510 Spadina

510 Spadina is a streetcar route in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission.

History

Spadina's streetcar service dates back to 1891, when belt line railway service circled the area enclosed by Bloor Street, Spadina Avenue, Sherbourne Street, and King Street. This service ended in 1948, but the tracks were still used by the Harbord streetcar until 1966.

The modern 510 Spadina route effectively began as the 604 Harbourfront LRT route along Queen's Quay in 1990. When a new dedicated right-of-way opened in 1997, extending the track north along Spadina Avenue from Queen's Quay to Spadina station on the Bloor subway, the whole route was renamed 510 Spadina, replacing both the 604 designation and the 77 Spadina bus altogether.

The name ‘LRT’ (‘light-rail transit’), which had been adopted for political reasons to project an image of modernity, was dropped when it led to residents and newspaper reporters imagining elevated guideways like those of the Scarborough RT running through their streets. It was found that the project was much easier to sell to the public and politicians when it was pitched simply as an improvement to the speed and reliability of traditional streetcar service.

When the Queen's Quay streetcar tracks were extended west to Bathurst and Fleet Streets, a new route, the 509 Harbourfront, was added in 2000, operating between Union and Exhibition Loop and sharing trackage with the 510 for the initial portion of the route.

Effectiveness

The Globe and Mail newspaper published an article with criticisms that the switch to a dedicated right-of-way streetcar had been less beneficial than promised. Based on TTC documents, the author argues that service is about one minute slower (from Queen's Quay to Bloor) during afternoon rush hour than in 1990. The author also cites TTC documents which show that the cost-to-revenue ratio of the route has fallen with the switch from buses to streetcars.^[2] Mitch Stambler, the TTC’s manager of service planning, responds by pointing out that streetcars offer a smoother and quieter ride, zero emissions, and economic development.^[2]

Transit experts point to two major problems in the line's operation: lack of traffic signal priority, and an inefficient passenger boarding system. While the line was designed to allow streetcars to have priority at all signalized intersections (which would essentially eliminate the requirement to wait for any red lights), the City of Toronto's Traffic Services department refuses to turn the system on, fearing that it will cause too much inconvenience for motorists.

With the current non-priority system, streetcars are usually forced to wait for left-turning and through traffic, only to proceed and stop at the other side of the intersection, where most of the passenger platforms are located; the experts claim that this feature alone significantly increases travel times on the line. Critics also claim that the TTC's policy of boarding passengers only by the front doors forces streetcars to wait at least twice as long at each stop, particularly during rush hour.

Instead of the current pay-as-you-enter system, many independent transit experts have called for a "proof of payment" system such as exists on the 501 Queen streetcar, where passengers with transit passes or transfers can board at the rear doors without presenting their pass to an operator. During the trip, passengers are subject to random fare inspections, where proof of payment (hence the name) must be presented, with fines levied on those who do not comply. Independent transit planners point to the success of such systems in most of Europe, but see much resistance from TTC planners, who are worried about the financial implications of fare evasion. Still, the TTC has taken some steps to improve boarding, such as placing inspectors at the busiest stops to allow those with passes to board at the rear doors.

Nonetheless, since turning back into a streetcar route, ridership has increased significantly. Ridership has increased from 26,000 per day to 35,000 per day to over 45,000 per day in 2005-2006^[3] Streetcars on the Spadina portion run every 2–3 minutes every day.

Since December 15, 2008, the 510 Spadina streetcar route has the next vehicle arrival notification system installed in the Spadina and Union subway stations. The next vehicle arrival notification system includes a display screen that shows the location of the streetcars in "real" time with a delay of one minute. The goal is to advise the commuters of any delays on the route.^[4]

Route

510 streetcars operate entirely in their own right of way, except for the one-way short turn loop at Spadina and King streets, via Adelaide Street West and Charlotte Street; there are no plans to institute a right of way here as it would not benefit operation significantly. Most stops along the 510 routes are surface stops with islands separating the regular traffic from the streetcar tracks. Streetcars enter underground subway stations at Union and Spadina TTC stations, and a dedicated underground streetcar station at Queens Quay.

Unlike the stops on the old Harbourfront route, most of the Spadina stops have streetcar traffic signals, partial shelters, and railings to protect patrons from the traffic. Except late at night, every other or two of three streetcars operate only between Spadina subway station and King Street, the busiest portion of the route.

Route branches

• 510 Union/501 Spadina Station: Spadina to Union via Queens Quay
• 510 King: Southbound from Spadina to Spadina Ave and King St.
• 510 Queens Quay: Southbound from Spadina to Spadina Ave and Queens Quay

The 510K, Q and F (Southbound) turn around at the King/Queen/Charlotte Loop. The 510F (Northbound) loops at Spadina Station.

Points of interest

^[5]

Stops

Stops along 510 consist of a raised concrete platform with a partially covered shelter and railings along the entire boarding area. Platforms are located on the far-side of most intersections, to make room for left-turn lanes on the near side. TTC streetcars are equipped with a Surface Vehicle Automatic Stop Announcement System (SVASAS) which calls out the stops through the public address system and on the L.E.D. board (e.g., Next Stop: College Street).

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Toronto Transit Commission (September 18, 2009). "TTC Service Summary". http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/Service_Summary_2009_10_18.pdf. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Stephen Wickens (May 7, 2005). "RAPID TRANSIT? NOT ON SPADINA Summary". http://transit.toronto.on.ca/archives/data/200505072354.shtml. 
3. ^ http://www.lightrailnow.org/news/n_newslog001.htm, http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/pdf/ridership_cost_stats_bus_streetcar_05_06.pdf
4. ^ TTC launches next vehicle arrival notification pilot project
5. ^ "510 Spadina: Route Description". Toronto Transit Commission. http://www3.ttc.ca/Routes/510/Northbound.jsp. Retrieved 2009-10-06. 

• Trains and Streetcars
• Route 510 - Spadina Streetcar (Transit Toronto)
• Light Rail Now! Newslog

See also

• Toronto streetcar system