The Toronto Transit Commission will be temporarily closing several subway stations over the next four months as it installs the final wave of fare gates to accept PRESTO payments.
New paddle-style fare gates with PRESTO will be installed at the remaining 25 subway stations to replace the existing turnstiles at more than 50 entrances. They will provide “an unobstructed path into and out of stations and improve customer flow,” a news release said on Wednesday.
Some of the turnstiles are about 65 years old and are being replaced under the TTC’s modernization plan.
The transit agency warns, however, that construction will force closures at some of the TTC’s busiest stations, where subway trains will not be stopping for passengers. These closures will take place over the remainder of the year, with some scheduled on weekends, or causing early closures on weekends or week nights.
The closures include:
- Dundas Station: will close at 11 p.m. nightly from Sept. 10 to 14. A weekend closure will take place from 11 p.m. Sept. 15 until 6 a.m. Sept. 18. Additionally, a third closure is scheduled at Dundas Station starting at 11 p.m. nightly from Sept. 18 until the middle of October.
- King Station: will close at 10 p.m. nightly from Sept. 19 to 23.
- Queen Station: will close at 11 p.m. nightly on Oct. 18 and 19. A weekend closure will take place from 11 p.m. Oct. 20 until 6 a.m. Oct. 23. A third closure is scheduled at 11 p.m. nightly from October 23 until the end of November.
- Museum Station: will close at 10 p.m. nightly on Nov. 1 and 2, as well as Nov. 6 and 7.
- St. Andrew Station: will see a weekend closure from 10 p.m. on Nov. 10 until 6 a.m. Nov. 13.
- College Station: is scheduled to close at 10 p.m. nightly on Nov. 14, 16 and 20.
- Osgoode Station: will see a weekend closure from 10 p.m. on Nov. 17 until 6 a.m. on Nov. 20
- Queen’s Park Station: is scheduled to close at 10 p.m. nightly on Dec. 6 and 7, as well as on Dec. 11 and 12.
The TTC said it has posted a construction schedule and station specific fact sheets on its website, and a video on its YouTube channel explaining the next wave of fare gate construction.
Customer service ambassadors will be in place at the affected stations during the closures to assist customers with direction and information.
Passengers are being urged to make the switch to the PRESTO payment system as the TTC’s modernization plan will be eliminating tickets, tokens and passes in 2018.
To date, the transit agency has equipped all TTC buses, all streetcars, and 44 subway stations/75 entrances with the new gates.
By spring of 2018, every subway station and entrance is expected to have the new gates and PRESTO system in place.
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