Scarborough Busway opens to provide faster transit in Toronto

The Scarborough Busway has officially opened, providing a dedicated four-kilometre transit corridor for nine TTC bus routes in Toronto’s east end. Operating between Kennedy and Ellesmere stations, the busway connects to Scarborough Town Centre via priority bus infrastructure on Ellesmere Road. City officials expect the corridor to carry over 100,000 riders, with travel times between Kennedy and Scarborough Town Centre estimated at 15 minutes.

The busway serves as an interim solution following the decommissioning of the Scarborough Rapid Transit (Line 3) after a train derailment near Ellesmere Station on July 24, 2023. The derailment highlighted issues with the aging system, which was operating beyond its original design life. The busway will remain in place until the Scarborough subway extension, which will extend Line 2 Bloor-Danforth to McCowan Road and Sheppard Avenue East, is completed, currently projected for 2030.

Adjusted routes include the 38 Highland Creek, 129 McCowan North, 131 Nugget, 133 Neilson, 154 Curran Hall, and several express services (903, 904, 938, and 939). New stops have been established at Tara Ave, Lawrence East Station, and Ellesmere Station.