Hello Everyone! I'm absolutely thrilled to share with you all the update we were all campaigning and hoping for!

Firstly, as Arjun has assured me prior to the third update, he would be reaching out again over the next week, to which he did. After some additional correspondence between Arjun and our YCC#340 Board Director Oggie Sokolovic, it can officially be confirmed that the TTC has reversed their decision, and so 366 The East Mall will see the REACTIVATION of BOTH our Southbound and Northbound route #111 bus stops!!!

Congratulations everyone!!! WE WON!!!

Here is the full email exchange I received December 4th 2025 between Arjun, Oggie and myself, confirming the official decision:

"Hi Chris, Oggie,

Thank you for your patience while I reviewed feedback and coordinated next steps with my colleagues internally.

Oggie – I see you are also on this chain, apologies in not having returned your call this evening. Hopeful that this e-mail satisfies the concern – happy to connect in the morning, I am available 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m., beyond.

Background of TTC’s position: The pair of stops at 366 The East Mall were relocated as part of the TTC’s Accessible Bus Stop Program, which is mandated by Provincial legislation to construct accessible infrastructure wherever feasible. To date, TTC has completed over 1100 transit stop improvements meant to ensure the removal of systematic barriers for customers with mobility challenges when accessing transit service. At the original location, major utility conflicts, sidewalk slope, tight property lines, and curb adjustments would have required significant resources to make the decommissioned stops (#2200 and #2214) accessible.

To deliver accessible stops as quickly as possible, the optimal solution was to relocate them ~100m north, away from these constraints, and build new accessible stops (#16455 and #16480). During planning of these stops, staff noted that the new stops improve overall catchment and access to community features, including a local grocery store. These changes comply with TTC Service Standards, ensuring adequate coverage, placement at protected pedestrian crossings, and reasonable stop spacing.

Looking ahead: That said, we have heard a clear and consistent call from the community to reinstate the decommissioned stops – citing convenience, passenger volumes, stop history, and safety. After reviewing this feedback, the TTC will proceed with reinstating the pair of stops serving 366 The East Mall.

To manage expectations, TTC cannot commit to making the reinstated stops accessible in the near term. As there is no timeline for the next major reconstruction, stops #2200 and #2214 will remain inaccessible until an opportunity arises to bundle the work with future road projects. Street furniture (shelter/waste bin) assets will remain, and the stops will operate as they did prior to the October 12 decommissioning. TTC will also maintain the new accessible stops (#16455 and #16480), despite the close spacing along this section of The East Mall.

We are aiming to reinstate the two decommissioned stops on January 4, 2026, which is the next scheduled service change period at TTC. The TTC has 11 service change periods each year, and stop changes must align with a scheduled service change to allow TTC to integrate updates into multiple systems, including:

TTC.ca (Schedules and Stop Maps)
Third-party transit apps (open data feeds)
Real-time vehicle tracking systems

Chris, Oggie, thank you both for taking the time to share thoughtful and detailed feedback with us. The TTC delivers over two million trips every day and implements thousands of service and infrastructure changes each year. We strive to get it right, but we know that sometimes we fall short. When that happens, we appreciate hearing from our customers, and community. I am pleased we can work together in a resolution, and continue building a better transit system for everyone.

Thank you,
A"

As you can see, the TTC has listened to our concerns, and starting very early in the new year, we can expect to see both of our stops at 366 reactivated by January 4th 2026! Plus under this new arrangement, the two new stops that serve the local Loblaws store at 380 The East Mall will also remain, which is very helpful for anyone traveling to/from Loblaws, which the original text of this petition also encouraged. This seems like a very reasonable compromise that will bring as much direct, accessible service to the largest numbers of transit riders possible, while having little/no negative impact on service quality! Overall, I am very pleased with this outcome! I also look forward to seeing these new accessible enhancements at both 366 stops, which Arjun hinted at in his reply, that will be delivered at some point in the future with other city road/pedestrian improvements. 

Secondly, I had just been approved to speak at the December 18th ACAT meeting about the loss of our bus stops. After learning that they will be brought back into service, I reached out again to the ACAT secretary and we agreed it would be best to withdrawal my request. However, I am told that the issue will still be brought up during the meeting for information purposes. On the ACAT page, which I will link again, there are recordings of all past meetings. I still intend to watch the December meeting as I am curious to see if the issue is mentioned, and to familiarize myself with the ACAT committee process. https://www.ttc.ca/Public-meetings/Advisory-Committee-on-Accessible-Transit---ACAT

Lastly, also on Thursday Dec 4th, I received another reply from journalist Natalie Johnson. After speaking with her assignment desk, she had offered to send one of her colleagues over to cover our story as early as Monday Dec 8th. I thanked her very much for her time, as well as updated her of the TTC's reversal and their confirmation that both 366 stops would be reactivated by January 4th; but that if any unexpected change occurs with the TTC again before this date, that I would be back in touch with her. 

I do wish to deeply thank Oggie very much, as he was both instrumental and very active in his efforts in communicating with the TTC and the City of Toronto in getting our two stops restored.

Thank you very much as well to TTC's Arjun Sahota for listening to our concerns, complaints, and for helping us to find an amicable solution to our issue.

I also must give a special thank you to our neighbour and my newest friend Suncica, as she not only helped me distribute many of the flyers to our neighbours throughout the 4 buildings, she was an extra pair of eyes/hands on the bus shelters whenever that mystery person(s) tore off a petition flyer (which is still happening, by the way...)

And without question, I am extremely grateful to each and every one of you who signed and supported this petition, who shared the link online, in the Facebook group, who talked with your family and neighbours about it, those of you who emailed me directly with additional updates and personal efforts, who contributed funds to spread the word farther, etc.. this truly means a great deal to not only me, but to hundreds of our neighbours in the community! Thank you, thank you, thank you very much for all of your efforts and hard work!!! <3

Change.org does have a "declare victory" button for successful petitions. I have the intention to use this function, but I hope no one will mind if I wait until January 4th 2026 before doing so. I would like to see visual confirmation first on the street that our stops are indeed back in service with riders. Hopefully we have no undesired surprises in the meantime! :)

Until then, let us all enjoy our great success and our victory!!!!!!

Take care, everyone. Have a safe and enjoyable holiday season and a wonderful new year!

Sincerely,

Chris