Russell Carhouse Upgrades

Timeline: Ongoing – February, 2028

*Content / timeline accurate at time of publishing.

What we are doing and why:

To improve streetcar service, the expansion of TTC’s streetcar fleet requires additional maintenance & storage space. TTC is upgrading storage capacity at streetcar yards across the City. As part of this program, TTC will be modifying the carhouse and storage area at Russell Yard. Please view the Community Update (pdf) for background on the project.

What is happening:

The Russell Yard upgrade project includes:             

• Replacing all yard tracks with concrete-embedded track rail and switches
• Providing track lubrication to all storage tracks to reduce streetcar noise (wheel squeal).
• Replacing all underground utility services and providing a storm water retention management system.
• Upgrading the overhead electrical system for streetcar pantograph operations.

Schedule:

To maintain service for TTC customers, construction is completed in stages.

Stage 1:

• Augering will be carried out at locations around the yard's perimeter to allow for future pole installation. Additional lighting will be installed
• Streetcar pole installation will then commence (with a small auger) the installation of poles on-site and the installation of spanwires.
• Excavation continues during daytime hours. Work occurs every Saturday.
• Overhead work beginning as soon as March 13, 2024 and will be ongoing.

Stage 2/3: 

• The western portion of the Russell Carhouse Yard will undergo the same scope of work from November 2023* to February 2025*.

Concrete and track work removal and excavation is ongoing at the TTC Russell Carhouse

Traffic and pedestrian access:

• During the tracks replacement and maintenance work, trucking material off-site/ truck traffic will be routed along Queen St. E. /Eastern Ave., and may cause only temporary impacts to traffic lanes and on-street parking. Traffic control on Queen St. E. and Eastern Ave. at Russell Carhouse will be in place.
• Pedestrian and traffic detours will be in place.

Noise, dust, vibration and work hours:

• Noise, dust, and vibration associated with construction can be expected with this work. Efforts will be made to keep levels to a minimum.
• The majority of work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., as required. As permitted, overnight and weekend work will be required during the course of this project.
• Some work will take place on a 24/7 basis during the course of this project to ensure effective quality of rail installation.

TTC Service Impacts:

• No service impacts are expected as a part of the work. Additional streetcars are being dispatched from TTC’s two other streetcar maintenance/storage facilities: Leslie Barns and Roncesvalles Carhouse.

Kingston Road/Queen Street East Streetcar Loop:

• The Kingston/Queen Loop is being used more frequently as a result of these works. Streetcars leaving the Russell Yard must exit eastbound on Queen Street East, and loop back at Kingston/Queen Loop if needed to travel westbound.

Connaught Ave/Queen St. East impacts:

• Generators to support work (on Queen St. E):
  • A quiet generator is in place to support dewatering activities during the day, when required for site safety reasons.
  • A quiet generator is in place overnight to support lighting for the streetcar service.

Next steps:

Carhouse extension and modifications (start date: as early as 2025 – 2028, TBD*):

• Construct the west extension of the carhouse to allow for an additional maintenance bay for new streetcars.
• Upgrade the existing carhouse building to accommodate new streetcars.
• Reconfigure maintenance tracks and pits in the carhouse for maintenance.

For further information:

Dennis Amoakohene, Sr. Community Liaison Officer, 416-452-5455, Dennis.Amoakohene@ttc.ca

*Schedules and timelines noted are subject to change and dependent on site conditions and construction progress. Some stages may be combined.