What to know
- The Scarborough Busway is set to open Sept. 30, more than six months ahead of its original 2027 target.
- The four-kilometre route will run from Kennedy Station to Scarborough Town Centre along the former RT corridor.
- Eight bus routes will use the busway, with stops at Lawrence East and Ellesmere stations.
- The temporary busway will eventually be replaced by the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, expected to open in the 2030s.
Scarborough commuters will soon have a new way to get around the city, with the long-awaited Scarborough Busway officially set to open on Sept. 30.
The four-kilometre busway will run along the former Scarborough RT corridor between Kennedy Station and Scarborough Town Centre, giving commuters a dedicated route years after the RT derailed in 2023.
The opening is happening more than six months ahead of the original spring 2027 target.
Mayor Olivia Chow announced the opening date Thursday alongside TTC CEO Mandeep Lali and TTC Board Chair Jamaal Myers.
The busway will include stops at Tara Avenue/Mooregate Avenue, Lawrence East Station and Ellesmere Station.
From Ellesmere Station, buses will transition onto priority bus lanes on Ellesmere Road before continuing to Scarborough Town Centre.
According to Chow, the new route could save Scarborough residents more than an hour on some trips.
“No lights, no congestion, nothing to slow you down. The final layer of asphalt is down, the lights are up, the signals are installed,” Chow said.
There is still some work to be completed before buses begin using the route. Contractors are finishing pavement markings, installing the final curbs and guardrails, and preparing the platforms for passengers.
Once open, the busway will be used by eight different bus routes travelling to Scarborough Town Centre.
“Not only will it speed up the TTC commute, but it will help ease congestion for everybody,” Chow said.
The new busway will also mean changes for drivers and transit users along nearby roads.
Chow says work will soon begin to remove the dedicated bus lanes on Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue, which were installed to allow express buses to run between Kennedy Station and Scarborough Town Centre while the busway was under construction.
The opening marks a major step in restoring rapid transit service along the former Scarborough RT corridor, which has been out of service since its derailment in 2023.
The busway is also a temporary measure, which will eventually be replaced by the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, currently expected to open in the 2030s.
