How to get around Toronto, Taylor’s version

On By Littum

We know all too well that Toronto can be difficult to get around on a typical day.

But with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour coming to town this month, commuting can get complicated — whether you’re one of the lucky fans who got a ticket or not.

Swift’s six sold-out shows at the Rogers Center will take place on the 14th-16th. November and the 21st-23rd November, when over half a million, mostly out-of-town visitors, are expected to flood roads and public transport.

Taking the TTC

St Andrew and Union stations on Line 1 are the closest to Rogers Center and the Metro Toronto Convention Center (MTCC), where Taylgate ’24 fan events will take place.

The Toronto Transit Commission says it will have extra service on downtown subway lines in the hours before and after the concerts, with no scheduled closures.

The TTC is also adding extra service to these streetcar routes:

  • 19 bay

  • 509 The waterfront

  • 510D Spadina

  • 511 Bathurst

The TTC says the extra service won’t be visible on travel apps, but riders can expect trains and streetcars to appear regularly from 5 to 8 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on concert days.

After each concert, the TTC will instruct riders to take the following routes instead of going to St. Andrew or Union Station, which are expected to be packed.

  • 510D Spadina/Swiftbus to Spadina Station for Line 1 Yonge-University and Line 2 Bloor-Danforth.

  • 19 Bay/Swiftbus to Bay Station on line 2 Bloor-Danforth.

  • 504 King/Swiftcar to St Andrew and King stations on line 1 Yonge-University.

  • 509 Harbourfront streetcar west from Queens Quay and Rees Street, or Queens Quay and Spadina Avenue, to the Exhibition Loop, and connect to the Lakeshore West GO line from there. The TTC says Queens Quay station will be closed from 22 on concert days, and trams will bypass the station.

Wheel-Trans will continue its regular service on concert days, but will have dedicated vehicles on standby between 6pm and 2am around the city center to help commuters on their way to the concert or Taylgate ’24 fan events.

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Toronto has unveiled temporary new street signs in time for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour arrival. The “Taylor Swift Way” connects City Hall to the Rogers Centre, where Swift will play six sold-out shows. As CBC’s Clara Pasieka explains, the signs are also a fundraiser for a Toronto-area food bank.

GO or UP Express trains

Metrolinx will run special GO train service before and after each concert for the Lakeshore West and Lakeshore East lines, with “special evening trips” on the Milton line after the concerts.

Metrolinx also said it will adjust service on the Kitchener, Barrie and Stouffville lines, though it has not yet provided details.

Some GO bus routes will also be adjusted to accommodate heavy traffic expected downtown.

Another way to get to Union Station is through the UP Express, which arrives from Pearson Airport every 15 minutes.

Union Station is expected to be so full after each concert that the TTC warned people to have to line up outside as its staff could limit the number of people entering at a time.

Both the TTC and the city are encouraging people to take alternative routes to avoid the station, such as going to St Andrew, Osgoode or King stations.

Driving

Dedicated drop-off and pick-up zones for carers, taxis and carpools will be at:

  • Front Street West between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue (south side).

  • Bay Street between Richmond and Wellington streets (west side).

  • York Street between Wellington and Adelaide streets (west side).

  • Queens Quay between Bay and Freeland streets (south side).

  • Lake Shore Boulevard at Rees Street (north side).

Drivers will not be able to park at any of these drop-off zones. Instead, Green P parking garages at 40 York St. and 2 Church St. have 2,000 parking spaces. Showroom at 6 Saskatchewan Rd. and 20 British Columbia Rd. will also have limited parking.

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Roadblocks

Here are the road closures that will be in effect throughout concert days, according to the city:

1 p.m Westbound lanes on Bremner Boulevard between Rees Street and Navy Wharf Court. Eastbound lanes remain open to two-way traffic.

2 p.m The following roads will be restricted to local traffic only (residents and businesses):

10 p.m Additional closures will be in effect to support crowd control before concertgoers exit the Rogers Center at the conclusion of the concert:

23.00 The eastbound and westbound Gardiner Expressway exits to Spadina Avenue will be closed to limit traffic into the area as people exit the Rogers Centre.

1 in the morning All roads and ramps will reopen when traffic and crowds clear, which is expected to be around this time after each concert.

The city says it will debrief with its partners after each concert and adjust those closures if necessary.

Cycling

The city says Bike Share Toronto will add extra bikes and attendants to help with docking near the Rogers Centre.