TTC subway just got safety barriers but people think they're useless
New safety barriers installed at TMU (formerly Dundas) Station could potentially save your life, but in most practical applications, most people think they're totally useless.
Toronto commuters have for years called for platform-edge doors to be installed in TTC subway stations amid growing concerns about subway-pushing incidents and mental health-related injuries on the city's rapid transit network.
But new barriers that debuted at TMU Station last week have been met with a harsh reception from transit users, criticized for their ineffective design and $2 million-per-station price tag, with commenters noting how anyone inclined to cross the barriers could simply walk around them.
Toronto has begun installing new $2 million per station platform fences. It's crazy that these basic fences cost as much as proper full size platform screen doors in other cities who can build cost effectively. https://t.co/FemKlSjK3H
— More Transit Southern Ontario (@moretransitso) August 28, 2026
City Councillors Josh Matlow and Brad Bradford are among those who have voiced opposition to the new barriers, with Matlow condemning the TTC's decision to install them back in June.
In response to the barrier rollout, Matlow reposted his comments from June, where he stated, "I strongly disagree with the TTC's decision to install barrier fences on subway platforms. I'm convinced it's a waste of money, and won't effectively prevent tragedies, trespassing onto the tracks or reduce subway delays. I support working toward installing real platform edge doors."
Bradford voiced anger about the new barriers, noting that it took 16 years of studies to get to this point. However, multiple commenters noted that Bradford had served four years on the TTC Board during this period.
In addition to their questionable effectiveness, the barriers are…well…just plain ugly.
Picture 1: After closing the Don Valley Trail for 3 years, here are the new barricades.
— Eric Lombardi (EricForOLP.ca) 🇨🇦🚀 (@EricDLombardi) August 28, 2026
Picture 2: After years known need for platform screen doors on the subway, here are the Temu doors at TMU station.
We have an “ugly” problem in public projects in Ontario. We need to make… pic.twitter.com/7uSHlVpNBh
The utilitarian appearance of these new safety measures has been another point of criticism, especially given the cost.
Retrofitting the TTC subway with cleaner-looking and far more effective platform-edge doors — considered the preferred alternative by just about everyone not footing the bill — has been estimated to cost between $44 million and $55 million per station, with a ballpark price tag exceeding $4 billion to fully retrofit the system.
There is a plan from the TTC to incorporate platform-edge doors into Bloor-Yonge Station into the busy interchange's reconstruction, but this element of the project remains unfunded.
The technology is indeed planned for the new Ontario Line, which is well under construction but still years from the finish line.
