The Most Picturesque Station Entrance in Toronto?

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Can you expand your subway system without any new track? Come along with me as I take you to Toronto's newest subway station entrance, located in beautiful Queen's Park - but not an entrance for Queen's Park station.
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[@user-fc7bf6jb3d]

I'm amused that the new gate line at the south entrance includes one wide gate for wheelchairs -- serving a stairs-only entrance

[@radagastwiz]

I can see people with a baby stroller, or a buggy with picnic supplies etc, still finding that useful.

[@rsdworker]

its for pushchairs or heavy luggage or children's or disabity with crutches - its common you find find anywhere in world in inaccessible entrance or station

[@TheJoshuacheng]

It serves bikers too

[@brian7333]

Even for concert goers that could be disconcerting

[@timothyjohnston4083]

@@radagastwiz Yes, only to find two flights of stairs -- no elevator, no ramps. Can you imagine someone alone with a baby stroller and all the accoutrements that an infant needs dealing with that entrance ? I can't.

[@haweater1555]

The most depressing part of Museum Station is the north entrance and seeing the Planetarium, which is closed and vacant for decades.

[@AMPProf]

Laser show for all that weed gone ehh

[@RMTransit]

It truly is crazy! Especially because the ROM is pretty decent!

[@kwanfilms]

The added insanity is that they're talking about having a planetarium for the Science Centre when it moves to Ontario Place.

[@jingyen00]

There is a development proposal for a school of cities building on the site of the planetarium, hopefully it will make Museum better used

[@WintSong]

​@@jingyen00 Wait, what proposal? UofT bought the planetarium with the expressed intent of replacing it with a new academic building iirc. Only reason why UofT uses it as a storage closet instead of going ahead with the teardown is cause the building is tied up in a fight over its heritage status. I think the whole hold up cause UofT is fighting the local groups pushing for heritage status, and/or they're trynna get a design passed through council that meets their heritage concerns.

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Queen's Park history: The equestrian statue you saw at 2:21 was created by Thomas Brock for the 1911 Imperial Durbar, it was originally located at King Edward VII Park (now Netaji Subhash Park) in Delhi, India in 1919, but was removed in 1967, sold in 1968 with assistance from the Canadian High Commissioner to India, and re-installed in Toronto in 1969. Queen's Park opened in 1860 by Edward, Prince of Wales (who became King Edward VII and ruled from 1901 to 1910), named in honor of his mother Queen Victoria. Shortly after King's College (later renamed the University of Toronto) was established in 1827, the institution purchased 68 hectares (170 acres) from two farming estates north of the Town of York (now of course Toronto), including present day Queen's Park. The cornerstone for one of the college's earliest buildings was laid at the site in 1842. The building was built on the present site of the east wing of the Ontario Legislative Building and was completed in 1843. The building was initially planned to be the southeast wing for a larger building, although these additional wings were never built as a result of budget shortfalls. The building was situated within a landscaped park surrounded by tree-lined avenues and was accessed through two gates to the north and south. While the university occupied the property it was known as University Park. Toronto entered negotiations with the university to lease the land for the purposes of creating a public park with a 999-year lease for 20 hectares (49 acres) of land eventually formalized in August 1858. The terms of the lease also outlined that the government had the right to build a legislative building on the property if they so desired. In 860, the property was officially dedicated as Canada's first municipal park. The Ontario Legislative Building was completed in 1892 and hosted its first legislative session in 1893. Although the new legislative building split the park into two sections, local residents continued to congregate there for concerts, memorial services, military parades, and political gatherings. In 1984, Queen's Park hosted two tree planting ceremonies for the eastern white pine, after it was declared the province's official tree that year. The first tree planting ceremony took place in May 1984 by Bob Welch, the deputy premier of Ontario in order to commemorate Arbour Day. The second tree planting ceremony also took place that year at the same location, with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband planting two eastern white pines in September.

[@davidbutton3500]

That entrance was a no-brainer. Should have been built years ago. I would not be surprised that it was part of the original design but removed due to budget cuts.

[@acemannotsomeother]

Toronto has always been cheap!

[@RMTransit]

We probably could have built for a lot less back in the day!

[@user-uo7fw5bo1o]

In the US the subway entrance would never get built due to turf wars - this actually happened in New York City.

[@quoniam426]

No, Reece, most Paris metro entrance don't have any canopy and are just like that, a staircase. Even the Guimard entrances in their prime were very few to have a canopy, they were exception more than the norm. Nowadays, canopy-less entrances are secondary entrances unless there is a monument in front of it and the view must be preserved, main entrances are either with a canopy or inside a building. Even in the recent extensions, Mairie d'Aubervilliers on Line 12 has no canopy on either of its entrances when the two last new stations on Line 4 have canopies or are inside a building. Grand Paris Express entrances will all be covered or be incorporated into some kind of building. That new concept is more akin to a real train station in which all facilities are included inside the station building or outcrop from the ground, entering with the turnstiles on street level, then have vertical shafts for elevators and staircases placed behind (Line 14 extentions). Of course sometimes terrain prevents such a convenient arrangement even on dug our station with the cut and cover method don't necessarily have that. Hôpital de Montreuil station on the Line 11 extention to be opened in two days has only stairs and escalators from the surface because of little space available. The ticket halls are two or three levels down ! (same goes for Pont Cardinet on Line 14 where the station itself is not aligned with the streets and is dug beneath a park). Ten years ago, Line 4 had a new entrance created at Porte d'Orléans to serve one of the bus hubs that was not directly accessible from the metro at that time... The station being so shallow at that particular end of the station means there is only one set of stairs from the platform to the street level -if you want to take the other platform you have to either get to the other end or exit and put another ticket in), it's Budapest Line 1 style. Fairgates are at platform level as a result. Lyon metro also has a lot of platform level fairgating as well. Line 11 have been dealing with such works to add new entrances to its station to cope with fire evac safety measures and norms that have changed and also due to the increase of traffic that the extention will generate. In some cases the opportunity was taken to add escalators and elevators to old entrances (Porte des Lilas mostly) but the new entrances have no such equipments because there is no space on the surface with very narrow streets and also it was damn expensive given the depth of the line itself...

[@RMTransit]

There are essentially zero entrances of this type in Toronto with a canopy

[@watcherzero5256]

A lot of Tokyo underground entrances are just stairs and they often have an open drain to the side of the steps to funnel rainwater, which is quite strange as your descending and theres a literal stream running alongside you. (I dont know why but wide open storm drains seem quite common in Japan either running alongside the road in older towns (usually with concrete panels over them in denser areas, watch out those panels are occasionally missing leaving the equivalent of an open manhole) or just gutter channels in pavements that we would normally have a metal grill over in Europe but in Japan they leave them open).

[@ahurafarahani7751]

More of these types of videos plz

[@marytaylor9185]

I really enjoy seeing the Toronto subway structures and TTC routes.

[@RMTransit]

Perhaps!

[@RMTransit]

There are more in the linked playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLwoYcvp1EGScIzH00wQJF0OlQ0WlZpXif

[@haweater1555]

The barred off area of Museum Station used to called the "Gorilla Cage".

[@jacktattersall9457]

I used to call it the Museum Jail -- the only subway station in the world with a jail.

[@RMTransit]

I haven't heard that one!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

The entrance reminds me of Smithsonian station in DC! I love the columns at Museum station! The columns were designed by Diamond and Schmitt Architects and constructed by Jeviso Construction Corporation as part of renovations to the station's platform level in April 2008. You have Forbidden City columns, Parthenon columns, Osiris columns, Toltec columns, and even Pacific Northwest-style columns, and they're just so chef's kiss! 81st St-Museum of Natural History station in NYC also has a great way to honor the museum it serves with awesome mosaic work that depict the evolution of extinct, existing and endangered life forms, from single celled organisms to the towering T. rex dinosaur. It shows images and symbols ranging from the Earth's core, to the sea, the sky and the cosmos beyond. And speaking of Paris, I just love the Guimard entrances of the Paris Métro so much. Here's the story behind why they're that way: In the years leading up to the Exposition Universelle in 1900, Paris was busy building their Métro, but many Parisians were against building said Metro because they thought it would look industrial. In order to make the entrances look aesthetically pleasing, the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris, or Paris Metropolitan Railway Company, held a contest with 21 participants but chose none of them and instead commissioned Hector Guimard to design entryways that were as elegant as possible. Guimard opted to craft his entrances out of cast-iron set in concrete and painted a shade of green evocative of oxidized brass. The use of cast iron allowed him to construct the curved forms characteristic of his style, and concrete enabled him to incorporate sculpted details throughout each design, whether rendered as a roofed édicule structure or an open entourage model. In the years following their installation, Guimard's entryways were met with mixed reviews, and many were removed. However of course, the ones that remained were later realized for the Parisian icons that they are! Square-Victoria-OACI station on the Montreal Metro has a genuine Guimard entrance made from parts of demolished Paris entrances (with map holder and "Métropolitain" sign and holder reproduced from the original molds). It was installed in 1967. During restoration in the 2000s, it was found to have the last examples of the original glass light globes, which in Paris had been replaced with plastic for safety, so one was returned to the RATP and the other placed on display in the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The RATP has given reproductions of Guimard entrances produced from the original molds to Chicago, Lisbon, Moscow, and Mexico City.

[@haweater1555]

Disappointed that Reese didn't focus more than a few seconds on the platform. Should've got some close-ups of the statuary and other interesting features.

[@scottnielsen1553]

I visited Toronto in December 1989. I rode the subway which I believe went under Bloor St. The street was lined with cool Victorian brick houses. A corner house was made into a subway entrance. The exterior of the house remained standing. The front door was changed to a glass door and you descended down an escalator to the train platform. I thought that was the coolest entrance I had ever seen. Out by the sidewalk was the colorful TTC lit signage.

[@jrochest4642]

I think that must be the entrance to Spadina station, which is actually a couple of blocks up Spadina Road.

[@mdu02]

85 Spadina Rd if you want to check it out on Google Maps.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

That is definitely the north entrance to Spadina station on Line 1 University, though it's connected to Spadina Station on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth via a long tunnel

[@RMTransit]

@@OntarioTrafficMan Indeed!

[@alanmcinnes1111]

Thank you for another informative and interesting video, Reece. I’m continually amazed at how unaware, deliberately or otherwise, cities are when it comes to design of public spaces and infrastructure. The points you make about users’ safety are blindingly obvious to anyone who has ever experienced a Toronto winter. Let’s hope that they quickly wake up and retrofit a proper canopy on that entrance.

[@giovanna722]

Hear, hear!

[@clivebroadhead4381]

Hi Reese put forward a complaint to the local authority that the canopy is necessary for safety reasons. See if the officials are negligent of public safety.

[@kthekid10]

Amen, it baffles me that they dont put one there - considering YDS is similar and is covered. Seems like they cheaped out... there's no way it would ruin the aesthetic if it was built to match the environment. So many design cues - like the benches, statue, heck the buildings around the park. Like whats gonna happen in the winter? do they just close that entrance?

[@PSNDonutDude]

They could just add heaters beneath the concrete too.

[@Abrothers12]

@@PSNDonutDudeI too enjoy station flooding

[@timothyjohnston4083]

That will probably happen seconds *_after_* the first personal injury case is filed against them when someone slips, falls and breaks a leg or hip on wet, or ice- or snow-covered steps. Then there will be a huge uproar as including the canopy in the first place would have been a lot cheaper than dealing with law suits AND installing a canopy after the fact.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Sadly, it's not the only entrance that doesn't have a canopy. Quite a few stations have entrances, especially downtown, that don't have canopies and includes the old entrances to Museum station. I'm actually quite surprised that no one has had an accident that's prompted the TTC to remedy the situation.

[@brucefreeman4141]

Queens Park is, hands down, my favourite park in the city. If anyone wishes to viscerally understand (in an urban context) what “forest bathing” means, this is the place. I find it instantly calming. I quite like the new entrance, I would call it modestly handsome. Also a fan of the blog videos, hope the response here will encourage you to do more. ✌️

[@xyzxyzxyzxyzxyzxyz]

Yay! A new video! The level of traffic noise (in the park) was rather depressing though.

[@brian7333]

Hoping the minimum standard for Toronto subway stops going forward is an immaculate washroom that's airy and spacious. 🤞

[@originaltommy]

Dream on! If ONLY! The lack of facilities on the network is astounding. I think there are washrooms at Yonge/Bloor (a nightmare), Yonge/Eg, Sheppard...then on Bloor Line I think there's Kipling, Bloor/Yonge, and Warden. Maybe Kennedy? I don't remember. But it's pathetic. At least at Warden you even have choice! Imagine that! Depending on which of 20 buses you might need to take, you can at least go pee and then choose from one of a couple of cafes for a coffee or a good deal on samosas. As a career musician I used to work gigs all over the GTA. I lived in The Junction whilst working for Scarborough Music Theatre. THAT was a commute. My point is that Warden might be one of the best stations....

[@allysonkoid8915]

More Reece IRL videos please, really enjoy this format of content!

[@cmmartti]

Just zoom out a bit please.

[@RMTransit]

There are more in the linked playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLwoYcvp1EGScIzH00wQJF0OlQ0WlZpXif

[@glaframb]

I will not surprised to see the TTC install a temporary shelter aka Tempo over the new station entrance in Winter.

[@marytaylor9185]

A clear plexi-glass dome like structure would not interfere with the aesthetics.

[@obifox6356]

And it is likely to be ugly.

[@marytaylor9185]

@@obifox6356 Like the useless TTC bus shelters.

[@RMTransit]

I don't expect that

[@soviut303]

I'd be interested in seeing you talk about the bike ramp on the sides of the stairs. While they don't look like much thought went into them (steep, on the outside edge, handrails might get in the way), they're the first of their kind in the city.

[@RMTransit]

Not the first of their kind

[@DavidShepheard]

That second entrance was a no-brainer. I do agree that there should be a canopy to protect the stairs from getting to slippery.

[@kevwwong]

I'm a 9T5+1. Every day for 4 years during the school year, I walked from St Mike's to the Engineering buildings. It was basically us students and the squirrels playing frogger with the cars whipping around the circle. Glad they've made improvements to the park area. It really is a nice, peaceful oasis despite the cars and periodic protests.

[@RMTransit]

Yep lol

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

You can complain about an extension not opening for 7 years, but PATCO reopening Franklin Square station will be the first expansion of Phily's subway system since the last time Franklin Square was open, which was for the Bicenenntial. The last extension of a line was the BSL extending to the Sports Complex in 1973. Hopefully Roosevelt Blvd happens by 2032 or so

[@raphaelkinney]

Having attended UofT from 14-19 this was a great look at what I was so familiar with! I was just in the dorms right at the St. Michaels college as well and would cross this park multiple times a day going to the Hart House and to class. Thank you for taking us along!

[@SeanLumly]

It's nice to see that the benches are not anti-homeless benches. Truly.

[@mxg75]

Platform level gatelines on an island platform seems like a very cost-efficient way to build your system. They could have made the new entrance wheelchair accessible with a single elevator bank. (Bank, because two+ small elevators are preferable to one big one for redundancy.)

[@adorabell4253]

Small elevators are usually inaccessible to those in wheelchairs or strollers. One large elevator tends to be better. But they could have just put in two large elevators. It’s a new entrance after all.

[@glaframb]

Museum -> Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) New Museum Entrance = North Queens Park

[@Kevbot6000]

I’ve recently been obsessed with train station architecture and would love a video on the best looking train stations in North America. I also think it would be a good opportunity to mention the importance of good platform waiting areas and passageways. Many stations have gorgeous architecture and main waiting halls, but the platforms and passageways leading to said platforms leave a lot to be desired, especially when compared to stations in Europe or East Asia (looking at you, DC Union). If that idea interests you at all I think it would be a good video, just a suggestion :)

[@pittsboy2008]

While I commend TTC for adding a much needed entrance to Museum Station, why on Earth would they not make it accessible? It's sad how urban design and user experience are always second thoughts in Toronto. One thing they are very good at TTC is making new things look outdated and aged. 😅 The entrance does look like it's always been there since the station opened...

[@Pesmog]

It's almost like they are saying that the less able are not expected to use the park. They wouldn't get away with that in most of Europe where even the most minor of stations tend to get made accessible when they are refurbished or a new entrance is added. The canopy thing is also baffling. Very strange decision which has the look and feel of penny pinching about it.

[@cmmartti]

Because adding an elevator probably would have cost 10x as much, and they are installing an elevator literally at the other end of the platform anyway.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Because the new exit was simply built as a fire escape due to modern fire codes. Fire escapes do not include elevators since you shouldn't use them during fires. If they had to include an elevator at every entrance, they would simply ban people from using the entrance altogether rather than building an elevator. It would make no financial sense to build one when there's already an elevator directly across the street connected via an accessible crosswalk

[@vp9234]

i was just going through your old videos all day yesterday while working to see your old content. cool to see it come full circle with a new video like this today lol

[@juicebaux]

Inspired by this video im sitting in the park now via the new museum entrance enjoying a coffee watching some peaceful tai chi. Cheers

[@kwanfilms]

Seeing how the south end of the platform ends right underneath the park I wouldn't be surprised if it was originally planed to have that entrance, and then as usual it was never built because of budgetary reasons.

[@RMTransit]

Skeptical, they were very cost effective in those days

[@kwanfilms]

@@RMTransit 😂 So true. So another possibility was that they had the foresight to predict the need for another entrance in the future so they build it so it'll be doable.

[@MrCyclist]

The park is so humane. Despite the cars it is quite relaxing to be there. I will check it out tomorrow as I bike past the area.

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Reece. For a video about a new subway entrance, there was a lot of footage of the park (yes, I know that's where it is). Everybody needs to spend less, but not at the expense of safety and convenience - this new entrance have included disabled access instead of making such passengers walk an extra half(?) mile to the park. Such additional expense is not frivolous.

[@mgp1203]

Reminds me of one of the exits/entrances at St James Station in Sydney! It's a fairly quiet station despite being centrally located and most Sydneysiders will say they've only ever used it once or twice, but the first time I exited the station (literally just last year) It was smack in the middle of a beautiful park right by St Mary's Catholic Church. It was extremely refreshing.

[@mark123655]

The entire park seems similar to Hyde Park in Sydney. St.James also has a far more ornate entrance on Elizabeth St/ Market St In the southern half of the park you've also got a Museum Station with a grand entrance on Elizabeth/ Liverpool St, and a secondary uncovered entrance on Elizabeth/ Bathurst though the steps face the road and also connects to an underpass direct to the office buildings opposite.

[@kenboyd2130]

@@mark123655I was thinking the same thing.

[@clementbouvard8457]

Love this kind of video !

[@RMTransit]

There are more in the linked playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLwoYcvp1EGScIzH00wQJF0OlQ0WlZpXif

[@katrinabryce]

Green Park in London has an entrance that goes right into the park, well sort of. There is a ramp from the park that goes down to the entrance underneath the road at the perimeter of the park.

[@mdhazeldine]

That was the first one I thought of.

[@oddlyoaktree]

Oh there's such an opportunity to make a canopy in a classical antiquity aesthetic! Or even something that draws architectural queues from the museum itself or legislator building's Romanesque!

[@acemannotsomeother]

Why not a glass mess like the North Entrances to the ROM.

[@acemannotsomeother]

Perhaps some trilithons could be installed.

[@benstoysgames3262]

I love subways

[@JustinMohareb]

That's a really good place to put a station entrance. It'll be convenient for people coming to Queen's Park for events and for people who work on Wellington. I used to work in the Whitney building and this would have been as good a trip as getting off at Queen's Park station and using the tunnel.

[@SeanLumly]

A nice, sturdy awning could serve as a canopy that meets the aesthetic of the park, or perhaps one that is on beams and adorned with greenery.

[@acemannotsomeother]

Cut branches and create a roof like on Gillian’s Island!

[@RMTransit]

There were lots of options, but Toronto approaches these things quite ideologically

[@SeanLumly]

@@RMTransit Blind dogma is fascinating. It's the antithesis of creative problem solving in favour or reality-detatched romance.

[@stevenczikk8730]

Love this style of video and that you highlighted how this new entrance fills a gap in the system and improves access to one of our urban spaces. I'd enjoy a follow-up video on other sites in Toronto that you feel could benefit from additional station entrances/access points!

[@timor64]

Reece this video is somehow really lovely. It's like you turf all your deep knowledge of transit and just give something really experiential with minimal analysis. ... As for the entry - looks just like many, many entries in Berlin... just a set of stairs in the -20 snow, no canapy

[@czar_hey]

12:38 If I recall correctly, Leslie station doesn't have fare gates at platform level, but it does have a long passageway on the east end of the station where the knock-out walls are to accommodate six-car trains. The fare gates for that entrance are at surface level.

[@patrickasselin2326]

I reckon this entrance might see a lot of use doubling for New York City in films and television shows.

[@RMTransit]

Yep!

[@James-gc5if]

The park looks lovely, and at platform level the station reminds me of Berlin, but I can't help sensing your tongue in your cheek when describing the entrance as picturesque.

[@Devan1191]

I like how you did this video Reece, I found you being at the site in person and on camera very engaging. Hope to see more like them!

[@berrybread7215]

Oh, wow. Now that I know about this, I’m easily going to visit the park more. This is exactly what I needed

[@fresusjeak]

Nice to see you outside; 'couldn't have picked a more beautiful day to record. Many interesting perspective shots, and overall enjoyable!

[@ianphillips7778]

Munich has lots of open air entrances with no canopy. They have heated stairs that melt the snow though. It seems to work well. There will also normally be an open air escalator too. This naturally wipes the snow off at the top an bottom. And is also generally good to use in all weather. If there is a lift, this has it's own glass box and is not open air.

[@SkysTrains]

Need more videos like this. I love it

[@RMTransit]

There are more in the linked playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLwoYcvp1EGScIzH00wQJF0OlQ0WlZpXif

[@SkysTrains]

@@RMTransit thanks reece!

[@CubeAtlantic]

Toronto has unique & relaxin' hardwood in their train stations like e.g. Vancouver & NYC.

[@danukil7703]

I remember once walking through Queens Park on my way back from St. Mike's, and seeing a squirrel just lying on the root of a tree, sleeping. I guess that squirrel will now have a convenient entrance to Line 1 XD

[@jerrychouinard9005]

FYI: the barred off section of the platform, long before the station was remodeled, actually housed museum exhibits. It wasn't to keep people out of a secluded portion of the platform.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Just because they displayed things in it does not mean it was created for display purposes. That's something they can do with space that has been blocked off for security reasons

[@giancole_]

love the vlog style Reece! good to see your first-hand perspective on what you’re discussing - keep em coming!

[@RMTransit]

There are more in the linked playlist! kzbin.info/aero/PLwoYcvp1EGScIzH00wQJF0OlQ0WlZpXif

[@edueduluna]

Is it me or there was a relaxing ASMR quality to this video?

[@jrochest4642]

I'm assuming that this was mostly done to make it easier for U of T students to use Museum station rather than St George - it will make it easier to get to St Mikes and Vic, and it's even going to be easier to get into the station from Hoskins. Queens Park is less used, I think, because it's surrounded by University and because it's surrounded by THE university, which has lots of green spaces that are easier to access than the park. But it's a nice space with some cool statues and a wonderfully diverse planting of trees.

[@Fetucinee]

I don't think I've ever transited through the Museum station. At platform level, the Doric columns and, further down, totemic sculptures--homages to the ROM, no doubt--are a singular touch.

[@markwoodley712]

The lack of an entrance canopy is the reason I fell down the stairs at Museum station on a rainy day. Luckily I didn't hurt myself and it was a lesson to beware when it's snowing or raining.

[@bitdepthband2269]

as a uoft engineering student i greatly appreciated the statue shoutout

[@chrismiller7754]

At 4:33 you say Toronto doesn't have that many really big parks. Seriously? Check out Earl Bales. Sunnybrook, Lower Don Parklands, High Park, E.T. Seaton, and Morningside Parks. They are all substantive!

[@TheRandCrews]

he meant that has a subway station, Earl Bales would be the next one practically if the they go Sheppard West

[@acemannotsomeother]

Perhaps he is referring to Toronto of old before transmogrification.

[@RMTransit]

Not in places served by the subway! Even high park station isn't in the park!

[@EdGreenTO]

Great vid. I have to roll my eyes every time I am reminded they named two different lines going to 2 different places (that just happen to form a U shape and share 1 station) "Line 1" ... what a lost opportunity, but I guess, again, it's lazy and cheap... our Toronto.

[@keeblebrox]

I would love for them to give this treatment to High Park. It could help solve an accessibility issue presented by tryin to make High Park car-free.

[@terrygelinas4593]

Unbelievable that there is no protective snow/rain canopy at that stop

[@rundown132]

death trap in the winter

[@TheRandCrews]

@@rundown132slip and slide

[@terrygelinas4593]

​@@rundown132indeed - liability

[@bdhaliwal24]

@@rundown132 Many senior citizens will break their hips slipping on ice and snow on those steps. Or they will have to keep it brined with salt on a continuous basis until it eats away at the cement down to tack level. Seems like there is no common sense taken.

[@LouisChang-le7xo]

Interesting how even new subway enterances are still being built with stairs and not escalators, and there seems to be no elevator despite having accessible fare gates.Apparently even systems like the Berlin U-Bahn manage elevators next to staircases on sidewalk stations.

[@pvanb]

11:18 I'm surprised he didn't catch this, especially after just mentioning that the entrance isn't accessible.

[@DanielMTZDL]

I have a lot of good memories in queens park. Great to see they are making improvements.

[@acemannotsomeother]

Please share one of your memories if you can. I can remember rushing across to St Mikes to get to German Cinema class.

[@fashglash]

Canopy! It needs a Canopy! Everything mentioned, the weather conditions!

[@Thiccolo]

RAIL DADDYY!!!!!

[@eazydee5757]

Museum Station isn’t the only subway station in North America to have an entrance in the middle of a park. Washington Metro has a subway station entrance at the Smithsonian station, located in the National Mall (if you could consider it a park) for example.

[@TheRandCrews]

Montreal Metro’s Angrinon, Lionel-Groulx, and Jean-Drapeau have them be in a park too.

[@timothyjohnston4083]

@@TheRandCrews Don't forget Berri-UQAM station. That station is in the southwest corner of Place Emilie-Gamelin.

[@RMTransit]

Of course not!

[@bdhaliwal24]

A canopy would have been really nice. The ones on Paris provide an architectural flourish that is world famous. Views are already spoiled by the garbage cans as you say but also the new condos surrounding the park.

[@acemannotsomeother]

It would be worse without them. Maybe Toronto should install a vacuum garbage system Like Disney World and have famous sculpture design them. Sadly , Degas and Rodain are no longer with us.

[@bdhaliwal24]

@@acemannotsomeother Maybe a racoon themed cannopy

[@acemannotsomeother]

@@bdhaliwal24 maybe the lovable Porter Airlines Racoon cartoon. A giant Macy’s parade balloon!

[@sospetyo]

I missed this entrance so much. I live on the corner of Yonge and Wellesley (you walked past my building on your way), and whenever I want to take the University line northbound it pains me to literally walk along the whole subway train to get to the entrance of the station. As Wellesley is the only street downtown that has its own station on Yonge but not on University, it felt very silly that the nearest station has its entrance at the farther end. All the condos and offices (including the ever-upgraded govt offices on Wellesley) in the Charles-Yonge-Gerrard-University rectangle will benefit from this entrance.

[@SnapDash]

Nice video of a nice station! A photo of the Bockenheimer Warte stop on Frankfurt aM's U-Bahn came up on my feed today - it's certainly an eye-catching "canopy"!

[@karlack2682]

St Clair West has a couple nice exits. one exits right out into the ravine on the south side of St Clair. If you coming up from the subway don't go up to the street car level, right on the left before going up to the street cars, there is a long corridor. that leads to the exit for the south side of the street and the ravine exit. There is another exit that takes you to heath street right at a park. Walk to the north end of the subway platform for the heath exit.

[@michaelsmith9590]

A new station entrance inside a park is a good idea in good weather. On the other hand for northern areas, such a feature is heavily dependent on whether park walkway are shovel-clear of snow build-up. Also, the open-air entrance has no escalator (per Wash. DC).

[@mauricerose3082]

"An Equestrian statue of Edward VII is installed in Toronto's Queen's Park, in Ontario. Created by Thomas Brock for the 1911 Imperial Durbar, it was originally located at King Edward VII Park (now Netaji Subhash Park) in Delhi, India in 1919. It was removed in 1967, sold in 1968 with assistance from the Canadian High Commissioner to India, and re-installed in Toronto in 1969."

[@watcherzero5256]

I was in the park a couple of months ago (my brother lectures at the university and works in a university affiliated lab), yeah its a nice quiet park a short distance from the University. Its not very built up on that side of the legislature compared to the opposite side and flanked by a couple of main roads so I could understand why it was so quiet. In Britain we would say Queens Park was a traditional Victorian style Park.

[@EmilieHurst]

Museum station has always seemed to be one of the least used stations in downtown Toronto. I wonder if the second entrance will change that!

[@gmponza]

Every time RMtransit uploads I become 0.4% stronger

[@LouisChang-le7xo]

one day, you will heal from the scars that cars did

[@davidlake5670]

Wondering if that entrance will increase traffic to that station. It always felt under used. I enjoy your channel.

[@acemannotsomeother]

Subway station under used. Nice pun.

[@Jomeaga]

Nice entrance. And yea Leslie has a platform level entrance with an island, but it's not embedded like this new Museum one because of the really long hallway... so don't know if that counts lol

[@Geotpf]

Of the first five stations that made up the initial operating segment of the Los Angeles heavy rail subway that opened in 1993, three of them (Civic Center/Grand Park, Pershing Square, and Westlake/McArthur Park) are at city parks. I believe none of the later stations are at such, including those on the soon to open extension.

[@monkeyflipper]

"...because we are a cheap and lazy city"... gold. and so true. A classic "we don't want to maintain it." discussion within the municipal offices. aka., we don't want to do our job.

[@Token_Nerd]

Nice to see one of these videos once again.

[@watson-disambiguation]

I saw this under construction when I was in Toronto. I was wondering what was up, it's neat to find out!

[@amd83]

You see the station at 10:30!! HOLY HELL what a video..

[@thespanishinquisiton8306]

Omg I can't believe it's a new Reece in Transit video

[@sentinel76]

Reminds me of the entrances to St James' and Museum stations in Sydney, Australia - granted they are on the edge of Hyde Park and not in the middle, but I think it's close enough! There's also the entrance to Wynyard station from York St/Carrington St, which is in the middle of a park-like space with trees and other greenery. Also, I'd prefer to see the station entrance first then have the discussion about it, but that could just be my preference.

[@danieldonaldson8634]

how is it that absolutely every laudatory video showing Toronto , always conveys more than anything else the clear impression that no one with any imagination or impulse to make things beautiful, ever lived or visited there? I nominate this video as the pilot teaser for a new version of Portlandia set in Toronto, and satirizing the thinking, speech and ideas found there.

[@Ar-ob1gz]

Reminds me of many station entrances at the edge of parks in Copenhagen

[@simmerWill]

It's crazy that they didn't see the opportunity of creating some sort of beautifully sculptural canopy above the station. Not only would it be a safety feature, it would add a point of interest to the park. Classic Toronto

[@skyscraperfan]

If possible, there should always be entrances on both ends of the platform. Otherwise you might have to exit the station in the wrong direction and then walk back above ground.

[@peterjurgec844]

1:03 Unique? Not sure if anyone mentioned this before me, but there is actually another TTC subway station with a direct entrance from a park, St Clair West, which is right in the Nordheimer Ravine. This entrance is currently closed, and I am not sure if it was ever operational. Thanks, Reese, love your content!

[@TheLiamster]

I feel like there could have built a canopy that fits with the park. Maybe using wood or something

[@joelyons3713]

Good video, hands on, boots on the ground type of content, I like that.

[@Quince828]

Ah the horse with the red testicles! I remember it well from my cross campus treks in my UofT days.

[@ChrisGBusby]

Not sure I have ever seen a canopy over a London Underground stairs entrance. Plenty of stations, but just open stairs everywhere else. And that's with the great British weather :P

[@joermnyc]

Central Park has a few stations running up the west side, but the most interesting one is actually at the southeastern corner at 5th avenue and 59th street on the NRW, it’s the closest station to the Central Park Zoo, so there are mosaics of animals and a long exit onto 5th avenue near 60th street. (The zoo is a few blocks north, as is an accessible ramp as this section of the park is about 15 feet below street level). The subway stairs here (and on 59th are actually inside the wall around the park, but you cannot enter the park directly from the subway, you have to walk on the street a short distance to find an actual park entrance.

[@ikelom]

Montreal: Fare gates at platform level?! What kind of monster are you?!

[@MrAnvyl]

i really liked the music in this episode

[@Candle4523]

9:35 😂... but it's true

[@mattszafranski7917]

Reminds me of the Mall entrance to Smithsonian station in DC

[@jamesg9864]

Thanks!

[@RMTransit]

Thanks for watching James!

[@JamesPhieffer]

Best solution for snow and ice on the steps would be internally heating them as necessary. I would hope someone thought of that already, and a heating system was already installed in the stair treads.