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Yonge-university-spadina (Ttc)The Yonge-University-Spadina Line is the oldest subway line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. It has 32 stations and is 30.2 km in length. It opened in 1954, and had extensions completed in 1963, 1973, 1974, 1978, and 1996. One station (North York Centre) opened on an existing section of line in 1987. The line's name has changed as it was extended. It was simply the Yonge subway until 1963, then the Yonge-University Line until 1978. Although only two stations are actually on Spadina Road, a larger portion of the line was originally planned to follow the Spadina Expressway. The part of the expressway that was actually built was renamed the W.R. Allen Road, but the name of the line was never adjusted. History On 30 March 1954, after five years of work, the first subway in Canada opened to the public. The original Yonge Street subway line went from Union Station north to Eglinton station. Premier of Ontario Leslie Frost and Mayor of Toronto Allan Lamport, among other important persons, rode the first ride that morning, going north from the yards at Davisville station, and then from Eglinton, south along the entire line. That day, at 2:30pm, the last streetcar to travel Yonge Street south of Eglinton made its final ride. Following nine years later was the University line opening, continuing from Union back north to St. George station. In 1973, the Yonge line was extended north to York Mills station, and the next year it was as far north as Finch station. Five years after that, the Spadina line was opened, going from the north terminus of the University line to Wilson station. In 1987, a new station was added south of Finch on the Yonge line, at the North York Centre. In 1996 the Spadina expansion opened, adding one new station, Downsview station. This line is scheduled for the next phase of expansion, which will bring the line to York University, four kilometres northwest of Downsview station (and perhaps beyond, into the city of Vaughan); preliminary route planning has begun, though at present the TTC has funds only for an environmental assessment. The extension got a further boost when the Toronto Argonauts announced they would be building their new stadium at the York campus. In the meantime, a temporary busway is planned between Downsview station and the campus. See the link below. It is also been discussed that the Yonge Street portion of the line may be extended beyond Finch to Steeles and into Thornhill, most likely ending at a terminal station at Highway 7, although that is a long way away. Stations line forms a rough 'U' shape, starting the western leg at the northern terminus of Downsview station, at Sheppard Avenue and W.R. Allen Road ("Allen Road"), a small expressway, travelling in its median for six kilometres. Moving southeast through a creek valley, it travels south under a short stretch of Spadina Road. Sharing the Bloor-Danforth's Spadina and St. George stations, it turns south again at Queen's Park, passing the legislature and running the full length of University Avenue beyond. It turns east on Front Street to serve Union Station, Toronto's main rail hub. Its eastern leg runs up Yonge Street for sixteen kilometres, crossing the Bloor-Danforth line again at Bloor-Yonge, and the Sheppard line at Sheppard-Yonge, before reaching its northern terminus at Finch station. The line is generally underground, but has several surface or elevated sections between Downsview and Eglinton West, and between Bloor and Eglinton. Most of the tunnel was constructed by cut-and-cover, but some was bored, as noted below. All stations, whether by transfer or fare-paid terminal, connect to surface TTC bus and/or streetcar routes. Other surface and train connections are noted below. As of 1 October 2004, stations marked have elevators for wheelchair access. By the end of 2005, an accessible elevator will be added at Eglinton West station. External links
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