Dufferin station explained

Dufferin
Symbol Location:toronto
Symbol:2big
Style:Toronto Transit Commission
Address:1006 Dufferin Street,
Toronto, Ontario
Country:Canada
Coordinates:43.66°N -79.4356°W
Structure:Underground
Platform:Side platforms
Tracks:2
Rebuilt:2010–2014
Accessible:yes
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Custom:
Shape:none
Line:none
Marker:rail-metro
Marker-Color:
  1. 16A753
Zoom:15

Dufferin is a subway station on Line 2 Bloor–Danforth of the Toronto subway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Dufferin Street just north of Bloor Street West. It opened in 1966 as part of the original segment of the subway line. Wi-Fi service is available at this station.[1]

Architecture and art

When the station first opened, the entrance on the west side of Dufferin Street had a tile back wall, a three sided glass and aluminium enclosure entrance at ground level, an opaque flat roof, red signage, and a red accent stripe. In 1974, the Dovercourt Baptist Church constructed the abutting new red brick facility and senior's residence (New Horizons Tower).[2] The entrance on the east side of the street is inset into the westerly facade of the Bloor Dufferin Medical Centre. Inside, smooth, unadorned green-coloured rectangular wall tiles were used, with a strip of narrower black tiles near the ceiling, and terrazzo floor tiles.The 2010 to 2014 modernization of the station significantly modifies the original west entrance, updating signage, adding an elevator for accessibility, adding ceiling height and additional glazed elements, and adding a canopy covering the sidewalk. A canopy has also been added to the Bloor Dufferin Medical Centre to shelter the east side bus stops, and two additional exits have been added to Russet Ave, one block west of the main entrances.[3] A public art component, titled Something Happens Here by Eduardo Aquino and Karen Shanski of spmb was also added, consisting of colourful mosaics of highly pixelated images of activity from the surrounding communities. The mosaics also include numerous metallic tiles featuring local logos, icons and historical references.[4]

Nearby landmarks

Nearby landmarks include Dufferin Mall, Bloor Collegiate Institute, Dufferin Grove Park, and the Bloor–Gladstone branch of the Toronto Public Library.

Surface connections

See main article: List of Toronto Transit Commission bus routes. Transfers to buses occur at curbside stops on Dufferin Street outside the station.

TTC routes serving the station include:

RouteNameAdditional information
29A/CDufferin
29ASouthbound to Exhibition Place (Dufferin Gate)
29CSouthbound to Exhibition Place (Princes' Gate)
929Dufferin ExpressNorthbound to Wilson station and southbound to Exhibition Place (Dufferin Gate)
329 DufferinBlue Night service
northbound to Steeles Avenue West and southbound to Exhibition Place (Princes' Gate)
402 ParkdaleCommunity Bus

Station modernization

Dufferin Station was upgraded and modernized under the TTC's Station Modernization program. Work commenced in September 2009 and was fully complete in November 2014, taking over twice the projected time to complete.[5] The "modernization" included the installation of street level elevators for accessibility, the installation of a second entrance from Russett Avenue, two second exits (one on the northwest corner of Russet Avenue and Bloor Street, and the other on the northeast corner, providing direct access from the westbound platform), rebuilding of the bus waiting area, and new and modernized station finishes, art and lighting.[6] [7] [8] The two second exits opened earlier than other improvements, in August 2013.[9]

By January 2024, the TTC and a developer came to an agreement that the developer would construct, maintain and own a new station connection from a new 33-storey, mixed-use development, to be built on the southwest corner of Bloor and Dufferin Streets. The connection will be accessible and underground, and is expected to open in 2026.[10]

Notes and References

  1. News: OUR STATIONS - TCONNECT.ca . TCONNECT.ca . en-US . 21 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161222152337/http://tconnect.ca/our-stations/ . 22 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Our History . Dovercourt Baptist Church . 3 January 2014 . 3 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103143058/http://www.dovercourtbaptist.org/?i=15708&mid=1000&id=389479 . live .
  3. Web site: Dufferin Station Modernization . Toronto Transit Commission . 3 January 2014 . 17 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140217232335/http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects/Station_Improvements/Dufferin_Station/index.jsp . live .
  4. Web site: SOMETHING HAPPENS HERE . 1 July 2011 . bldgoffice.com . spmbBLDG . Site: The entire wall surface of the subway station (24,477 sq. ft.); 24,000 individually programmed ceramic structural glazed bricks and 100 stainless steel and bronze celebratory plaques (Memorial Pixels). . 4 January 2014 . https://archive.today/20140103204928/http://bldgoffice.com/SOMETHING-HAPPENS-HERE . 3 January 2014.
  5. News: Vanderveen . Cale . Dufferin Station Modernization and Expansion Opens to the Public . 17 May 2015 . UrbanToronto . 25 November 2014 . 22 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160622055246/http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2014/11/dufferin-station-modernization-and-expansion-opens-public . live .
  6. Web site: Dufferin Station Modernization Project . 3 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130404025111/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects_and_initiatives/Station%20Modernization/Dufferin%20Station.jsp . 4 April 2013.
  7. News: Rainford . Lisa . Dufferin subway station catches up to modern times . 3 January 2014 . The Bloor West Villager . 10 January 2013 . 3 January 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103142910/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1490674-dufferin-subway-station-catches-up-to-modern-times/ . live .
  8. Web site: TTC Dufferin Station . Toronto Transit Commission . 31 July 2014 . 24 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140724063833/http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects/Station_Improvements/Dufferin_Station/index.jsp . live .
  9. Web site: Dufferin Station: Modernization Project . TTC . 17 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518094152/https://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects/Station_Improvements/Dufferin_Station/index.jsp . 18 May 2015.
  10. Web site: 90 Croatia Street – New Entrance Connection to Dufferin Station . . 25 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240122025522/https://cdn.ttc.ca/-/media/Project/TTC/DevProto/Documents/Home/Public-Meetings/Board/2024/January-25/8_90_Croatia_Street_New_Entrance_Connection_to_Dufferin_Station.pdf . 22 January 2024 . live .