS Outdoor is responsible for all other forms of advertising on the TTC.
Bike racks
In the summer of 2005, the TTC began a pilot project to test bicycle racks on five select routes as a way to boost ridership and to be more environmentally friendly. The folding racks are installed on the front of the bus and can hold two bikes. In the event that both slots at the front of the bus are full, bicycles are allowed to be put inside buses after rush hour periods only.Bike racks were tested at Wilson garage during 2005 and 2006 using the Orion V, VI and later VII bus models. TTC staff concluded that the pilot project was not a success and that it should be discontinued, but the Commission disagreed, and voted to not only continue it, but to direct that bike racks will be installed on all new buses starting in 2007. The Commission has since directed staff to look into the cost of retrofitting the entire bus fleet with bike racks. The original bike rack model will not be used on newer buses, due to it blocking the high beams on the Orion VII, and a different model from the same manufacturer will be used starting on 2007 deliveries. None of this is included in the five-year capital budget.
The TTC's latest order of hybrid buses came factory-equipped with these racks, and all 200 of Wilson's accessible Orion VIIs are already equipped, or soon to be equipped, with these racks in addition to the remaining Orion Vs. (The Orion VIs were retired in 2006.)
See also
- Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
- Toronto subway and RTToronto subway and RTThe 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...
- Toronto streetcar systemToronto streetcar systemThe Toronto streetcar system comprises eleven streetcar routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission , and is the largest such system in the Americas in terms of ridership, number of cars, and track length. The network is concentrated primarily in downtown and in...