When you mention the name of the world’s largest and most vibrant city, Toronto is one of them that immediately comes to mind. Today, history and tradition are so inextricably linked with this name that all the surrounding small towns or suburbs have to understand the Greater Toronto Area with the Toronto accent. Especially because of its sophisticated transportation system. Actually, there was no city called Toronto in ancient times, a small city was called York. In this small city, day by day, trade and commerce continued to develop, due to the location. Lured by the promise of Canada, the fledgling consortium embarked on a booming, booming business journey—even the name changed to Toronto.
A Brief History of Toronto Transportation:
Communication is the key for any city-port to be a pioneer in business, and Toronto is no exception. The first horse-drawn bus service, the Yorkville Bus Line, started in York City. The light of the experience later started in the city named Toronto
Horse-drawn street rail.
Toronto horse-drawn street railway (1861-1891) from St. Lawrence Market to Woodbine.
Toronto then gradually played a central role in trade internationally to accelerate Canada’s remarkable progress. The city’s population continues to grow, primarily due to the fast-moving economy. Naturally, mass communication systems, highways, and better vehicles were born. The Toronto Transportation Commission (1921-1953) was formed.
On January 1, 1954, the Toronto Transportation Commission was renamed the Toronto Transit Commission and public transit was placed under the jurisdiction of the new municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.
The streetcar system was electrified before this time.
Canada’s First Subway:
Subways promised speed, modernity and convenience, and Toronto’s Young Subway Line was Canada’s first subway line. Built and operated by the publicly owned Toronto Transit Commission.
The Toronto Transit Commission between 1949 and 1954 initiated efforts to develop post-World War II Toronto for the city’s prosperity and future improved communications.
This spurred new apartment and office construction at a rapid pace around major intersections both downtown and midtown, from Bloor Street to Eglinton Avenue. The subway virtually shaped and shaped modern Toronto.
Photographers from Canada Pictures Ltd captured the entire initiative on camera, right down to the first subway car running underground. Completed tracks, tunnels, stations and Toronto’s new subway cars were also documented. Official events were also included, including groundbreaking ceremonies, the official opening of the subway, and visits from the Governor General of Canada, Sir Rupert Alexander, to engineering dignitaries and other visitors from around the world. Here is a selection of the Young Street Subway Construction Series photos, all of which are still readily available for viewing today in the City of Toronto Archives.
Impact of Toronto Transit Commission:
On January 1, 1954, the province of Ontario incorporated the cities and towns south of Stiles Avenue into the municipality of Metropolitan Toronto. The Toronto Transportation Commission was then renamed the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). This public transit takes responsibility for all communication systems within its boundaries. Services north of Stiles Avenue continue to be operated under an agreement between the local township and the Toronto Transit Commission.
An urban development and expansion:
The urban development that accelerated with the creation of Metropolitan Toronto in 1954 did not stop with the creation of the city. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, development began to expand beyond the metro boundaries along Steeles Avenue, primarily affecting the communities along Young Street. The Ontario government understands and supports the challenges that such development represents. In the mid-1960s, Metropolitan Toronto sought to best manage transportation development. and created a corporation called GO (Government Of Ontario) Transit, under which in May 1967 an affordable transportation service along Toronto’s lakeshore began. It sows the seed for a provincially run regional transit agency. Another result of this process was the Richmond Hill, Aurora and Newmarket area on January 1, 1971. With an eye on the urban future, together with the development of communication systems through bus and rail connectivity.
Then there was GO Transit, from the late 1960s and into the 1970s there was a progressive push for bus service across the metropolitan boundaries of the Greater Toronto Area. GO Transit has already operated local bus services in York Region for years, including Newmarket in the far north. Another line opened along Bayview Avenue in January 1972. Extended service was followed by a GO train to Richmond Hill, which opened on May 1, 1978. GO train services replace federally-operated train services to Barrie and Stouffville.
Activities of TTC Agreement:
Even after the municipalities of Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham started their own transit service, these cities continued to contract with the TTC to provide service on several major north-south routes.
As the TTC expanded Toronto’s subway network north, some of these routes were split to serve more northern stations. which saved northern commuters a long time to reach the Bloor-Danforth subway.
Consolidation and Expansion:
As the suburbs of Toronto continued to develop and meet the needs of York Region, York Region became a large city in its own right. New transportation systems also emerged, with more people choosing to travel to Toronto via transit, speeding up business and employment. On the other hand, Vaughan and Brampton transit routes connect.
On February 1, 2001, Markham Transit, Newmarket Transit, Richmond Hill Transit, and Vaughan Transit officially merged to form York Region Transit. which was administered as a division of York Region. GO Transit buses on Yonge and Bayview avenues also continue to connect.
Viva Rapid Transit Service:
Central to the creation of York Region Transit was the introduction of a rapid transit network across York Region’s main east-west and north-south axes. On September 4, 2005, the service of the Viva Network began. There are four rapid-bus express lines on Highway Seven (7) and Young Street, which connect the cities of Vaughan, Newmarket and Markham to the Toronto subway at Finch, Downsview and Don Mills stations. It was the first step in an ambitious bus rapid transit plan.
The most impressive aspect of York Region Transit is that it has consolidated its various origins into a single integrated network. Despite its challenging urban landscape, it has grown rapidly and leads the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in deploying rapid transit. It has emerged from the shadow of TTC and is proud of the achievement.
Birth of Metrolinx:
Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario under the Metrolinx Act, 2006, was established to coordinate, integrate and develop all modes of transportation in each region and the Hamilton area shown on the Greater Toronto Map.
On May 14, 2009, GO Transit merged with Metrolinx after the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Transit Implementation Act was approved.
Metrolinx’s Sources of Earnings:
Metrolinx includes rental revenue from transit, including bus and rail services, as well as miscellaneous revenue, including partnerships, advertising and commercial space rental. Represents the excess of operating expenses, including repayments, over revenues earned during the year.
Metrolinx Crown Agency:
Metrolinx and TTC share a visionary collaborative vision of moving forward into the future and working together for the greater good above all. Metrolinx is building four new lines on behalf of the province of Ontario, which will also be responsible for design, financing and maintenance. However, the TTC will operate and operate the new lines.
Metrolinx is an Ontario government agency that provides value-added transportation services. Clearly forward thinking and managed as an efficient team. As of May 17, 2022, GO Transit is a division of Metrolinx and a government chartered agency.
This Crown agency of the Ontario government builds, operates and coordinates roads and public transportation covering Greater Toronto and much of Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe region. Established on June 22, 2006 as the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, headquartered in Toronto’s Union Station. The company adopted its current name as a brand name in 2007 and finally took the legal name Metrolinx in 2009.
The agency is also responsible for the Presto Card. Since 2009, regional commuter rail, coach network and GO Transit have taken over. Metrolinx owns and operates the Union Station to Pearson Express, a rail service connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport to Union Station. The company is also responsible for the construction of nearly $30 billion of transit expansion projects in Greater Toronto, including Line One(1) Young Subway Extension to Richmond Hill, Line Two(2) Bloor-Danforth Scarborough Extension and Line Five(5) to Eglinton.
Additionally, York Region is also primarily established as Ontario Government Transit. But this long form of the name is still largely unknown to the masses. GO Transit, on the other hand, has been under the responsibility of the Greater Toronto Services Board since August 7, 1999, as the Toronto Area Transportation Operating Authority. In 2007, all transportation systems were consolidated and adopted the Metrolinx name.
It may be mentioned here that many Bengalis are ably engaged in the expansion projects and development of Metrolinx, some of them are engineers and even divisional managers. This is the pride of all of us Bengalis.
Toronto, Canada
