St Clair Avenue West
As part of TTC’s plans to maintain state of good repair and continue to modernize the system, staff started streetcar overhead power upgrades for the 512 St Clair streetcar on September 3, 2023 and are coordinating infrastructure renewal projects inside St Clair West Station and subsequently St Clair Station.
TTC is coordinating our projects with multiple third-party works (Metrolinx, City of Toronto, and Toronto Water) planned in this area over the next few years to minimize the overall duration.
Effective September 3, 2023 to Summer 2024, the 512 St Clair Streetcar has been replaced by buses to permit critical overhead power upgrades beginning at Bathurst/St Clair and proceeding westerly.
An overview of the multiple projects being coordinated can be found below.
Project information
- St Clair Infrastructure Improvement Projects Overview - August 24, 2023
- Construction Notice – State of Good Repair Work Updates – December 11, 2023
- Construction Notice - State of Good Repair Projects - August 24, 2023
- Construction Notice - St Clair Station bus bay closure - November 8, 2023
- Construction Notice - Rail replacement on St Clair Avenue West at Winona Avenue - November 8, 2023
- Construction Notice - Lubricator improvements on St Clair Avenue in front of St Clair Station - November 15, 2023
- TTC Service Updates
Customers are also encouraged to check our streetcar service changes page, which is updated frequently with new information as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the TTC.
Construction Update – March 15, 2024
The TTC is coordinating infrastructure upgrades with multiple third-party works (Metrolinx, City of Toronto, and Toronto Water) along the corridor to reduce the overall duration that buses need to operate in place of streetcars. Based on the progress of work to date, TTC is on schedule to return 512 St Clair streetcar service this summer as planned.
Work completed to date:
- Lubricator and streetcar track upgrades at Earlscourt loop and Oakwood loop.
- Streetcar stop renewal at the Bathurst St. intersection.
- Overhead power upgrades at St. Clair Ave. and Vaughan Rd. intersection.
- Two water vale replacements by Toronto Water at Greenlaw Ave. and permanent restoration of roadway and curbs.
- Upgrades to Gunns Loop streetcar platform to accommodate bus operations.
- Upgraded escalators at the south entrance of St Clair West Station.
- Toronto Water has completed sewer rehabilitation work along St Clair Ave West within the TTC streetcar right of way.
In progress
- St Clair West Station Loop – full track renewal
- Cable upgrades along the 512 streetcar route.
- Utility upgrade/relocation contract underway at St. Clair station (Yonge Street) to facilitate future station loop upgrades.
- City of Toronto Caledonia bridge rehabilitation work continues on the north side lane and sidewalk.
Thank you for your patience while the TTC and City renew its infrastructure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t buses use the dedicated streetcar lanes?
The TTC completed an operational test to examine whether buses could safely operate within the streetcar right of way during construction. The test showed that the narrow lane width, overhead poles, and raised curb heights do not permit safe bus service. Work is currently underway to permit bus operations in select segments with no centre poles, where feasible to do so, including with required traffic signal modifications.
When will streetcar service resume in the area?
Based on the progress of work to date, TTC is on schedule to return 512 St Clair streetcar service this summer as planned.
What is TTC doing to facilitate faster and more reliable bus service?
To help facilitate better flow of transit and all vehicular traffic on St Clair Ave West during construction, the below measures are being implemented:
- 30 metre “no standing zones” installed at all 512 St Clair bus stop locations. This facilitates intended pick-up in curb lanes while traffic continues past.
- TTC is staging construction at St Clair West Station to complete the east-west track renewal first. This will be done to return streetcar service between St Clair West Station and Lansdowne as soon as possible.
- Council Council passed a Motion to extend rush hour parking restrictions on segments of St. Clair Avenue West. On-street signage has been adjusted by the City to match approved by-law changes.
The escalator on the South Side entrance to St. Clair West Station is out of service; when can we expect it to be in service?
The escalators are now upgraded. For the most up to date news, please refer to the accessibility page at Accessibility (ttc.ca).
How much notice was provided for this project?
In May 2023, project communications were posted online and communicated to area councillors and BIA (Business Improvement Areas). For a full list of communications, please see slides 4 and 5 of the presentation here: St Clair Infrastructure Improvements (ttc.ca).
- 30 metre “no standing zones” installed at all 512 St Clair bus stop locations. This facilitates intended pick-up in curb lanes while traffic continues past.