Osgoodeis asubway stationonLine 1 Yonge–Universityin Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The station, which opened in 1963, is located underUniversity Avenuewhere it is crossed byQueen Street Westand is named for the nearbyOsgoode Hall,which honoursWilliam Osgoode,the first chief justice ofUpper Canada.Wi-Fi service is available at this station.[2]

Osgoode
General information
Location181 Queen Street West
Toronto,Ontario
Canada
Coordinates43°39′03″N79°23′12″W/ 43.65083°N 79.38667°W/43.65083; -79.38667
Owned byToronto Transit Commission
PlatformsCentre platform
Tracks2
Connections
  • 301Queen
  • 501Queen
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
AccessibleYes
Other information
WebsiteOfficial station page
History
OpenedFebruary 28, 1963;61 years ago(1963-02-28)
Rebuilt2006–2008, 2016
Passengers
2023–2024[1]19,323
Rank38 of 70
Services
Preceding station Toronto Transit Commission Following station
St. Patrick
towardsVaughan
Line 1 Yonge–University St. Andrew
towardsFinch
Future services
Preceding station Toronto Transit Commission Following station
Queen–Spadina
towardsExhibition
Ontario Line
(opens 2031)
Queen
Location
Map

History and construction

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Osgoode Station Concourse

The station has anisland platformand was constructed using thecut-and-covermethod. There is apocket trackat the south end of the station which allows a southbound train to change direction.[3]

When Osgoode was built, some utility lines were relocated away from the station to allow for a future "Lower Osgoode" station on the projected but never-builtQueen Street subway,but unlike atLower Queen,no actual construction took place. When it opened, Osgoode, likeSt. Andrew station,boastedVitrolitetiles on its walls.[4]Cracks resulting from the high water table at the station forced the TTC to cover over most of these tiles in the 1970s with vertical slats along the outer walls on the far side of the tracks and ceramic tiles on structural elements on the platform itself. In 2016, the slats on the outer walls were replaced by off-white panels, evoking the original design.[5]

Entrances to the station were all built as open stairways from the sidewalk, with the panel above thelintelemblazoned with the scales of justice, which referenced theSuperior Court of Justiceat Osgoode Hall. Subsequent refurbishment resulted in a generic TTC style replacing the unique symbolism. In 2006, a new entrance, with elevator access to the concourse level, was integrated into the construction of theFour Seasons Centre,at the southeast corner of Queen and University. Along with an elevator to the platform level within the fare paid area, this made the station fully accessible as of 2007.[6]Plans from 2008 call forDiamond and Schmitt Architects,who were responsible for the opera house, to design complementary covered entrances at the other three corners of the intersection.[7]

Entrances
Original design of entrance stairwell
Current stairs with generic TTC signage
Four Seasons Centre subway entrance

Future

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Metrolinxplans to construct theOntario Line,a rapid transit line connecting the south loop ofLine 1 Yonge–Universityto the east wing ofLine 2 Bloor–Danforthand north toScience Centre station,where the line will interchange withLine 5 Eglinton.The preferred route of the line is from Science Centre to Exhibition. Osgoode station is a planned station on this new line. The Ontario Line would be drilled out of rock at a lower level.[8]

Nearby landmarks

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Nearby landmarks include theFour Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,Toronto City Hall,Nathan Phillips Square,Osgoode Hall,theSouth African War Memorial,299 Queen Street West,theCanada Life Buildingand theUnited States Consulate.

Surface connections

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A transfer is required to connect between the subway system and these surface routes:

TTC routes serving the station include:

Route Name Additional information
501/301 Queen Streetcar; eastbound to Neville Park Loop and westbound to Bathurst Street.

References

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  1. ^"Subway ridership, 2023-2024"(PDF).Toronto Transit Commission.RetrievedNovember 12,2024.This table shows the typical number of customer-boardings made on each subway line and the number of customers travelling to and from each station platform on a typical weekday in Sep 2023-Aug 2024.
  2. ^"Wi-fi Now Available At".TCONNECT. Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 8,2015.Each of the 65 underground stations will have wireless and Wi-Fi service by 2017
  3. ^Spurr, Ben (June 4, 2021)."'It's a miracle': How two TTC subway trains came within seconds of a disastrous collision ".Toronto Star.Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2021.RetrievedJune 4,2021.
  4. ^"The University Subway – Under Construction – Transit Toronto – Content".transittoronto.ca.Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2023.RetrievedApril 24,2023.
  5. ^"Gordon on Instagram:" Before and after. Osgoode station. #toronto #TTC #beforeandafter #Osgoode #subway #oldandnew "".Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2021.
  6. ^"Installation Of Elevators At Osgoode Station"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on February 25, 2012.RetrievedDecember 30,2009.
  7. ^"Retrofit Of Subway/Srt Open Stairway Entrances"(PDF).Archived(PDF)from the original on September 27, 2011.RetrievedDecember 30,2009.
  8. ^"The Ontario Line – Neighbourhood Updates – Downtown".Metrolinx Engage.Archivedfrom the original on September 23, 2020.RetrievedSeptember 28,2020.
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