The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has announced that it will be adjusting its service along Queen Street East in response to necessary renewal of aging streetcar tracks, along with ongoing sewer rehabilitation work. These adjustments are crucial to maintain the safety and reliability of transit services in the area.
Preliminary rail welding work is currently being conducted between Leslie Street and Laing Street. As part of these service changes, the 501 and 301 Queen streetcar routes are diverting via Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Coxwell Avenue. In conjunction with this, replacement bus services for the 501B/301B Queen and 503 Kingston Road routes are currently operating along Queen Street East to provide continued service to passengers.
The construction work will be carried out in two distinct phases. Phase one involves the renewal of streetcar tracks extending from Leslie Street to Vancouver Avenue and is scheduled to commence on Monday, November 9, continuing until at least mid-December 2023. During this phase, Queen Street East will be restricted to one westbound lane only between Vancouver Avenue and Leslie Street to facilitate the track renewal process.
The TTC has indicated that several routes will be impacted throughout this construction period. Specifically, eastbound 501B/301B Queen and 503 Kingston Road buses will be diverting via Eastern Avenue between Emdaabiimok Avenue and Leslie Street. The 31 Greenwood bus route will also be diverted, utilizing Dundas Street East and Jones Avenue for its service. The 501/301 Queen streetcars will continue to operate on their diverted route via Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Coxwell Avenue. Nonetheless, westbound 501B/301B Queen and 503 Kingston Road buses will maintain operations along Queen Street East.
In addition to these changes, Wheel-Trans services will continue to be accessible in all areas where local traffic is allowed, ensuring that those with mobility challenges can still access the transit system without significant disruptions.
Phase two of the construction will focus on sewer rehabilitation work managed by the City of Toronto, anticipated to start in January 2027 and extend until March 2027. The TTC has committed to providing additional details about service impacts resulting from the sewer work at a later stage, enabling riders to plan their travel accordingly.
For full details on all route adjustments and service impacts due to the construction, passengers can find more information here.
