Lawrence station (Toronto)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox station Lawrence is a subway station on Line 1 Yonge–University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located under Yonge Street at Lawrence Avenue, in the Bedford Park, Lawrence Park and Lytton Park neighbourhoods.
Description
The station is on four levels, all the entrances to the station are at street level, the concourse and collector level is on the second level, the bus platform is on the third level, and the subway platform is on the lower level. Both the subway and bus levels have a centre platform.<ref name=ttc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Out of view from customers, there is an attic extending above and along the length of the subway platform. The attic contains ventilation equipment, a TTC substation and a city sewer pipe.<ref name="bTO-2018-01-11"/> There is a double crossover just south of the subway platforms.<ref name="TT-Lawrence">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Stack There are four entrances to the station located in the surrounding area:<ref name=ttc />
- Entrance on Lawrence Avenue, west of Yonge Street, leading to the south-side mezzanine level
- Entrance on Lawrence Avenue, east of Yonge Street, leading to the south-side mezzanine level
- Entrance via sidewalk staircase at Bedford Park Avenue, leading to the north-side mezzanine level
- Entrance via sidewalk staircase at Ranleigh Avenue, leading to the north-side mezzanine level
The south-side mezzanine leads down to the bus and subway levels. The unstaffed north-side mezzanine leads directly to the subway level.<ref name=ttc/>
History
Lawrence station opened in 1973 as an intermediate stop between Template:Stl, the former northern terminus of the Yonge line, and Template:Stl, which acted as a temporary terminus until the line was extended to Template:Stl. Constructed using the cut-and-cover method, Lawrence is one of the deepest stations in the subway system.<ref name="bTO-2018-01-11">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was also the first station to have an underground bus terminal.<ref name="THRA-2009-03-30">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On April 23, 2007, TTC employee Antonio Almeida was killed in the tunnel just south of the station when a platform on his work car was dislodged.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2012, a series of renovations repaired the deteriorating concrete of the bus roadway and tunnel walls.<ref name="TT-Lawrence"/> Between the fourth quarter of 2012 and mid-2015, four high-capacity fire ventilation fans were installed at the station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2015, the owner of the building at 3080 Yonge Street (at the northwest corner of Lawrence Avenue West) proposed to incorporate the TTC entrance at that corner into a renovation project for the building. The old TTC entrance building would be demolished; the renovated building would incorporate a new TTC entrance at ground level. The TTC requested that there be provision for an elevator.<ref name="TTC-2015-05-27">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These renovations were carried out, and the renovated TTC entrance was opened.<ref name="TheStar-2020-10-09">Template:Cite news</ref>
Easier access enhancements works
By mid-2022, work had begun to make Lawrence station accessible.<ref name="TTC-2022-04-22">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project entailed the addition of two elevators, one from street level to the concourse level and a second from the concourse to the bus and subway levels. A new stairway would be added from the concourse to the subway platform. Signage and wayfinding would be improved throughout the station.<ref name="Access" /> Once the project is completdd, the station will have a fifth entrance to house the elevator from street level to the concourse; it will be located on the north side of a Tim Hortons outlet, a few doors north of the existing entrance at the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue.<ref name="TT-3080">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project required partial closures within the station. In November 2023, the underground bus terminal was closed, resulting in the diversion of buses from Lawrence Avenue West to Eglinton station via Avenue Road, and buses from Lawrence Avenue East to the Roe Loop at Roe Avenue and Avenue Road.<ref name="TTC-2023-11-19">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In July 2024, the main entrances at the south side of the station were closed, limiting station access to the northern secondary entrances.<ref name="TTC-2024-07-08">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On August 31, 2025, the bus terminal and south side entrances were reopened.<ref name="TTC-2025-08-31">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The completion of the two elevators is expected in mid-2026.<ref name="Access">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Nearby landmarks
- Parks that run through Chatsworth and Blythwood ravines from Chatsworth Drive and Cheritan Avenue to Bayview Avenue.
- Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens
- Toronto Public Library Locke Branch<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Surface connections
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Buses enter the station counter to the normal traffic directions so that bus doors will face the centre bus platform.
TTC routes serving the station include:
| Route | Name | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| 52A | Lawrence West | Westbound to Pearson Airport via Dixon Road |
| 52B | Westbound to Westwood Square in Mississauga via Dixon Road | |
| 52D | Westbound to McNaughton Avenue in Mississauga via Dixon Road | |
| 52F | Westbound to Royal York Road | |
| 97A | Yonge | Northbound to Steeles Avenue and southbound to St. Clair station Template:Small |
| 97B | Northbound to Steeles Avenue via Yonge Boulevard and southbound to St. Clair station via Yonge Boulevard Template:Small | |
| 124 | Sunnybrook | Eastbound to Sunnybrook Hospital |
| 162 | Lawrence–Donway | Eastbound to Don Mills Road |
| 320 | Yonge | Blue Night service; northbound to Steeles Avenue and southbound to Queens Quay Template:Small |
| 352 | Lawrence West | Blue Night service; eastbound to Sunnybrook Hospital and westbound to Pearson Airport Template:Small |
| 952 | Lawrence West Express | Westbound to Pearson Airport via Dixon Road |
George Milbrandt Parkette
George Milbrandt Parkette is located at the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue East, and shares the small rectangular plot of land with the Lawrence station entrance at that location. At the request of George Milbrandt, acting on behalf of the Bedford Park Residents' Association, the Toronto City Council created the park in 1998. In 1999, the City named the parkette after Milbrandt, who had promoted the parkette's creation for 25 years. The parkette has simple landscaping including shade trees, park benches, grading and grass.<ref name="TO-1999-08-23">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
References
External links
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