Bessarion station explained

Bessarion
Symbol Location:toronto
Symbol:4big
Style:Toronto Transit Commission
Address:731 Sheppard Avenue East,
Toronto, Ontario
Country:Canada
Coordinates:43.7692°N -79.3764°W
Structure:Underground
Platform:Centre platform
Tracks:2
Accessible:Yes
Architect:URS Cole Sherman
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail-metro
Marker-Color:
  1. B32078
Zoom:15

Bessarion is a station on Line 4 Sheppard of the Toronto subway. Opened in 2002, it was consistently ranked the least-used station on the heavy-rail portion of the subway system (serving an average of 2,500 passengers per weekday between 2008 and 2018),[1] until being displaced by Downsview Park station in 2018.[2] However, by 2022, ridership at Downsview Park had increased to 8,845 riders per weekday versus 4,269 for Bessarion, again making this station the least used.[3]

History

Due to numerous budget overruns that occurred during the construction of the Sheppard line, the TTC contemplated abandoning the plan to construct Bessarion station to save money.[4] [5] However, a decision was ultimately reached in October 1998 to proceed with building the station. This decision was influenced by the potential for redevelopment in the surrounding area. Councillor David Shiner played a key role in advocating for the station, highlighting its importance as a selling factor for proposed housing units.[6] [7]

During the excavation of the site, it was discovered that the soil had been contaminated with hydrocarbons, believed to be from the two filling stations that had previously occupied the area. As a precautionary measure, the soil was removed and decontaminated during the construction of the station.[8] In the mid-2000s, Line 4 was dubbed a "white elephant" due to its low ridership levels.[9] TTC officials joked that "keeping ticket sellers awake is the biggest challenge amid the boredom that is Bessarion station".[10]

In 2007, developer Concord Adex began construction on Concord Park Place, an 45order=flipNaNorder=flip condominium and townhouse development, next to Bessarion.[11] Upon completion, the development will include 20 residential towers, 2 schools, a combined community centre and library, and a new public park.[12] Initially, the project was criticized for being located too far from the station, but the developer asserted that the community centre would increase Bessarion's ridership.[13] The Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre, located to the south of the station, opened in July 2023.[14] Other residential developments in the vicinity of the station have also been proposed.[15] [16]

Between 2008 and 2018, ridership at Bessarion increased by 3 percent, in stark contrast to the 14 percent surge in ridership along all of Line 4. The station had roughly half the amount of passengers at Don Mills, the second-busiest station on the line.

Station description

Like all stations on the Sheppard line, Bessarion is fully accessible and has been since it opened. The main entrance on the south side of Sheppard Avenue is fully accessible, with elevator, escalator, and stair access to the concourse level, where another elevator connects to the subway platform level. The north entrance provides direct access to the concourse level only with stairs.

The subway continues underground in a bored tunnel in both directions; east into and west to .

Architecture and art

The station's interior is generally outfitted in tiles of cream and deep red.[17] The public art in the station,[18] titled Passing by Toronto artist Sylvie Belanger,[19] is a frieze of 800 photographs, representing the users of the station. Images of feet appear on the concourse level, heads appear on the platform, and hands appear along the stairs leading to both of the station's entrance pavilions.[20] [21]

Surface connections

See main article: List of Toronto Transit Commission bus routes. There are no off-street bus platforms at this station. Connecting service is available at the bus stops on Sheppard Avenue with a valid transfer.[22]

TTC routes serving the station include:

RouteNameAdditional information
85ASheppard EastWestbound to Sheppard–Yonge station and eastbound to Don Mills station
385Blue Night service
westbound to Sheppard–Yonge station and eastbound to Meadowvale Road

Nearby landmarks

Nearby landmarks include the Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Park, the Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre and Library (part of the Concord Park Place development),[23] Bessarion Parkette, a Canadian Tire, and Mountain Equipment Co-op North York.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: TTC station ridership - 2008 to 2018. February 1, 2022. Urban Toronto. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201150807/https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/attachments/ttc-station-ridership-pdf.173073/. live.
  2. News: Boisvert. Nick. October 15, 2018. New subway service is transforming Vaughan, but not all stations are busy, TTC figures show. CBC News. November 11, 2018. October 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181023194745/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/line-1-subway-update-1.4861277. live.
  3. Web site: Subway ridership, 2022 . Toronto Transit Commission . June 9, 2024.
  4. News: Moloney. Paul. October 6, 1998. TTC Chair feels station threatened. B3. Toronto Star. Money is short because the subway line, originally budgeted at $875 million, has sustained cost overruns of up to $58 million.
  5. News: Moloney. Paul. October 29, 1998. Subway station okayed. Toronto Star. TTC staff pointed out that scrapping Bessarion would save $34 million.
  6. News: Eric . Andrew-Gee . Looking for Bessarion: TTC's least-used subway station goes viral . Toronto Star . June 27, 2013 . June 28, 2013 . June 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130629023339/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/2013/06/27/looking_for_bessarion_ttcs_leastused_subway_station_goes_viral.html . live .
  7. News: Moloney. Paul. October 29, 1998. Subway station okayed. Toronto Star. Bessarion, one of five stations, is located in a redevelopment area that city planners say could become home to thousands of residents and potential subway riders..
  8. Web site: Sheppard Subway – Bessarion Station Initiation of Civil Lawsuit to Recover Contamination Costs . City of Toronto . July 2000 . July 28, 2011 . October 16, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121016081536/http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2000/agendas/council/cc/cc000704/adm14rpt/cl008.pdf . live.
  9. News: McGran. Kevin. November 24, 2003. Critics say few use "stubway". B7. Toronto Star.
  10. News: McGran. Kevin. November 24, 2003. Anniversary for Sheppard line. B1. Toronto Star. even though some TTC officials privately joke that keeping ticket sellers awake is the biggest challenge amid the boredom that is Bessarion station, they call the Sheppard subway line a success..
  11. Web site: Bansal. Parul. May 20, 2019. How Bessarion, one of Toronto's least-used subway stations, offers lessons for avoiding 'bad planning'. February 1, 2022. CBC News. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201131835/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/how-bessarion-one-of-toronto-s-least-used-subway-stations-offers-lessons-for-avoiding-bad-planning-1.5141013. live.
  12. Web site: 2018-08-27. Concord Park Place aims to transform North York landscape. 2022-02-01. Toronto.com. en-CA.
  13. Web site: Landau. Jack. April 26, 2021. Construction Progresses on Seasons and Saisons at Concord Park Place UrbanToronto. February 1, 2022. urbantoronto.ca. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201131833/https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2021/04/construction-progresses-seasons-and-saisons-concord-park-place. live.
  14. Web site: 2023-07-04. Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre & Library. 2023-07-24. toronto.ca. en-CA.
  15. Web site: Debergh. Ryan. August 8, 2019. 12-Storey Mid-Rise Proposed Near Bessarion Subway Station UrbanToronto. February 1, 2022. urbantoronto.ca. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201131835/https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2019/08/12-storey-mid-rise-proposed-near-bessarion-subway-station. live.
  16. News: Morrow . Adrian . November 16, 2012 . Lessons from Toronto's Sheppard subway line . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170430070344/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lessons-from-torontos-sheppard-subway-line/article5402731/ . April 30, 2017 . February 1, 2022 . The Globe and Mail . en-CA.
  17. Web site: Ruckle. Chelsea. The Gaze and the Glance in Transitional Spaces: Public Art in Toronto's Sheppard Line Stations. February 1, 2022. Carleton University. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201131842/https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/643325a3-2a7c-40e8-92a9-664fc7f95412/etd_pdf/bdb3b56b5033d462149ad97bc5ca264e/ruckle-thegazeandtheglanceintransitionalspacespublic.pdf. live.
  18. Web site: Sylvie Belanger: cv . Artists . Robert Birch Gallery . PUBLIC COMMISSION: Bessarion Station, Toronto Subway, Can. . February 1, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121033203/http://www.birchlibralato.com/site/belanger_cvpage.html . November 21, 2008 .
  19. Web site: TTC art: What works, what doesn't . Donovan . Vincent . August 19, 2011 . Toronto Star . photographic works in the Bessarion station, titled "Passing," by artist Sylvie Belanger . February 1, 2015 . February 18, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150218002840/http://www.thestar.com/news/ttc/2011/08/19/ttc_art_what_works_what_doesnt.html . live .
  20. Web site: The Sheppard Subway. Transit Toronto. July 28, 2011. March 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130328084113/http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5110.shtml. live.
  21. Web site: Ruckle. Chelsea. The Gaze and the Glance in Transitional Spaces: Public Art in Toronto's Sheppard Line Stations. February 1, 2022. Carleton University. February 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220201131842/https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/643325a3-2a7c-40e8-92a9-664fc7f95412/etd_pdf/bdb3b56b5033d462149ad97bc5ca264e/ruckle-thegazeandtheglanceintransitionalspacespublic.pdf. live.
  22. Web site: Bessarion Station . Toronto Transit Commission . July 28, 2011 . February 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210225113330/http://www3.ttc.ca/Subway/Stations/Bessarion/station.jsp . dead .
  23. Web site: July 4, 2023. Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre & Library. July 24, 2023. toronto.ca. en-CA.

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