February 8 stands as a potential milestone for Toronto’s transit system, though the TTC has not confirmed an opening date for the Line 5 Eglinton LRT. Transit experts and advocates emphasize the need for clear details on operations to ensure a better start than Line 6 Finch West, which faced slow speeds and mechanical failures. TTC board chair notes possible surprises remain, while the CEO avoids committing to the February date. The TTC, responsible for operations, has not disclosed plans to enhance travel times, but Metrolinx reports thorough testing on the project it designed and built.
Issue 1: Achieving Adequate Speeds
Experts stress that trains must match car speeds to compete effectively and draw riders. Line 6 falls short, with end-to-end trips on its 10.3-kilometre route taking nearly an hour; one resident recently outpaced the train by 18 minutes. The line enforces a 60 km/h limit, dropping to 25 km/h at intersections and stops, a standard set by the TTC, city, and Metrolinx.
The TTC has not revealed Line 5’s speed limits, stating details will follow an official opening announcement. Transit consultant Reece Martin calls intersection speed restrictions on LRTs arbitrary. “What we should expect is that light-rail vehicles can go as fast as cars,” Martin said. “If it’s safe for a car to be flying through an intersection at 50 km/h, it should be safe for a train.”
Beyond limits, other factors influence travel times on Line 5.
Issue 2: Implementing Signal Priority
Red light stops on Line 5’s nine-kilometre surface section, from east of Laird to Kennedy, risk slowing commutes. Line 6 experienced this, prompting Metrolinx to blame incomplete city signal priority usage. Signal priority gives LRTs extended green lights over other traffic.
Jonathan English, a transit consultant and founding partner of Infrastory Insights, urges refining this system for both lines. “This is a technology that is effectively implemented all over the world. You don’t have to go far. If you go to Waterloo and ride the LRT in Waterloo, it almost never stops at red lights,” English said. He adds that faster LRTs make public transit the top choice for convenience.
City council approved more aggressive signal priority for Line 6 and Line 5’s surface in December. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green confirms ongoing work with the city but offers no timeline, noting updates will come with the opening date. Unlike Line 6, over half of Line 5’s 19 kilometres run underground, avoiding surface signal issues.
Issue 3: Ensuring Reliable Switches
Metrolinx oversees elements like switches, which guide vehicles between tracks and caused Line 6 delays. Focus falls on electric heating systems to clear ice and snow, similar to problematic ones in Ottawa.
Line 5 employs a mix of electric and gas heating for switches. Experts prioritize operational reliability over type. English highlights activating heaters early to prevent buildup and deactivating them appropriately. Martin will monitor early switch performance as a warning sign of potential Line 6-like troubles.
August Puranauth, campaign manager with TTC Riders, expresses deep concerns over repeating switch malfunctions, given overlapping contractors for both lines. Metrolinx’s Lyndsay Miller states the heaters underwent extensive testing and commissioning.
Expectations for a Strong Start
Premier Doug Ford dismissed Line 6 concerns last month, noting initial glitches are common. Yet experts reject low expectations. “This idea that, you know, there’s going to be tons of problems, it’s sort of asking people to lower their expectations. They wouldn’t do that in Seoul or London or Paris. We shouldn’t in Toronto,” Martin said. He dismisses winter as an excuse in Canada and anticipates a seamless Line 5 rollout, pending an official date.
