Bloor-Danforth-University Subway – University Subway

Following the recommendations of the TTC, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto authorized plans to be created for the extension of the Yonge Subway line. The accepted plan for the subway extension would see the subway run north from Union Station to Bloor Street underneath University Avenue and west along Bloor Street, and east along Danforth Avenue.

The University Subway line would grant more straightforward access to the Ontario Legislature and hospitals and alleviate strain on the popular Yonge Subway line. The Bloor-Danforth Subway was proposed to ease the overcrowding on the Bloor Streetcar and address community growth and development changes along this east-west route.

The official ground-breaking for the University Subway line was on November 16, 1959. The two-mile route officially opened on February 28, 1963.

Construction on the Bloor-Danforth Subway line began in June 1962. The original route of the Bloor-Danforth line was to run between Keele Station and Woodbine Station. This stretch opened on February 26, 1966. Construction on the extension to the Bloor-Danforth Subway line began in 1965. These extensions to Warden Station in the east and Islington Station in the west opened on May 11, 1968. The final extensions, to Kipling and Kennedy, opened on November 22, 1980.

 

Pamphlet with construction pictures and illustration of the tunneling techniques to be used for the University Subway line
Progress report, Bloor-Danforth-University Subway
1960
Fonds 16, Series 2221, File 292, Item 1.
Pamphlet showing route of Bloor-Danforth-University Subway line with information on contracts let.
Progress report, Bloor-Danforth-University Subway
1960
Fonds 16, Series 2221, File 292, Item 1.
Beams laying over excavated area. Union Station and other buildings in background.
View shows excavation and decking at Front Street and York Street
August 31, 1961
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 92, Item 1425.
Cross section showing excavation under road decking being placed at road and multi-storied buildings in the background
Excavation operations for the University Subway line just north of King Street
June 7, 1960
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 36, Item 462.

 

Winter scene showing streetcar, cars, and excavated area for tunnel construction. Foreground shows multi-storied building and background shows Parliament Buildings
Elevated view of the University Avenue and College Street intersection with Queen’s Park Station construction evident both south and north of College Street
December 22, 1961
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 124, Item 1607.
Three men looking through hole to larger excavated area.
View showing the McAlpine crew having broken through to the bulkhead. Both the cut and cover box structure and tunnel structure are seen here.
December 19, 1961
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 123, Item 1602.
Large line of dump trucks on closed portion of road with traffic on the other side of the street.
Excavation trucks lined up in west section of Queen’s Park waiting to be filled
March 21, 1960
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 19, Item 301.
PCC on streetcar tracks at lights, traffic, in background heavy machinery in operation between buildings.
View looking west of Bloor Street from the intersection of Bloor Street and Queen’s Park showing the streetcar diversion in operation
January 23, 1961
Fonds 16, Series 2161, File 59, Item 878.

 

Pamphlet page titled University Subway - a vital rapid transit line.
Headlight
March 1965
Fonds 16, Series 2221, File 254.

 

 

With the opening of the University Subway line, the TTC decided to make some radical changes to its bus routes. They adopted a grid-system and set about to create and expand its bus service. The system they adopted would see bus service rerouted to accommodate the opening of the University Subway line and to prepare for the opening of the Bloor-Danforth Subway line. This new grid system would allow for services to be better routed to the suburban areas of Metropolitan Toronto.

Route map of TTC showing bus routes following a grid system. The red lines indicate new or modified bus routes.
10th annual report of the Toronto Transit Commission
1963
Fonds 16, Series 1591, Item 10.