Bloor–Yonge station

{{short description|Toronto subway station}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox station | name = Bloor–Yonge | symbol_location = toronto | symbol = 1big | symbol2 = 2big | style = Toronto Transit Commission | image = {{multiple image | total_width = 250px | perrow = 1/2 | border = infobox | image1 = Line 1 Platforms at Bloor-Yonge Station, February 13 2026 (01).jpg | caption1 = Line 1 platform | image2 = Yonge Station Line 2 Platform 2022.jpg | caption2 = Line 2 platform }}

| address = 20 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario | country = Canada | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|43|40|15|N|79|23|08|W|region:CA-ON_type:railwaystation|display=inline,title}} | line =  | other = {{Collapsible list |framestyle=border:none; padding:0;  |title={{rail-interchange|toronto|bus}} TTC buses | 1= {{color box|white|'''97'''|#FF2D16|border=silver}} Yonge | 2= {{color box|white|'''300''' 8px|#034DA9|border=silver}} Bloor-Danforth | 3= {{color box|white|'''320''' 8px|#034DA9|border=silver}} Yonge }} | website = {{TTC station page}} | structure = Underground | platform = {{plainlist| * Side platforms (Line 1)<ref name="ttcblooryonge" /> * Centre platform (Line 2)<ref name="ttcblooryonge" /> }} | depth = | levels = 2 | tracks = 4 (2 on each level) | parking = | bicycle = | opened = {{plainlist| * Line 1: {{Start date and age|1954|03|30}} * Line 2: {{Start date and age|1966|02|26}} }} | architect = Charles B. Dolphin | closed = | rebuilt = | electrified = | accessible = Yes | code = | owned = Toronto Transit Commission | zone = | former = | passengers = {{plainlist| * {{formatnum:{{TTC ridership|Bloor-Yonge-1}}}} (Line 1) * {{formatnum:{{TTC ridership|Bloor-Yonge-2}}}} (Line 2) * {{formatnum:{{#expr:{{TTC ridership|Bloor-Yonge-1}}+{{TTC ridership|Bloor-Yonge-2}}}}}} total{{efn|name=add|Figure derived from adding the ridership of Bloor and Yonge platforms; therefore a passenger transferring from Bloor to Yonge or vice versa will be counted twice.}} }} | pass_year = {{TTC ridership}} | pass_rank = {{TTC rank|Bloor–Yonge}} | pass_system = | mpassengers = | services = {{Adjacent stations|system=Toronto Transit Commission|line=1|left=Wellesley|right=Rosedale |line2=2|left2=Bay|right2=Sherbourne}} | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | mapframe-marker-color = #000 | mapframe-marker = rail-metro | route_map = {{Routemap|legend=track|inline=y|map= \utvSTR ~~ ~~ ~~ {{ric|TTC|1}} ''to {{stl|TTC|Finch}}'' \utvSTR utSTRq\utPSTR(R)q\utPSTR(R)q!~MASKr!~PLTl!~lhvSTR(m)\utvSTR\utPSTR(R)q!~MASKl!~PLTr!~lhvSTR(m)\utSTRq ~~ ~~ ~~ {{ric|TTC|2}} ''to {{stl|TTC|Kipling}}'' utSTRq\utPSTR(L)q\utPSTR(L)q!~MASKr!~PLTl!~lhvSTR(m)\utvSTR\utPSTR(L)q!~MASKl!~PLTr!~lhvSTR(m)\utSTRq ~~ ~~ ~~ {{ric|TTC|2}} ''to {{stl|TTC|Kennedy}}'' \PLTl\utvSTR\PLTr \PLTl\utvSTR\PLTr \utvSTR \utvSTR ~~ ~~ ~~ {{ric|TTC|1}} ''to {{stl|TTC|Vaughan}} via {{stl|TTC|Union}}'' }} | map_state = collapsed }} '''Bloor–Yonge''' is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University and Line 2 Bloor–Danforth in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located in Downtown Toronto, under the intersection of Yonge Street and Bloor Street, it is the busiest subway station in the system, handling over 200,000 passengers on an average weekday.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-131525.pdf |title=Transit Expansion Program – Status Update |website=City of Toronto |access-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407190028/https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-131525.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History== {{Original research|section|date=May 2013}}

The station was opened in 1954 and designed by Charles B. Dolphin.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://archindont.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ArchindontWeb/buildingType.do?type=Subway+Stations&typeID=112 |title=Architectural Index for Ontario |access-date=October 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024031316/http://archindont.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ArchindontWeb/buildingType.do?type=Subway+Stations&typeID=112 |archive-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref> It was originally named ''Bloor'' and connected with a pair of enclosed platforms in the centre of Bloor Street to allow interchange with Bloor streetcars within the fare-paid zone.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/whats-online/web-exhibits/canadas-first-subway/canadas-first-subway-underground-downtown/|title=Canada's First Subway: Underground Downtown|work=City of Toronto Archives|date=November 23, 2017|publisher=City of Toronto|quote=Two platforms, one for eastbound and one for westbound streetcars, were built in the centre of Bloor Street to allow passengers to walk from the streetcars directly down to the subway cars.|access-date=June 28, 2018|archive-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074321/https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/access-city-information-or-records/city-of-toronto-archives/whats-online/web-exhibits/canadas-first-subway/canadas-first-subway-underground-downtown/|url-status=live}}</ref> When the streetcars were replaced by the Bloor–Danforth subway (now Line 2 Bloor–Danforth) in 1966, the station began to be shown on maps as ''Bloor–Yonge''. However, actual platform signs still show ''Bloor'' on Line 1 Yonge–University and ''Yonge'' on the Bloor–Danforth line, following a naming style common in New York subway station complexes, where only the platform's cross street is shown on the platform signs. thumb|left|Passengers board a subway train at Yonge station, 1966 Similarly, the automated station announcement system installed on trains from 2007 to 2008 refers to the station as ''Bloor'' on Line 1 and ''Yonge'' on Line 2 respectively. The announcements on the Toronto Rocket subway trains that have operated on Line 1 since 2011 refer to the station as ''Bloor–Yonge'' along with announcing "transfer for Line 2 Bloor–Danforth" (as of December 2025). It is the only TTC station named in this way; all other interchanges share the same name for both lines; i.e. {{stl|TTC|Sheppard–Yonge}}.

The station used to feature a small retail concourse along the corridor leading from the entrance at the south side of Bloor Street. This concourse was closed and disappeared during the construction of the office building at 33 Bloor Street East in the late 1980s.

Due to its congestion, the TTC has had to expand the station. In 1992, it took advantage of building construction over the Yonge–University portion of the station to open it out and widen the platforms.

In 1996, the station became accessible with elevators as one of the TTC's first accessible stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/History/Milestones.jsp |title=Milestones |work=About the TTC |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |quote=1996: Downsview Station, Bloor–Yonge Station, and Union Station become the first accessible subway stations. |access-date=December 8, 2014 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506024157/http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/History/Milestones.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

The TTC experimented with crowd-control measures on the southbound platform of the Yonge–University level on November 24, 2009, and made these permanent as they allowed for improved passenger flow by discouraging crowding near the stairs leading to the Bloor–Danforth level. These measures also reduced dwell times by a few seconds, such that a few more trains can enter the station during rush hour without building additional capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc/article/735184--ttc-crowd-control-now-permanent |title=TTC crowd control now permanent |last=Kalinowski |first=Tess |date=December 7, 2009 |publisher=Toronto Star |access-date=December 7, 2009 |archive-date=December 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209001350/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/ttc/article/735184--ttc-crowd-control-now-permanent |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stevemunro.ca/2009/11/27/the-bloor-yonge-platform-experiment/ |author-link=Steve Munro |title=The Bloor-Yonge Platform Experiment |last=Munro |first=Steve |date=November 27, 2009 |access-date=December 7, 2009 |archive-date=March 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304004835/http://stevemunro.ca/2009/11/27/the-bloor-yonge-platform-experiment/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Increasing ridership has led to overcrowding of the station and discussion of a potential Relief Line. The TTC took various crowd-control measures during peak periods; empty trains were often dispatched to the station to clear the platform.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kuitenbrouwer |first1=Peter |title='We're out of station': Yonge Subway line desperately close to bursting |url=https://nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/yonge-subway |website=National Post |date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref> Signal upgrades and other improvements on Line 1 have relieved the station and line of some crowding, but a study conducted by Metrolinx concluded that the benefits would only last until 2031.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Warnica |first1=Richard |title=Relief coming for TTC riders on overcrowded Yonge subway line, but it might not last: Metrolinx report |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/0624-na-metrolinx |website=National Post |date=June 24, 2015 |access-date=December 3, 2015}}</ref>

{{As of|2014|3}}, a trial for new numerical signage referring to the subway routes such as Line 1 for the Yonge line and Line 2 for the Bloor line were phased in on signs and maps at the station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2013/October_23/Reports/New_Wayfinding_Standards_Presentation.pdf |title=New Wayfinding Standards |date=October 2013 |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |quote=Pilot study – Bloor-Yonge & St. George Stations |access-date=March 17, 2014 |archive-date=March 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323190738/http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2013/October_23/Reports/New_Wayfinding_Standards_Presentation.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkbs4wJYhdk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Vkbs4wJYhdk| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=New Subway Station Signage on the TTC |date=March 3, 2014 |publisher=TTC |quote=The Toronto Transit Commission launched a trial for new signage at Bloor-Yonge Station as part of its efforts to improve and ease navigation of the subway system and its stations |access-date=March 3, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In April 2019, as a 6-month trial project, the TTC installed floor decals along platform edges to direct rush-hour crowds boarding trains. The decals, located near where the train doors open, indicate where passengers on the platform should stand in order not to block passengers leaving the train. The decals have two background colours – grey and blue – where the blue decals (with a wheelchair symbol) indicate where passengers with mobility problems should board. The blue decals are installed near platform elevators. Such decals have already been successfully used at York University station.<ref name="TheStar-2019-04-18">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/04/18/ttc-unveils-floor-decals-telling-commuters-how-to-board-trains-at-bloor-yonge-station.html |title=TTC unveils floor decals telling commuters how to board trains at Bloor-Yonge station |newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Alexandra |last=Jones |date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418195755/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/04/18/ttc-unveils-floor-decals-telling-commuters-how-to-board-trains-at-bloor-yonge-station.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Subway infrastructure in the vicinity== North of the station the Yonge–University line crosses under Church Street in a tunnel then emerges to the surface at the Ellis Portal,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www3.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/History/cavalcade_of_progress.jsp | title=A Cavalcade of Progress, 1921-1954 | access-date=July 31, 2009 | archive-date=October 22, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022074929/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/History/cavalcade_of_progress.jsp | url-status=dead }}</ref> continuing in an open cut through Rosedale Station. South to Wellesley Station, the line was constructed by cut-and-cover, with the surface areas now occupied by a Toronto Parking Authority multi-storey garage at Charles Street and three parks maintained by the City of Toronto – George Hislop Park, Norman Jewison Park, and James Canning Gardens south of that.

The east–west Bloor–Danforth centre platform was constructed under the existing north–south Yonge–University side platforms, and is fully accessible by elevator.<ref>http://www3.ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/Bloor-Yonge/Accessible_Alternative.jsp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030232400/http://ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/Bloor-Yonge/Accessible_Alternative.jsp |date=October 30, 2013 }} Bloor-Yonge: Accessible Alternatives</ref>

Between Yonge and Sherbourne Station to the east, the Bloor–Danforth line crosses to the south side of Bloor Street in a {{convert|2250|ft|m}} long section of bored tunnel,<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5104.shtml |title=A History of Subways on Bloor and Queen Streets |author=James Bow |publisher=Transit Toronto |access-date=May 23, 2013 |archive-date=May 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527190656/http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5104.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> rather than the shallow cut-and-cover method used to construct most of the line. Cumberland Terrace, a two-storey shopping centre, has been built over the right of way west of Yonge Street to Bay Street.

==Entrances== [[File:Bloor Yonge Station concourse at Hudson's Bay Centre 2022.jpg|thumb|Bloor–Yonge station concourse at Hudson's Bay Centre]] There are six entrances to Bloor–Yonge station.<ref name="ttcblooryonge">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/Bloor-Yonge/station.jsp#StationDescription_|title=TTC Bloor-Yonge Station (Station Description)|agency=Toronto Transit Commission|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005064027/http://www.ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/Bloor-Yonge/station.jsp#StationDescription_|url-status=live}}</ref> The main entrances along with the fare collector booth and elevators are located at the northeast side via the Hudson's Bay Centre and at the southeast side via the Xerox building. There is also an unstaffed automatic entrance at the northeast corner which leads directly to the Line 2 platform and is accessible only to Presto card holders since January 2018. All entrances are located near the intersection of Bloor and Yonge streets.

==Nearby landmarks== Nearby landmarks include the Toronto Reference Library, the Hudson's Bay Centre, and 2 Bloor Street West.

== Future expansion == Since April 2019, the TTC has been proposing a major upgrade to Bloor–Yonge station, including adding a second Line 2 platform similar to the platform added at Union station in 2014. The project is mainly to address platform crowding. At that time, the estimated cost was {{CAD|1.1{{nbsp}}billion}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2019/04/03/toronto-is-planning-a-pricey-expansion-of-bloor-yonge-ttc-station-to-reduce-overcrowding.html |title=Toronto is planning a pricey expansion of Bloor–Yonge TTC station to reduce overcrowding |work=Toronto Star |date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=April 7, 2019 |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406133539/https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2019/04/03/toronto-is-planning-a-pricey-expansion-of-bloor-yonge-ttc-station-to-reduce-overcrowding.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By October 2020, the project cost had risen to $1.5{{nbsp}}billion and had a target completion of 2029. The project includes:<ref name="TTC-2020-10-22A">{{cite web |url=http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/3_Bloor_Yonge_Capacity_Improvements_Early_Works_Property_Acq.pdf |title=Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements{{Snd}}Early Works{{Snd}}Property Acquisition Authorization |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101042448/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/3_Bloor_Yonge_Capacity_Improvements_Early_Works_Property_Acq.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TTC-2020-10-22B">{{cite web |url=http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/3_Staff_Presentation_Bloor_Yonge_Capacity_Improvements.pdf |title=Bloor-Yonge Capacity Improvements{{Snd}}Project Update |publisher=Toronto Transit Commission |date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204024857/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/October_22/Reports/3_Staff_Presentation_Bloor_Yonge_Capacity_Improvements.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> * A new Line 2 platform for eastbound traffic and conversion of the existing centre platform for westbound traffic only * Extension and widening of both Line 1 platforms at the north end * A new substation * Five new fan plants * A new station entrance * Platform screen doors<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloor-Yonge Station Capacity Improvements |url=https://www.ttc.ca/en/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Major-Projects/Bloor-Yonge-Station-Capacity-Improvements |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=TTC |language=en |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602181728/https://www.ttc.ca/en/about-the-ttc/projects-and-plans/Major-Projects/Bloor-Yonge-Station-Capacity-Improvements |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Surface connections== {{Main|List of Toronto Transit Commission bus routes}} Transfers to buses occur at curbside stops located at Bloor Street and Yonge Street outside the station. TTC routes serving the station include: {| class="wikitable" ! Route ! Name ! Additional information |- !97C |Yonge |Northbound to Eglinton station and southbound to Union station |- !300A |rowspan="2" |Bloor–Danforth |Blue Night service; westbound to Pearson Airport and eastbound to Warden Avenue |- !300B |Blue Night service; westbound to West Mall and eastbound to Kennedy station |- !320 |Yonge |Blue Night service; northbound to Steeles Avenue and southbound to Queens Quay |}

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Bloor–Yonge station}} *{{TTC station page}} *{{YouTube|wuIK-cP-sZw|Over capacity: TTC's Yonge line close to bursting during rush hour}}. 2012 National Post video about crowding on the Yonge line platforms.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bloor-Yonge station}} Category:Line 1 Yonge–University stations Category:Line 2 Bloor–Danforth stations Category:Railway stations in Canada opened in 1954 Category:Railway stations located underground in Canada Category:Metrolinx mobility hubs