Toronto Transportation

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Toronto Public Transporation

Toronto has a public transportation system (the TTC) linking the outlying areas with the downtown business core. Through a system of buses, street cars, and a skeletal subway system, you can live and work in the city without a car if you plan carefully. All three modes link with the main train station (Union Station) on Front St.

The most effective means of public transport is the subway. It's limited to a single north/south (Yonge) and east/west (Bloor) line. Users can connect to the slower and less efficient streetcar and bus lines with a free transfer. You can see a map of the Toronto subway system (TTC).

The streetcars service the city center. They share the city streets with other traffic and as such, are affected by traffic. Buses transit throughout the city.

Highways and Traffic

Toronto, like most large and growing cities, has serious traffic problems. Morning and afternoon rush hour congestion is an everyday occurrence and commuters traveling between downtown and areas outside the city core may experience drive times of up to 1½ hours. Foul weather is frequent (rain and snow) and affects traffic negatively. (Highway 401, Gardiner, Don Valley Parkway (DVP) traffic flow map)

Downtown driving is slow. Many streets don't allow left-hand turns and there are other restrictions during rush hour. Right-turn on a red light is permitted unless specifically prohibited by local signage. A flashing green traffic light indicates a protected left-hand turn (these only last a few seconds) and motorists must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks (indicated by three overhead "X's").

Downtown Parking

Garage parking within the downtown core can run as high as $3.50 per half hour with a maximum charge of up to $18 per day. Municipal garages are cheaper and can be located by their green "P" parking signs. Street-side parking usually runs $1.50 to $2.50 per hour (pay the kiosk and put the receipt in your front window). Some areas allow free street-side parking after 9:00 pm. Overall, enforcement is strict: you will get a ticket or be towed if you violate the parking restrictions. Many rush hour corridors restrict street-side parking during rush hour.

Airports

There are two regional airports: Pearson International, located at the northwest corner of the city, is the largest with numerous local and international carriers. The only public transportation link between Pearson and the city core is by bus. Train service is planned, but won't be operational for several years. The second airport is located on Harbor Island downtown. It services small private aircraft.

Train and Bus Terminals

Union Station is located downtown on Front St.. Toronto rail service consists of GO commuter transit and VIA Rail. The GO is a regional train and bus system that links Toronto with the surrounding areas within Ontario. VIA Rail is Canada's long distance rail carrier.