[EnviroTO]

I'm not tied to the TTC standard or the Metrolinx standard... but I'm tied to the idea of developing a standard thinking through all the various use-cases and situations that a person trying to navigate their way would understand. Figuring out when in a journey information is relevant and irrelevant so that signs have only what they need. Using symbols that are standardized across the system so that where signs are large the symbols can be paired with descriptions, but on signs with limited space the descriptions can be left off. Using symbols not unique to Toronto that ideally are based on an international standard.

TTC isn't great either. There are signs using capital letters for everything, some that capitalize half the words for some unknown reason, there are signs that expect you to read a whole sentence to figure out which way to go, signs that tell you things that are blatantly obvious, there are bold arrows, arrows in a circle, signs with two arrows pointing the same direction, streetcar symbols that look like CLRTs, subway symbols that look like H4s, subway symbols that are just a TTC logo with the word subway under it, confusion about whether or not coloured bands go around the symbol for bus, streetcar, or subway, no clear distinction between emergency exit and regular exit, light blue means accessibility but it also means fares or line 3, etc.

 

[Johnny Au]

Lemme guess? I shared the photos on UrbanToronto, then gets on Toronto subreddit without my permission, I coincidentally scroll on Reddit and find it, then someone posts from Reddit back to Urban Toronto being unaware that it was already posted, so it came full circle.

Perhaps next time, you should add a watermark on the photos.

They can be creative like the ones @kotsy does or they can simply be text.

 

[Streety McCarface]

Who said TTC is the best choice or option to use than X place that maybe way better???

Because the crosstown is to be operated by the TTC
Because the crosstown is a part of the TTC Network
Because TTC services directly integrate with the Crosstown
Because the crosstown will use TTC fares.
Because the TTC is paying for operations of the crosstown

And that is just for this line. If we were talking about GO Transit, my opinion would be far less strong on this. However, let's go over the reasons for wanting the TTC standard implemented across the region:
1. Toronto is the central city in the region. Almost every other city in the region either wouldn't exist or wouldn't be as large as they are today without Toronto.
2. Most transit users in the GTHA use the TTC. The standard is already understood by a good portion, if not a majority of transit users
3. The TTC recently redesigned and implemented a new, streamlined way finding system that cost many millions of dollars. Are we seriously going to waste money doing it over again?
4. Aspects of the TTC are seen elsewhere in the region (ie the door chimes on GO Trains and LRVs)
5. It's already a good standard.

If metrolinx wants some unifying icon they can throw it on for all I care (though I'd prefer a metrolinx logo to a T), but changing the existing fonts, roundels, icons, way finding, maps, etc seems extremely excessive and unnecessary.

 

[Johnny Au]

Caledonia station on May 20, 2021:

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Caledonia station on May 20, 2021:

View attachment 321786View attachment 321787View attachment 321788View attachment 321789View attachment 321790View attachment 321791

I wonder when Metrolinx will announce that they have partnered with Costco and that you will be able to pick up your Costco orders at a crosstown station?

 

[Steve X]

Because the crosstown is to be operated by the TTC
Because the crosstown is a part of the TTC Network
Because TTC services directly integrate with the Crosstown
Because the crosstown will use TTC fares.
Because the TTC is paying for operations of the crosstown

And that is just for this line. If we were talking about GO Transit, my opinion would be far less strong on this. However, let's go over the reasons for wanting the TTC standard implemented across the region:
1. Toronto is the central city in the region. Almost every other city in the region either wouldn't exist or wouldn't be as large as they are today without Toronto.
2. Most transit users in the GTHA use the TTC. The standard is already understood by a good portion, if not a majority of transit users
3. The TTC recently redesigned and implemented a new, streamlined way finding system that cost many millions of dollars. Are we seriously going to waste money doing it over again?
4. Aspects of the TTC are seen elsewhere in the region (ie the door chimes on GO Trains and LRVs)
5. It's already a good standard.

If metrolinx wants some unifying icon they can throw it on for all I care (though I'd prefer a metrolinx logo to a T), but changing the existing fonts, roundels, icons, way finding, maps, etc seems extremely excessive and unnecessary.

TTC is contracted to operate the line. The initial term is 10 years. It could be privatized afterwards. So it’s not a real TTC line. The owner would maintain a say and it really depends on the operating contract. However I agree there should be consistency between the TTC and ML owned lines. So we don’t have future subway extensions with a different signage.

 

[Johnny Au]

Chaplin station on May 21, 2021:

 

[officedweller]

Shouldn't station signage have the word 'Station' as well? (for Vancouver, SkyTrain station signs were changed to add 'Station' at some point).
How many people might think this is an alternate entrance to the Ontario Science Centre?

 

[TorontoBun]

Shouldn't station signage have the word 'Station' as well? (for Vancouver, SkyTrain station signs were changed to add 'Station' at some point).
How many people might think this is an alternate entrance to the Ontario Science Centre?

Seeing as how the Ontario Science Centre is advertised as being at the corner of Don Mills and Eglinton, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a common point of confusion for people coming in from the Eglinton Line or points further north. From the intersection, you'd have to traverse through the parking lot so I wouldn't be surprised to hear about it despite the sign indicating otherwise.
I would imagine it would be good for an underground (or at least protected from the elements) connection to be built, but I think its going to be something to consider adding on to the construction of the Ontario line (which would also likely have walking transfers to the Eglinton line going by the station placement so far), but I don't think that'll happen either.

 

[Steve X]

Seeing as how the Ontario Science Centre is advertised as being at the corner of Don Mills and Eglinton, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a common point of confusion for people coming in from the Eglinton Line or points further north. From the intersection, you'd have to traverse through the parking lot so I wouldn't be surprised to hear about it despite the sign indicating otherwise.
I would imagine it would be good for an underground (or at least protected from the elements) connection to be built, but I think its going to be something to consider adding on to the construction of the Ontario line (which would also likely have walking transfers to the Eglinton line going by the station placement so far), but I don't think that'll happen either.

Have people been confusing Pioneer Village Station as the actually entrance to Black Creek Pioneer Village yet?

I think most people would immediate recognized a subway (LRT) station entrance once they step foot inside.

 

[Johnny Au]

Have people been confusing Pioneer Village Station as the actually entrance to Black Creek Pioneer Village yet?

I think most people would immediate recognized a subway (LRT) station entrance once they step foot inside.

Good thing most people don't enter a Subway restaurant or a Metro grocery store expecting an entrance to a subway station.

 

[Johnny Au]

Fairbank station on May 22, 2021:

Southwest corner:

Southeast corner:

 

[DSCToronto]

And here come the trains! (Yes, I foolishly thought the trains would be moving from west to east via the tracks but ..)

Metrolinx News continues to bring you latest developments on the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. Today (May 25), marks the first of several Crosstown vehicle deliveries from the maintenance and storage facility on the west end of the LRT route to Toronto’s east end for testing. Take a look behind the scenes as their journey begins.

Move over station construction, here come the trains.

Up until now, most of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) updates have involved station progress happening along Eglinton Avenue for the future LRT line.

But now, starting today (May 25), the first of six light rail vehicles (LRVs) will be moved from the Eglinton maintenance and storage facility (EMSF) to Rosemount Drive on the at-grade section of the route by transport truck.

The vehicles will be delivered, with a police escort, one at a time this week and next week.

Vehicle delivery will take approximately two to three hours as the vehicle makes its way across the city, down Highway 401, until it reaches its destination at Rosemount Drive.

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/OI2Dfzey/first-lrv-transport-1_mov_hd.mp4

 

[Allandale25]

And the blog post: https://blog.metrolinx.com/2021/05/...their-way-to-the-east-end-for-the-first-time/

 

[Allandale25]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1397195314646376468