Let’s face it, the idea of going from Point A to Point B in Toronto can be daunting. Known as the biggest city in Canada, Toronto offers various transportation methods, each with its own set of pros and cons. The topic of commuting in Toronto is something that every Torontonian has an opinion on. With a downtown core filled with financial hubs, a plethora of popular and unique restaurants, and more entertainment than ever, it is no surprise why over 2.8 million Ontarians call the city home. So, how exactly are Torontonians commuting? Should you own a car to commute easily within Toronto? Whether you just moved here, grew up in the city, or commute daily for work, we’ve got everything you need to know about commuting in Toronto.
What is Toronto known for?
Hailed as the biggest city in Canada and the capital of Ontario, Toronto is situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, right behind New York City and Chicago. As a dynamic metropolis, Toronto is a bourgeoning world leader in business, finance, entertainment, and culture. Known for its buzzing food scene, iconic CN Tower, and high cost of living, it brings in hundreds of people daily for both work and play. From the infamous Yorkdale Mall to hubs such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, and Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto has no shortage of entertainment. Furthermore, sports teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Blue Jays, bring in roughly 18,000 people!
No matter your interests, Toronto has something for you. However, being able to fully enjoy the city isn’t possible unless you know how to commute successfully.
How do Torontonians commute?
Driving in Toronto: By car
With many highways, a car is a great way of commuting within, to, and from Toronto. Highways, such as the 401, 4,27, and 407, all make for easy access to surrounding cities. These include Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton, and Pickering. A car is also your best bet to get to the nearest Canada-U.S. border crossings, located at Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, and Windsor. Toronto’s streets follow a basic grid pattern. This makes navigation and following directions a breeze.
However, with all this in mind, a car may not be everyone’s go-to choice for transportation within the downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods. For starters, a car is an expensive commodity. With Toronto being dubbed one of the most expensive cities in the world, it can be a lot to take on. Not only will drivers in Toronto be paying more for car insurance, but parking in itself can also take quite a toll on your wallet (if you’re able to find it!)
Parking in Toronto
Parking in Toronto is limited on most streets, depending on the time of day. Luckily, there are a variety of public parking lots within the city. City-owned lots are always indicated by the “Green P” logo; a large P in a green circle. You can also plan and pay from your phone using the Green P application! Toronto is a large city and traffic is something that every big city has to deal with, especially in its downtown core. Torontonians believe commuting via the subway or streetcar is a much faster method, depending on where your destination is.
Toronto’s Subway System (TTC)
Toronto is home to one of the finest transportation systems in North America, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). First created way back in 1921, the TTC is an easy-to-use public transportation system that makes commuting in Toronto an absolute breeze.
The subway system in Toronto makes commuting as simple as ever. The TTC opened in 1954 and consists of two main subway lines. Line 1 begins in Vaughan, going all the way down to Union Station, a massive transportation hub located in Toronto’s downtown core. From there, it loops back up North, stopping at Finch Station in North York. Line 2 runs from East to West, starting at Kennedy Station in Scarborough, Ontario, and eventually ending at Kipling Station in Etobicoke, passing through the downtown core. The subway is a terrific way of commuting to most major hubs in the city, bringing you to each end of the city, as well as the downtown core and all it has to offer.
As of 2023, the subway had a total of 1 million users per week, with over 302 million users annually. This makes it the second busiest subway system in Canada, right behind the Montreal Metro!
Streetcars and busses (TTC)
Another major component of commuting in Toronto is the streetcar and bus system. Toronto’s streetcar network consists of eleven streetcar routes and 192 different bus routes. Generally, the streetcar runs mainly downtown, going from east to west in a fashion similar to the Line 2 subway line. The TTC’s streetcar line ranks as the third busiest light-rail system in North America, with four of the street car routes being part of the TTC’s five most heavily used routes. In 2019, the TTC converted all of their street cars to low-floor streetcars, making it one of the only fully accessible modes of commuting in Toronto. In 2023 alone, the streetcar system had a ridership of just over 69 million daily users.
Integrated within the TTC’s subway and streetcar routes, Toronto’s bus routes extend throughout the entire city, reaching into Mississauga to the West and Scarborough to the East. Currently, the Toronto system has roughly 2,100 buses. Each route is named after a number and street or neighbourhood served. Transfers from bus to streetcar or subway are made extremely easy, especially with the recent adaptation of Presto cards allowing free transfers. These transfers are not only for the TTC, either. Most forms of public transportation within the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, and even Ottawa accept Presto as a form of payment, free transfers included.
All bus routes aside from 99 Arrow Road, 171 Mt. Dennis, and 176 Mimico GO connect to a subway station. This makes transferring easier than ever!
GO Transit and Via Rail
If you are commuting into or out of the city, you are also in luck. Toronto is home to both the Go Transit train and bus system. GO Transit is a public train transit system that operates the Greater Golden Horseshoe area, serving over 7 million people. For many, GO Transit is a mandatory part of getting to and from the city daily. On an average day, GO runs 332 train trips, carrying over 206,000 riders. It runs 2,386 daily bus routes carrying roughly 49,000 passengers.
Toronto alone has four stops on its infamous Lakeshore line. These include the following:
- Union Station – 65 Front Street, Toronto
- Exhibition – 100 Manitoba Drive, Toronto
- Mimico – 315 Royal York Road, Toronto
- Long Branch – 20 Brow Drive, Toronto
This line makes stops going West in Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, and Hamilton.
If you plan on going even further, Toronto’s Union Station also has Via Rail available for you! Via Rail is a massive train system that runs throughout Canada. It operates roughly 500 trains a week going across eight provinces. These include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. All of these provinces are available as a one-way ride from Toronto!
Commuting in Toronto: Getting to the airport
Toronto is home to two airports, most notably Toronto Pearson International Airport. Pearson is Toronto’s principal airport, with connections to every continent. Luckily, commuting to the airport without a car is simple with the Union-Pearson Express (UP Express). The UP Express is a rail service that runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. UP gets you from Union Station to Pearson Airport in 25 minutes. On top of this, it’s only $12.35, making it a much cheaper alternative than paying for public parking.
The second airport in Toronto is Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Located on the beautiful Toronto Island, Billy Bishop is one of the most convenient urban airports in the world. Due to its proximity to the downtown core, you have the option of walking the pedestrian tunnel or taking a quick ferry ride to the island.
How can I commute to Toronto Island?
If you have spent a summer in Toronto, you know just how magical Toronto Island can be! Luckily, it is also extremely easy to get to. As mentioned above, The Toronto Island Ferry is your go-to for quick access. This ferry runs year-round and departs at The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. This terminal is at 9 Queens Quay West, at the intersection of Queens Quay and Bay Street. The Toronto Ferry can quickly take you to and from Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point, and Ward’s Island. This makes for a perfect day trip to the beach!
Biking as a form of commuting in Toronto
When it comes to affordability, cycling is one of the most efficient ways to get around. Toronto has multiple safe and quick biking routes. If you don’t have a bike, don’t fret! Toronto has multiple bike shops that offer rentals, as well as a network of public bikes throughout the city, available year-round. Just remember to be safe, follow the rules, and wear a helmet.
Is Toronto a walkable city?
At the end of the day, you’ve always got your feet to get you around. Toronto is known for its beautiful streets and walkable neighborhoods, such as Kensington Market, Liberty Village, and the Distillery District. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or are just visiting, a nice walk is a perfect way to explore Toronto!
As Toronto grows, so does its transit system
Toronto is a city that is constantly growing, with no signs of slowing down. Due to this, Toronto’s transportation systems have been growing and expanding. Here are just some of the new projects planned for Toronto’s transportation systems:
- Finch West LRT: An upcoming light-rail transit line is in the works, running from Humber College to Finch West station. Unfortunately, due to some delays, the LRT is now expected to open at the end of 2024.
- Ontario Line: Arguably the most exciting for the city, the Ontario Line is a new TTC Subway line that is in the works. It is planned to run 15.6 km from Exhibition Place to the Ontario Science Centre. Construction began in December 2021 and is expected to be completed by 2031.
- Eglinton LRT: Similar to Finch West’s LRT, Eglinton will run between Kennedy Station in the east and Mount Dennis Station to the west, spanning a massive 19 kilometres. If you live in the area, then you know construction has already begun, with the first phase expected to open this year!
Commuting in Toronto: Conclusion
Though it may seem like a lot to take in, being able to efficiently commute in Toronto is easy to learn. Remember, no matter where you are in the city, getting to your destination by car safely and securely cannot be done without Toronto auto insurance. Contact us or request a quote today!
