[Richard White]

* as someone who travels bloor-eglinton essentially every day, a few notes:

1. Currently, morning of the 29th, normal speeds (aside from SOGR slow zones).

2. However, speed restrictions - with no communication from the TTC, I might add - are still introduced with the slightest precipitation (no matter the type) and often when it is just wet outside from a melt. I’d say this happens at least 2-3 times per week given this winter’s weather (anecdotal, so take with a grain of salt). Sometimes, although thankfully not recently, this lasts for days after, even when no new precipitation comes.

3. Note: it is not just the outside sections but also all neighbouring sections of underground track. This means that the entire journey from bloor to eglinton becomes one giant slow zone (yes, including that fully underground section between Summerhill and St Clair) whenever the above conditions apply. This has been going on longer than most current SOGR slow zone that are in place in that section of track, so this doesn’t seem to be related to concurrent slow zones.

4. Really, how hard is it to communicate this? I’ve sent then quite a few suggestions/complaints over this winter (spread out ) and either get no response or a copy and paste from the TTC’s slow zone page (which makes no significant mention of these weather slow zones).

5. During heavier snow (not necessarily even the bad storms we’ve been getting this year), I’ve clocked trains running 20-25 instead of 30, again with no meaningful communication.

Trains are picking up speed again between VP and Warden which is nice.

I agree though communications have been hit or miss which is to be expected for something of this magnitude.

 

[Bojaxs]

In respect of last year's efforts, they posted a before/after of one part of Spadina Station (Line 2)

View attachment 711521

I mean, its fine......but this doesn't strike me as one of the worst looking bits in the system in the before photo, by any means. IS the new bolder border and dark slats really that big a positive?

I'm not opposed, I like the idea of the program......but thinking of Spadina, I've been in there, this year, and they still don't have the light temperature the same across all the light fixtures in the bus terminal.... just sayin...

 

[zang]

Look, I'm pro-union but some of the union demands to preserve role integrity makes me roll my eyes. These things just make everything worse for everybody. Let me guess, a station manager can't pick up a newspaper from the floor or clean a quick spill because it'll take work away from the unionized janitors?

My guess is more about the potential for causing costly damage if the CSA tries to restart an escalator that has stopped due to mechanical reasons (debris blockage, for instance). That doesn't mean the CSAs couldn't be trained to triage potential problems (or that escalators couldn't be reconfigured to sense if it's a simple button press stoppage vs. mechanical issue), but I suspect it's more than just "the elevator union demands they get to do this", when the CSAs are unionized, too.

 

[Richard White]

My guess is more about the potential for causing costly damage if the CSA tries to restart an escalator that has stopped due to mechanical reasons (debris blockage, for instance). That doesn't mean the CSAs couldn't be trained to triage potential problems (or that escalators couldn't be reconfigured to sense if it's a simple button press stoppage vs. mechanical issue), but I suspect it's more than just "the elevator union demands they get to do this", when the CSAs are unionized, too.

It is likely a TSSA concern.

If an elevator or escalating device does something outside the norm causing injury the TSSA requires it be shut down pending investigation. They probably don't want a station collector restarting it when someone could potentially have gone sideways down an escalator.

To give context, I once had to shut down an esclator because someone thought they could make it down in their wheelchair (no I am not joking) from the SRT platform at Kennedy. They hit every step on the way down and were most certainly injured.

In those types of circumstances, an investigation has to take place to determine what happened and if it was a mechanical issue or not. You can't have someone turning on the escalator or elevator because everyone is yelling at you.

 

[jmi22]

The only clean station on the network is Bessarion... because you know... (IYKYK)

For the uninitiated....could you spare a hint?

 

[Richard White]

For the uninitiated....could you spare a hint?

Likely because nobody uses it lol

 

[jmi22]

Likely because nobody uses it lol

Ah, thought it was some TTC execs local stop.

Not that many of them ride the system.

 

[Northern Light]

On station cleanliness, the TTC doesn't routinely publish the station by station results, though they;re around somewhere.

The last time I'm aware of them releasing the full data was 2017.

Bessarion didn't make the best/worst list.

Ranked: The TTC’s 10 cleanest and dirtiest subway stations | News

If you thought Woodbine Station looked a little dirty on your last visit, it's because it probably was, according to the TTC's latest cleanliness audit.

dailyhive.com

 

[jmi22]

Islington being nowhere in the top 10 dirtiest tells me everything I need to know about the accuracy of this list lmao

 

[Richard White]

Islington being nowhere in the top 10 dirtiest tells me everything I need to know about the accuracy of this list lmao

This list is from 2017 when the station was still somewhat clean. Keep in mind, back then it was heavily used by both MiWay and TTC

 

[jmi22]

This list is from 2017 when the station was still somewhat clean. Keep in mind, back then it was heavily used by both MiWay and TTC

Ehhhh, the pigeon poop alone would have earned it a spot on the list, even if there wasn't a speck of dirt in the place otherwise. But ya it's worse now, I took a pic on the platform a few weeks ago that looked nearly apocalyptic I'll see if I can find it.

 

[urbanclient]

Likely because nobody uses it lol

I think once the Concord condos near the Canadian Tire are finished, Bessarion ridership will grow. Leslie, Rosedale and Summerhill could start competing for the title of least used station.

 

[nfitz]

On station cleanliness, the TTC doesn't routinely publish the station by station results, though they;re around somewhere.

Huh ... I was in Dundas West on Tuesday, and literally stopped walking down the platform to admire how clean the walls looked, and how bright the station looked. Floors obviously a bit dirty with the snow.

The new (well not anymore) LED lighting in the triangular casing certainly makes it look better than the dingy old lighting you still have on some platforms.

Still, it's all fantastic compared to some other world-class cities. NYC comes to mind. I wasn't blown away in Chicago either.

 

[drum118]

Islington being nowhere in the top 10 dirtiest tells me everything I need to know about the accuracy of this list lmao

Its under construction with hording. Have said that, it has been a poor station for decades and never look clean looking in that timeframe.

I think once the Concord condos near the Canadian Tire are finished, Bessarion ridership will grow. Leslie, Rosedale and Summerhill could start competing for the title of least used station.

No it will not based on how many towers have been built there so far. It will be about another 10-15 years before it is completed based on the current Market. Kings Landing may change that when owners move in this year, but don't expect many will use the station. It has been a dead zone since day one.

Lot of the top worse 10 station would be in the top 10 clean station in Europe or even NYC.

 

[T3G]

Islington being nowhere in the top 10 dirtiest tells me everything I need to know about the accuracy of this list lmao

Kennedy, too, is absolutely revolting. If it's not pigeon goo everywhere it's suspicious fluids dripping down on you from God knows where.

Lot of the top worse 10 station would be in the top 10 clean station in Europe or even NYC.

Where in Europe, exactly, are things so bad that a station like Islington or Kennedy would make their top 10 most clean stations list? I'm calling shenanigans.