TORONTO, August 25, 2026 – Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced on August 20 that the Scarborough Busway will officially open on September 30, more than six months ahead of the original schedule. Once in service, the busway is expected to further shorten transit travel times for Scarborough residents travelling between Kennedy and Ellesmere.
The busway is about four kilometres long and connects Kennedy and Ellesmere stations. The TTC is expected to begin full testing in early September, including vehicle operations, station facilities and traffic management along the corridor, in preparation for the official launch at the end of the month.
After the busway opens, several TTC bus routes will use the corridor and provide more frequent express service. The route is expected to help carry the passenger demand left after the former Scarborough RT, or Line 3, was taken out of service.
The City estimates that more than 118,000 passengers will use the busway each week, saving commuters more than one hour per week. For residents who rely on transit every day between Scarborough and downtown Toronto, the new busway is also expected to improve the current situation where buses often travel in mixed traffic and are affected by congestion.
The early opening is especially important for residents along the former Line 3 route. After the Scarborough RT shut down, many passengers had to switch to shuttle buses to reach Kennedy Station, increasing both travel time and transfers. Once the new busway is in service, buses will be able to operate on a dedicated corridor, reducing delays caused by mixing with regular traffic.
At the same time, the TTC will introduce fare capping in September. Chow said that for passengers who work five days a week and regularly take the TTC, once they reach a certain number of paid trips, additional rides will no longer be charged. As a result, many evening and weekend trips may no longer require extra fare payment.
With the busway and fare capping both taking effect in September, Scarborough residents can expect changes in both commute times and transit costs. The TTC is expected to release more details about routes and operations after testing begins in early September.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
