Wheel-Trans

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Wheel-Trans
ParentToronto Transit Commission
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975)
HeadquartersLakeshore Bus Garage
Service areaToronto (city proper), Toronto Pearson International Airport
Service typeDoor-to-door paratransit
WebsiteWheel-Trans

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 minibuses or contracted accessible taxis. 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 regular TTC fare.

History[edit]

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.[1] 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.[2] 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[edit]

Service provision[edit]

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[edit]

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

Contracts[edit]

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

Able Atlantic Taxi[edit]

Make/model Description # passengers Year acquired Year retired Notes
Chrysler Caravan Converted van 2 Disabled access

Bee Line Taxi[edit]

Beck Taxi[edit]

Make/model Description # passengers Year acquired Year retired Notes
Chevrolet Uplander Converted van 4 1998 June, 2011 Disabled access
Chevrolet Venture Converted van 4 1998 June, 2011 Disabled access
Dodge Grand Caravan Converted Van 4 1997 TTL Vehicle Disabled access
Toyota Sienna Converted Van 4 2005 TTL Vehicle Disabled access
Ford Transit Connect Modified Vehicle 5 (Includes Wheelchair) 2015 TTL Vehicle Disabled access
Plymouth Voyager Converted Van 5 1996 November, 2002 Disabled access
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. Disabled access
Toyota Corolla Sedan 4 2015 Non-wheelchair accessible (Canes and walkers)
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[edit]

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. Disabled access
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. Disabled access
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. Disabled access
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. Disabled access

Scarboro City Cab[edit]

Make/model Description # passengers Year acquired Year retired Notes
Dodge Grand Caravan Sport Converted van 2 Disabled access

Toronto Para Transit[edit]

Make/model Description # passengers Year acquired Year retired Notes
Chevrolet Venture-Kino Maxi Shuttle Converted van 2 Disabled access
Chrysler Caravan Converted van 2 Disabled access

Wheelchair Taxi[edit]

Make/model Description # passengers Year acquired Year retired Notes
Ford E350 minibus Converted van ~3 Disabled access
Chrysler Caravan Converted van 2 Disabled access
Chrysler Sprinter van Converted van 2 Disabled access
Ford Transit Connect Converted van 4 2014 Disabled access

Assessibility outside of Wheel-Trans[edit]

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 SRT cars are not accessible. On the Toronto streetcar network, the Flexity Outlook streetcars are fully accessible. However, not all stops are easily accessible for customers in wheelchairs, particularly in winter.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hey, Kevin; Sheldrake, John, eds. (2019) [1997]. Urban Transport: A Century of Progress?. Taylor and Francis. ISBN 9780429685538 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Wheel-Trans called a 'mess' since the TTC took over: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star. 1989-01-16. p. A6. ISSN 0319-0781.

External links[edit]