Residents say they’ll be ‘stranded’ by TTC plan to remove bus stops

Residents say they will be left “stranded” if the TTC goes through with its original plans to remove bus stops at six locations in Scarborough and North York.

The move would force commuters at already packed stops to walk up to 400 metres to the next closest stop.

CityNews viewer Jay Smith reached out after seeing notices posted at two bus stops near his condo building near the intersection of McCowan Rd. and Sheppard Ave.

The signs, which were removed Friday, said the bus stops are scheduled to be removed on September 30.

“Everyone is worried, from the mother who needs to drop her child off at daycare in the morning before work to the elderly person trying to get to their medical appointment. Many people aren’t sure what they should do to protest. The majority are newcomers to the country and English isn’t their first language. Not only is this decision illogical, it is discriminatory. People have depended on these stops for years and suddenly they’re just gone? This will not simply inconvenience people, it will dis-empower them,” he said.

Residents said those two stops are always busy and there are hundreds of people living in condo buildings and townhouses in the area. They said they have seen 20 people waiting at a time at the bus stops.

The six TTC locations to be removed are:

• Sheppard Ave. E. at Massie St.
• 4770 Sheppard Ave. E.
• Bathurst St. at Danby Ave.
• Jane St. at Courage Ave.
• 3400 Keele St.
• 652 Finch Ave. E.

 

With bus stops both ways at most of those locations, that adds up to nine bus stops to be removed. The TTC also has plans to relocate bus stops at six other locations.

The six TTC locations to be relocated are:

• Danforth Ave. at Sneath Ave.
• Danforth Ave at Leyton Ave.
• Oriole Parkway at Frobisher Ave.
• 1180 Albion Rd.
• The Queensway at Smith Ave.
• Weston Rd. at Mainshep Ave.

 

With bus stops both ways at some of those stations, that adds up to eight locations to be relocated.

“People in Scarborough work hard and their public transit issues are consistently ignored. We all deserve accessible and convenient public transit. Not everyone in Scarborough can afford a car,” Smith said.

The TTC told CityNews Friday the September 30 removal has now been cancelled. It said the reason for most of the changes was due to safety concerns.

“Twelve locations in total that have pedestrian refuge islands and bus stops adjacent to them. The issue for each is safety-related and line of sight for autos when pedestrians are crossing to the pedestrian refuge islands after exiting a bus,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said in an email.

The TTC will now review the changes in consultation with the City and residents.

“I have suggested to the TTC that they find another solution to the supposed traffic issue without disconnecting such a huge number of people from a vital link to public transit,” Smith said.