Getting around Toronto this weekend? TTC adds subway service, road closures in effect - NOW Toronto (2024)

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To help visitors and locals get around Toronto this long weekend, the TTC has added more subway service and streetcars.

With an influx of people coming into the city for a variety of events this weekend, Toronto police say there will be an increase in police presence in some areas.

“Some officers will have lights on their uniforms and community members may notice enhanced lighting on police vehicles when officers are on directed patrols or engaged in community policing, or anytime magnifying police presence is important,” police said on X.

TTC ADDS SERVICE FOR CARIBANA

The TTC says there are no scheduled subway closures this entire long weekend. In fact, it has added more subway and streetcar service to accommodate the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.

For those going to the Grande Parade on Saturday, the TTC suggests taking the subway to Dufferin Station and transferring to a shuttle bus that will go directly to the parade. Alternatively, riders can go to Bathurst Station and take the 511 Bathurst streetcar.

Riders can also take the subway to Union Station and hop on the 509 Harbourfront streetcar.

The TTC has added extra subway service on Lines 1 and 2 for Saturday and additional streetcar service on the 509 Harbourfront and 511 Bathurst. There will be TTC personnel on-site to help customers get to their locations.

Due to ongoing road closures, the TTC says several bus and streetcar routes will be diverting starting at 10 p.m. on Friday, until 6 a.m. on Sunday.

• The 80 Queensway eastbound bus from The Queensway, to Roncesvalles Ave. and Howard Park Ave. Regular westbound service will remain the same.
• The 307 Bathurst night bus will divert southbound from Fort York Blvd., via Fleet St. and Manitoba Dr. to Exhibition Loop. Regular northbound service will operate as usual.
• The 501A Queen streetcars will divert both ways to Sunnyside Loop via Queen St until 10 p.m. on Saturday.

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CARNIVAL ROAD CLOSURES

On Saturday, the Grand Parade is set to start at 8 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. Road closures will begin on Saturday at midnight until Sunday at 7 a.m., and they include:

• Lake Shore Boulevard West from Fort York Boulevard to Colborne Lodge Drive
• Lake Shore Boulevard West westbound between Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard is open to local traffic only
• Strachan Avenue southbound from Fleet Street

Multiple Gardiner Expressway ramps will also be off-limits as of midnight on Saturday.

• Westbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp at Jameson Avenue
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Jameson Avenue
• Eastbound Gardiner Expressway on ramp from Jameson Avenue, and Lake Shore Boulevard West at British Columbia Road
• Westbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp at Dunn Avenue
• Lake Shore Boulevard West will close at midnight from westbound Strachan Avenue to Parkside Drive, and eastbound Lake Shore Boulevard West from Colborne Lodge Drive to Strachan Avenue
• The Princes’ Gates will remain closed to traffic on Saturday starting at 1 a.m.

Toronto police say to assist with the flow of traffic and minimize disruptions, it is restricting the following streets to local traffic: Dufferin Street south of King Street West, Dowling Avenue south of King Street West, Stadium Road south of Lake Shore Boulevard West, Queens Quay West west of Bathurst Street, Springhurst Avenue west of Jameson Avenue, Springhurst Avenue east of Jameson Avenue and Remembrance Drive.

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VELD MUSIC FESTIVAL

The VELD Music Festival will be taking over Downsview Park once again for three days of electronic music. Those who plan on attending can go straight to Downsview Park Station to get to and from the event.

On Friday night, an early subway closure between St. Clair West and Sheppard West stations will be delayed by one hour and will instead begin at midnight to help ensure people leaving VELD at 11 p.m. can take the subway.

A heads up to TTC riders, the 101 Downsview Park bus will divert both ways along Sheppard Ave. W. to Downsview Park Station from noon on Friday until midnight on Sunday.

Riders who take the 41 Keele, 84 Sheppard West, 106 Sentinel, 107 York University Heights, and 108 Driftwood busses can expect some delays on account of high traffic volume.

NATIONAL BANK OPEN

The annual National Bank Open tennis tournament is also back at Sobeys Stadium until Aug. 12. Those who have a National Bank Open ticket can ride home for free from Pioneer Village Station by showing their ticket to a customer service agent at the fare gates.

The tournament is walking distance from Pioneer Village station, however other bus routes close to the venue include the 106 Sentinel, 108 Driftwood, and 960 Steeles West Express.