The Scarborough Busway, a dedicated transit corridor aimed at improving travel times for commuters in the east end of the city, officially opened its doors on Wednesday. Stretching four kilometers between Kennedy and Ellesmere stations, the busway provides streamlined connectivity to Scarborough Town Centre through priority bus infrastructure along Ellesmere Road.
City officials anticipate that the busway will serve over 100,000 riders, with trips between Kennedy and Scarborough Town Centre taking just 15 minutes, saving commuters more than an hour per week on their travels. This initiative is a temporary measure until the completion of the Scarborough subway extension in 2030, which will see Line 2 Bloor-Danforth extended to McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue East.
The idea for the busway came about following a derailment of Line 3 Scarborough RT train in July 2023, prompting the closure of the existing corridor. To cater to the high passenger demand previously serviced by Line 3, nine TTC bus routes will now utilize the Busway, offering frequent express services. The affected bus routes include:
As part of this transition, bus services on Kennedy Rd. and Midland Ave. will now operate through new stops at Tara Ave, Lawrence East Station, and Ellesmere Station. Notably, the RT replacement bus lanes on Kennedy Road and Midland Road in Scarborough have been phased out to make way for the Busway’s operations.
