Advance construction work has already started on and around campus for the $2.6 billion Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE), and will continue through the fall in preparation for the start of tunneling and station construction in January 2011. The TYSSE project, fully funded by the federal, provincial and municipal governments, will extend the subway from Downsview Station through the Keele campus and into York Region.
Right: An architectural rendering of the final design for the York University subway station. Photo courtesy of Foster + Partners
As the project advances, the intensity of construction activity will increase and will cause disruption on campus and in the immediate vicinity. At all stages of the project, every possible effort will be made by the University to communicate effectively with the community about construction progress. Members of the York community are encouraged to check York’s Transportation Services Subway Construction website for ongoing updates.
The subway’s arrival will alter the York experience, vastly improving how thousands of people commute daily, and will integrate York more fully into its surrounding communities.
Below are upcoming changes that will affect the York community.
Roadways
- The widening of the south side of York Boulevard in front of the Schulich School of Business and the diversion of traffic has been completed.
- A diversion road has been built through the Harry W. Arthurs Common to allow bus traffic to access the loop during construction.
- A detour road is being built in October and November through York Boulevard Parking Lot, connecting Ian Macdonald Boulevard at Vanier Lane with York Boulevard at the signalized intersection of the TTC Busway.
- Closure of Ian Macdonald Boulevard between Vanier Lane and Fine Arts Road will start early in 2011.
- Closure of Northwest Gate roadway will start in January 2011.
Pedestrian Routes
- Access from the southwest corner of York Boulevard Parking Lot to the Harry W. Arthurs Common via a designated route will be in effect from January to June, between two construction sites protected with hoarding.
- Access to the York Research Tower will change. The south entrance doors facing the Harry W. Arthurs Common will be inaccessible from January to June, and entry will be via the east entrance doors facing York Boulevard Parking Lot or via York Lanes through the second-floor connection.
- Access around the York University subway station construction site will be along the north perimeter of hoarding or along the south perimeter of hoarding adjacent to the Schulich School of Business from January to June.
Transit Service
- Bus service will continue to the Harry W. Arthurs Common throughout construction. Starting in January this will be via the temporary diversion road recently completed through the Common.
- VIVA transit stops will be relocated north of Vanier Lane on the east and west sides of Ian Macdonald Boulevard, starting in January.
- Starting in January, YRT transit stops will be relocated north of Vanier Lane on the east side of Ian Macdonald Boulevard, with the exception of YRT 22A, which will be relocated south of York Boulevard on the west side of Ian Macdonald Boulevard beside Accolade East Building.
- The Brampton ZUM transit stop will be relocated north of Chimneystack Road on the east side of Ian Macdonald Boulevard starting in January.
Parking Lots
- Starting in January, the Northwest Gate Parking Lot will be closed for Steeles West subway station construction.
- Northwest Gate roadway will be converted to a temporary parking lot for day parking. This will be built in November and opened in January.
- At least three rows of parking in the west end of the York Boulevard Parking Lot will be used as a contractor staging area starting in January.
- A new temporary parking lot for permit parking will be built on the east side of Harry Crowe Housing Co-op on Chimneystack Road in November and opened in January.
- The Vanier Parking Lot will be upgraded with a passenger drop-off and pick-up area, expected to be completed by January.
For more information, contact Rob Castle, senior adviser in the Office of the Vice-President Finance & Administration, at rcastle@yorku.ca.
Alternatively, contact the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) at TYSSE@ttc.ca, 416-393-4001 or visit the TTC website. Comments can be left on the TTC’s 24-hour comment line. And check York’s interactive map for up-to-date construction information.