Downsview (TTC)
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| Downsview 1035 Sheppard Avenue West |
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| Opened | March 30, 1996 (Yonge-University-Spadina line line) October 16, 2005 (YRT Viva Orange) |
| Line | Yonge-University-Spadina line YRT Viva Orange |
| Next station | Yonge-University-Spadina line: ≅2.9 km south to Wilson 3 min Proposed Yonge-University-Spadina line extension: YRT Viva Orange: |
| Connections | 84 Sheppard West, 105 Dufferin North, 106 York University, 107 Keele North, 108 Downsview, 117 Alness, 196 York University Rocket |
| Rank of Subway Boardings [1] | 21st busiest out of 69 |
| Daily Boardings | 30,760 |
| No. of Elevators | 3 |
| Platforms | Centre platform
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Downsview is a station of the Yonge-University-Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Currently it is the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the Orange line of York Region’s Viva bus rapid transit system.
The TTC station opened in 1996, and the Vivastation opened on October 16, 2005.
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[edit] Location
It is located on William R. Allen Road at 1035 Sheppard Avenue West.
Nearby landmarks include Downsview Park, which was the site of the World Youth Day Papal Visit in 2002, and the ‘SARSstock’ concert in 2003. It was formerly the site of an airstrip used as a military base (CFB Downsview), and by an aircraft manufacturer (DeHavilland), separating the station area from the original village of Downsview.
The subway platform is underground and east of Allen Road. The line continues underground for 750 metres to cross to the west side of the road, then runs on the surface past Wilson Yard, the TTC’s newest subway yard, which opened in 1978. At this point Allen Road becomes an elevated expressway; the subway, using what were originally the yard access tracks, crosses under its southbound lanes and rises to the road's level.
The station has a large commuter parking lot, accessible via Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue, which opened in July 2005.
[edit] Surface connections
TTC routes serving the station include:
- 84 Sheppard West, running along Sheppard Avenue, and connecting with Sheppard-Yonge station.
- 105 Dufferin North, on Dufferin Street via Wilson Heights into York Region.
- 106 York University, a local stopping route to York University.
- 107 Keele North, on Keele Street into York Region.
- 108 Downsview, serving the Jane and Finch community.
- 117 Alness, serving industrial areas near Dufferin and Steeles.
- 196(A) York University Rocket, an express route to the York University’s main (Keele) campus, Service from Sheppard-Yonge station (196B) now outside peak periods as well.
The station is also served by TTC’s Dufferin North and Keele North Routes for York Region Transit.
[edit] Viva bus rapid transit
Downsview Station is a Vivastation on York Region’s Viva bus rapid transit system. Service began on October 16, 2005. It is located on the Orange line, connecting with this subway station.
The Viva buses stop three times at Downsview. First, they stop in front of the station entrance on Sheppard Ave. eastbound to offload all of their passengers, then, they enter the bus terminal to pick up passengers. This is to ensure that Viva riders do not access the TTC without paying a TTC fare, as the bus terminal is inside the station's fare paid zone. After this, they stop a third time, on westbound Sheppard Ave., to pick up passengers who did not transfer from the subway or a TTC bus.
This Vivastation is considered a Viva ‘terminal’. Therefore, there are multiRide ticket vending machines available.
[edit] Subway extensions
The Toronto Transit Commission is currently conducting an environmental assessment (see official link below) for a project to extend the Spadina line north from Downsview to York University and Steeles Avenue. The Government of Ontario has committed $670 million -- one third of the expected cost -- to extending the Spadina subway past Steeles to the proposed Vaughan Corporate Centre.
The original plans for the Sheppard line called for it to connect with the Spadina line at Downsview, but it was constructed in an abbreviated form, and there are currently no plans to extend it west of its current terminus at Sheppard-Yonge station.
Construction for the Spadina Subway Extention is expected to begin in Summer 2007.
[edit] Artwork
The station features two pieces of artwork:
- Sliding Pi is a wall mosaic by Calgary artist Arlene Stamp. It can be view when riding the escalators or stairs to the bus platform.
- Boney Bus by John McKinnon located at the front of the station and consists of a doodle of a bus made from giant metal beams
[edit] External links
- The Spadina Subway Extension (official site)
- Sliding Pi
- Art on the TTC
