The Sheppard line is a prime example of the laudable (in my opinion) principle that rapid transit must LEAD, not FOLLOW development. I regularly use this line and have noticed a significant increase in ridership as the Sheppard corridor has steadily densified. The only thing wrong with the Sheppard line is that it wasn't extended further east and west, perhaps linking Scarborough Town Centre with the Sheppard West station on line 1.
I think the problem with this line actually is that it was built through an affluent neighbourhood rife with single family homes who (usually) will just drive everywhere. I think a prime case of good transit following development would be the finch west LRT, which goes through all of the most impoverished areas of Toronto. This subway line was budget cut to oblivion until it couldnt be built to a suitable length to reach the people it was supposed to be built for.
it will forever irritate me that when Line 4 and Leslie Station specifically opened they didnt move Oriole GO station to integrate them into a single station like they did with Downsview Park on Line 1. it doesn't seem like it would've been that difficult to do, and if nothing else it would've spared the indignity of having to walk 750 metres north on Leslie St to switch from GO to the TTC. although to be fair to Oriole GO, the parking lot under the 401 is very funny
As much as it is currently short and underused, the future of Line 4 is somewhat bright. Metrolinx is currently in the process of making a plan for an eastward extension, which should meet the Line 2 Scarborough extension at Sheppard East. There has also been some interest in a westward extension of the line to meet the University line at Sheppard West.
Yep! I think a lot of people sleep on Line 4's potential once it's completed. There's a lot of bus ridership through Sheppard and the surrounding area in Scarborough, and a lot of communities that would be linked together (all sorts of ethnic stores and restaurants for example) and connected back to Line 1 and Don Mills/Fairview (especially with Fairview expanding with the big T&T plus Asian food court).
Leslie station used to also have the Ikea shuttle bus which would go to the North York Ikea store and back free of charge. Service has been suspended since the pandemic.
It's only about a 5 minute walk, it was usually faster to walk than take the shuttle when you counted wait times. When the subway first opened I think the Esther Shiner boulevard underpass wasn't there; so the CN Bala sub cut the store off from the subway even though its pretty close, and the walk used to take more like 20 minutes.
The Sheppard Line must and should go from Sheppard East to Scarborough. In 50 years Toronto will grow and be in need of a full Line 4. Build it and they will come.
New to the channel, former Toronto resident. I enjoy your videos because they present an interesting history of the city that is seldom taught, and showcase the unique beauty of Toronto. Unique and inspiring!
People shit on the shep[pard line for low ridership, but forget that it wasn't fully built out. It is basically a 6 km shuttle to Fairview mall and the Parkway Forest neighbourhood. It isn't long enough to be used like a real trunk line. I magine if the Danforth line only went to Greenwood and didn't even reach St. George. In that context, it's actually decently used.
The thing I like about the Sheppard line is that it is a very nice time capsule of late 90s/early 00s Canadian institutional architecture. The stations feel like being in a multi-purpose room in a hospital or university. I believe at one point in the planning stages the TTC was considering running feeder buses (like St. Andrews, Silver Hills and Graydon Hall routes) from the surrounding suburbia into the Leslie station bus loop but never ended up doing it. These types of routes were infrequent at 2-3 buses an hour (and when the Sheppard line was opened they were mostly peak only and maybe midday services) and take slow winding routes through residential streets, so most people in the area would rather take the high frequency routes on Finch or York Mills. Also the TTC was very cash strapped then and probably didn't want to run more low ridership suburban residential routes with a low recovery ratio (one weird bit of TTC lore is that there was a notorious NIMBY who was seemingly personally offended by the existence of the Graydon Hall bus, and would spend time following it around in his car to count the number of riders).
I love Line 4's station design i honestly feel like it's the best on the network in that regard. I'm also very excited what the future holds for the line as it seems metrolinx and the city are commiting to finally extending the line. Great video btw
I was disappointed that you did not explain why this line was ever built. I find it hard to believe that the route couldn't have been adequately serviced by a bus line. I would like to know if there aren't numerous existing bus lines with higher ridership than the Stubway Fairview Shuttle.
why am I left thinking that a lot of "friends" of the various governments made a lot of money from the construction of this line? however, like in Field of Dreams the expression "if you build it, they will come" applies in spades (pardon the metaphor) to transit. if you make it, people will ride it. it may take time but it does happen.
I've always wondered if the signatures on Sheppard/Leslie are all unique or if there are repeats! I tried checking one time but every time I thought I saw a double it looked just slightly different. Anyone know?
There is exactly one tile that is misspelled, somewhere in the station. Every one of them are unique and were done as part of a design contest for the station. I hope they keep the tiles that will be removed if the platforms ever get extended.
@@alistairlogie1815 Subways move a significant number of people. I have other ways - teleferica - that move similar or greater numbers. The resource necessary to build and maintain a subway are 100X.
