Wheel-Trans

2025-09-05T00:46:23Z

2605:59C0:28B3:6110:64DE:CC9C:DB48:F3FD: /* Accessibility outside of Wheel-Trans */ Removed mention of of TTC Line 3/SRT as it has been decommissioned

{{Short description|Paratransit system in Toronto, Ontario}}
{{Infobox bus transit
| name = Wheel-Trans
| logo = Logo of the Toronto Transit Commission.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| image = TTC Wheel Trans 9809.JPG
| image_caption =
| company_slogan =
| parent = [[Toronto Transit Commission]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1975}}
| defunct =
| headquarters = Lakeshore Bus Garage
| locale =
| service_area = [[Toronto]] (city proper), [[Toronto Pearson International Airport]]
| service_type = Door-to-door [[paratransit]]
| alliance =
| routes =
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| ridership =
| annual ridership =
| fuel_type =
| operator =
| ceo =
| leader_type =
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| website = {{url|http://www.ttc.ca/WheelTrans/index.jsp|Wheel-Trans}}
}}{{More citations needed|date=October 2023}}{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2023}}
'''Wheel-Trans''' is a [[paratransit]] system in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada, provided by the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] (TTC). It provides specialized door-to-door accessible transit services for persons with physical disabilities using its fleet of accessible [[minibus]]es or contracted accessible [[taxi]]s. Users must register with the TTC who will typically grant access to those with permanent disabilities or show difficulty in traveling short distances. Wheel-Trans only provides service within the city of Toronto and accepts the regular [[Toronto Transit Commission fares|TTC fare]].

==History==

Wheel-Trans was born out of an initiative by the Trans-Action Coalition, a group led by [[Beryl Potter]] lobbying for transit accessibility in Toronto.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cp6RDwAAQBAJ|title=Urban Transport: A Century of Progress?|publisher=Taylor and Francis|year=2019|isbn=9780429685538|editor-last=Hey|editor-first=Kevin|orig-year=1997|editor-last2=Sheldrake|editor-first2=John|via=Google Books}}</ref> The paratransit system was officially created in 1975 as a two-year pilot project contracted to Wheelchair Mobile and operated on behalf of [[Metropolitan Toronto]] and the province of [[Ontario]] until 1976.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1989-01-16|title=Wheel-Trans called a 'mess' since the TTC took over: [FIN Edition]|page=A6|work=Toronto Star|issn=03190781}}</ref> Only individuals using wheelchairs were accepted as the original 46 users of the pilot project, and rode at no cost. In 1977 the service was contracted to All-Way Transportation Corporation of Toronto before being taken over by the TTC in 1985.

==Operations==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2023}}

===Service provision===
Service is provided by accessible buses and contracted accessible taxi mini-vans. Wheel-Trans is a door-to-door service. Rides can be reserved up to one week in advance by calling the reservation line, by using the automated Ride-Line touch-tone phone service or by using the recently launched Wheel-Trans Online Trip Booking website.

===Fleet===
{{Main|Toronto Transit Commission bus system}}

Wheel-Trans buses operates as part of the main TTC fleet but do not include wheelchair accessible buses from the regular fleet.

===Contracts===

Most of Wheel-Trans operations are provided by the TTC, but some of the services are contracted out to private operators.

====Able Atlantic Taxi====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Chrysler]] Caravan || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|}

====Bee Line Taxi====
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}

====Beck Taxi====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Chevrolet]] Uplander || Converted van || 4 || 1998 ||June, 2011 || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Chevrolet]] Venture || Converted van || 4 || 1998 ||June, 2011 || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Dodge]] Grand Caravan || Converted Van || 4 || 1997 || || TTL Vehicle {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Toyota]] Sienna || Converted Van || 4 || 2005 || || TTL Vehicle {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] Transit Connect || Modified Vehicle || 5 (Includes Wheelchair) || 2015 || || TTL Vehicle {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Plymouth (automobile)|Plymouth]] Voyager || Converted Van || 5 ||1996 ||November, 2002|| {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Toyota]] Camry || Sedan || 4 ||2007 |||| Non-wheelchair accessible (Canes and walkers)
|-
|| [[MV-1]] (Mobility-Vehicle 1) || Minivan || 2 (Wheelchairs) ||2013 |||| TTL Vehicle or used as a Wheel-Trans contracted vehicle. {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Toyota]] Corolla || Sedan || 4 ||2015 |||| Non-wheelchair accessible (Canes and walkers)
|-
|| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] Crown Victoria || Sedan || 4 ||1994 ||2008|| Limited fleet. Cab drivers may not acquire this vehicle for service - Non-wheelchair accessible (Canes and walkers)
|}

====Royal Taxi====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Dodge]] Grand Caravan Sport || Converted van || 2 || ||Used as TTL vehicle or for Wheel-Trans contracted taxicabs. || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]] Montana || Converted van || 2 || || Retired - Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards no longer allow this vehicle in service, as it does not meet requirements to operate as a taxicab. || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Chevrolet]] Venture || Converted van || 2 || || All vehicles in fleet retired as of April 8, 2009. This vehicle may not enter service as it does not meet requirements to operate as a taxicab. || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] Crown Victoria || Sedan || 4 || 1996 || 2008 || Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards no longer allow this vehicle in service, as it does not meet requirements to operate as a taxicab. - Non-wheelchair accessible. {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|}

====Scarboro City Cab====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Dodge]] Grand Caravan Sport || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|}

====Toronto Para Transit====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Chevrolet]] Venture-Kino Maxi Shuttle || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Chrysler]] Caravan || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|}

====Wheelchair Taxi====

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Make/model !! Description !! # passengers !! Year acquired !! Year retired !! Notes
|-
|| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] E350 minibus || Converted van || ~3 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Chrysler]] Caravan || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Chrysler]] Sprinter van || Converted van || 2 || || || {{access icon|15px}}
|-
|| [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] Transit Connect || Converted van || 4 || 2014 || || {{access icon|15px}}
|}

==Accessibility outside of Wheel-Trans==
{{main|Toronto Transit Commission accessibility}}
As for 2017, all 1,869 buses are low floor to allow for easy accessible by mobility devices. While all subway trains are accessible, only 35 of the 69 stations have elevators. The [[Flexity Outlook (Toronto streetcar)|Flexity Outlook]] streetcars are fully accessible. However, not all stops are easily accessible for customers in wheelchairs, particularly in winter.

==See also==
* [[Mississauga Transit#Accessible services|Mississauga Transit Accessible Services]] - regular routes with accessible buses
* [[Transhelp]] - Peel Region from a variety of providers including [[Caledon Community Services Transportation]]
* [[York Region Transit Mobility Plus]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wheel-Trans}}
* [http://www.ttc.ca/WheelTrans/index.jsp TTC Wheel-Trans]

{{TTC}}

[[Category:Toronto Transit Commission]]
[[Category:Paratransit services in Canada]]

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Wheel-Trans