Riders across the city should budget extra travel time this weekend, as the TTC will temporarily divert several bus and streetcar routes for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Marathon events are scheduled for Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, and road closures across Toronto will affect service on a number of TTC surface routes, according to the TTC.
There is some good news for subway commuters: no subway closures are planned for the weekend. The disruption is limited to surface routes, though the transit agency warns the diversions will be in place for several days.
When the diversions begin and end
The route changes start at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 16 and run until 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. That means Friday afternoon and evening commutes could also feel the impact, not just weekend travel.
The TTC says diversion times vary by route, and specific service changes for each affected bus and streetcar route are listed on its website. The agency is encouraging customers to allow extra time to reach their destinations.
How to check your route before you leave
Riders can use the trip planner and live map on ttc.ca for up-to-date service alerts and real-time vehicle tracking. The TTC also posts notices on its @TTCNotices account on X, and riders can subscribe to MyTTC e-Services for email alerts or check the live service alerts page on the TTC website.
For anyone heading downtown to watch or take part in the race, checking the specific route before leaving home is the safest bet, since detours and temporary stops may differ from the usual weekend service.
Where to call for help
TTC Customer Service is available daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except statutory holidays, at 416-393-3030 and through the @TTCHelps account on X.
Members of the TTC Customer Information team are also available for trip planning and service questions daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except statutory holidays, at 416-393-4636. Automated information on fares, routes, schedules and service is available around the clock at that same number and toll-free at 1-866-642-9882.
Riders who rely on elevators or escalators can call the TTC lift line at 416-539-5438 for real-time information on any outages across the system.
More details about the race itself are available through the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The event draws thousands of runners and spectators to the city's waterfront each year, and this weekend's road closures are expected to ease once the final events wrap up Sunday evening.
With diversions ending at 9 p.m. Sunday, regular service should resume in time for Monday morning's commute, though riders should watch for service alerts in case of any carryover changes.
