[smallspy]

If there is nothing wrong with the current switch design, why are there slow orders at every intersection? Also, why is it that more than one streetcar at a time is not permitted to cross special work?

There two things that are wrong. And one of them, as I wrote earlier, is the "N/A" control system used to activate and lock the switches. It's needed to be replaced for going on 10 years now.

The second is the TTC's own rules, which are often knee-jerk over-reactions to incidents caused by operators overstepping their bounds and causing accidents. The stop-and-stay rule, 10mph rule and "one car over specialwork" rule are all a result of individual incidents that can be traced back to operators not abiding by the already-existing rules.

10mph rule - incident about 20 years ago where a westbound Bathurst Car went through a switch set to diverging at Fleet Loop at an estimated 65km/h. This also started the process that resulted in the current "reset all mainline switches" rule.
Stop-and-stay rule - incident about 15 years ago where a westbound car went through a switch set to diverging at high speed. Car derailed and almost slid into a pit being dug for the foundation of a building.
One car over specialwork - incident 3 or 4 years ago where a Spadina Car eastbound on Queens Quay overshot a switch that was set for diverging, and slid into the side of a westbound car passing at the same time. There had been other incidents previous to this with similar results, but this was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Dan

 

[drum118]

Had a looked at the whole area today with no work taking place on the Parkside Dr bridge to concrete base being pour the tracks that should be past the lead to Sunnyside Loop by tonight.

The curb lane and sidewalk pour for both side of the bridge with forming of the end and retaining wall taking place. Would say off hand work will shift to the #1 lane mid July. As a pedestrian, they are screw trying to go over the bridge without walking in traffic or using the ROW.

All intersections are seeing new curbs with the sections between them as well with the curb lane dug up for a new concrete base. Some existing poles are now in the curb lane and will have to be remove once TTC installs new poles. This to allow 2 lanes of traffic that will not interferer with TTC new ROW.

Some sidewalks and curb pour on the east side of the main intersection with TTC installing new poles.

The track leading into Sunnyside loop is being move to the west of the current one.

The south track gate is in place waiting to be splice to the yard track so concrete can be pour for the missing section at this time,

No photos tell Aug until we get back from the east coast as well being down 2 computers and a laptop. Hope to have the new computers back Sunday that were only built in Dec.

 

[drum118]

July 02
Some photos

 

[Allandale25]

@Steve Munro reports the changeover Phase 2 has been delayed.

King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles Project

The changeover to the Phase 2 configuration was originally anticipated for Wednesday, July 21, but the project is running late and this has been deferred.

When the area is ready, the replacement bus services on King and Queen will be reconfigured as shown in the map below, and track work will shift to the King Street leg of the intersection.

Service on the 501/301 Queen bus will run through east-west on Queen on the normal route rather than diverting via Dufferin and King.

The 504C King shuttle will amalgamate the existing Roncesvalles and King West shuttles into one route between Dundas West Station and Princes’ Gates Loop. 504C buses will run westbound via Queen, eastbound via Triller and King.

TTC Service Changes: August 1, 2021

Updated July 20, 2021 at 11:00 am: An explanation from the TTC for the routing choice for the 504C King West shuttle has been added at the end of this article. The schedule changes for August 2021 …

stevemunro.ca

 

[W. K. Lis]

Meanwhile, during a weekend in Zurick...

 

[Allandale25]

 

[drum118]

Aug 19
Where is the day contractor as there wasn't a sole on site and a lot of curb and sidewalk to be form and pour still waiting to be done?? a shocker seeing no one other than the crew doing Parkside Dr overpass.

All lead tracks to/from the yard have been welded and concrete pour for them. New tracks on the Queensway up to the plan enlargement of Sunnyside loop with a larger turning radius.

New hydro poles being place on the Queensway and waiting for Toronto Hydro famous delay of placing new conduct to be bury in the sidewalk for their system before they can be pour. Not sure what is up not having a concrete base for the curb lane.

This is falling further behind schedule.

The only positive note is the eastbound platform on Queen St is in place minus the yellow edge. Edge most likely be install near opening day Hope to have photos up this week with 350 still in front of them.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Aug 19
Where is the day contractor as there wasn't a sole on site and a lot of curb and sidewalk to be form and pour still waiting to be done?? a shocker seeing no one other than the crew doing Parkside Dr overpass.

All lead tracks to/from the yard have been welded and concrete pour for them. New tracks on the Queensway up to the plan enlargement of Sunnyside loop with a larger turning radius.

New hydro poles being place on the Queensway and waiting for Toronto Hydro famous delay of placing new conduct to be bury in the sidewalk for their system before they can be pour. Not sure what is up not having a concrete base for the curb lane.

This is falling further behind schedule.

The only positive note is the eastbound platform on Queen St is in place minus the yellow edge. Edge most likely be install near opening day Hope to have photos up this week with 350 still in front of them.

1. This isn't continental Europe.
2. The car has priority over public transit at city hall.

 

[drum118]

Aug 19
54 shots up on site

Your new eastbound Queen Stop

Surprised the still haven't built the sidewalks at the corners and see no reason why the delay

Got to wait for Toronto Hydro to remove the poles so track work can be finish off

Track will be coming out of the southbound lane now to go east for the loop

Again sidewalk still waiting to be install and waiting for Toronto Hydro to its thing

 

[Amare]

Honestly what in the hell is wrong over at Toronto Hydro? They move as if they are still in the 20th century, and time and time again we see them move at a snail's pace when it comes to removing/relocating old hydro poles.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Honestly what in the hell is wrong over at Toronto Hydro? They move as if they are still in the 20th century, and time and time again we see them move at a snail's pace when it comes to removing/relocating old hydro poles.

Some of those poles are not "hydro" poles. Some are communication poles (telephone, cable), some are the TTC trolley poles, some are poles that hold traffic signs (or traffic signals)..

 

[drum118]

Some of those poles are not "hydro" poles. Some are communication poles (telephone, cable), some are the TTC trolley poles, some are poles that hold traffic signs (or traffic signals)..

The cables/telephone/hydro wire need to be bury. TTC is replacing poles that are needed for their OS from the Sunnyside loop going east that will carry cables/telephone/hydro wire and traffic signs.

West of Sunnyside loop, TTC poles will be the same as the rest of the Queensway ROW. This will require Toronto Hydro to replace poles in this section as the there now are currently mark with a red X on them. The new ones will have street lights on them

Since the new ROW starts at Sunnyside loop going west, will cause confusion for driver at that point unless curb are place between the tacks to/from the yard and loop. There will be a curb west of Roncy for eastbound traffic.

 

[drum118]

Oct 19
Been 2 months since I was last there and haven't miss a thing.

A week ago, an Electric company that has been hired by Toronto Hydro started to do work on this project. Work was taking place in 3 locations today.

Looks like TTC has installed a few more poles for the OS.

TTC needs to do splice 2 rails to complete the rebuilding of Sunnyside Loop as well placing the ties for that location. Once that is done, concrete can pour to encase the rails.

Just west of Sunnyside Dr, part of the curb lane has been pour and waiting hydro work done to complete the whole block. Once done, I am assuming the sidewalk will be pour once the electric work is done as well connection to the new traffic light pole. I expect the concrete lane will be pave to shift the westbound traffic to it to allow work to start on the ROW.

It maybe possible that eastbound traffic could be shift to the tracks first to allow to rebuilt the eastbound lanes.

Notice Queen overhead is setup for pans east of the intersection and no idea how far east it goes.

Photos to follow

 

[Steve Munro]

The city's web page for this project has had the following notice for over a week: "The City’s contractor is currently finalizing Stage 1 work. The move to Stage 2 construction is now expected to take place on October 28, 2021." Stage 2 is the point where through traffic resumes on Queen and work begins on the connection south to King Street.

 

[Steve Munro]

The City's web page has been further updated: "The City’s contractor is currently finalizing Stage 1 work. The move to Stage 2 construction is now expected to begin the week of November 8, 2021."