The TTC announced the completion of its overhaul of Donlands Station on Wednesday, marking the official close of the four-year project to improve accessibility at the stop on the Line 2 Bloor-Danforth.

Work to transform the station began in 2020 as part of the TTC's Easier Access Phase III program to improve accessibility on the rapid transit network.

Donlands' second exit/entrance building at 17-19 Dewhurst Boulevard features four Presto fare gates, and now offers access to the platforms below via two new elevators, as well as automatic sliding doors, updated signage, and wayfinding.

The project's completion makes Donlands TTC's 55th accessible station, and the transit agency celebrated the momentous occasion with Toronto-Danforth MP Julie Dabrusin, TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher, and ACAT Co-Vice Chair Betty Rivington-Law, joining TTC Interim CEO Greg Percy at the station on Wednesday afternoon.

Today, the #TTC celebrated the completion of work to make our Donlands Station accessible.
Joining Chair @CllrJamaalMyers and CEO Greg Percy at the event were local Councillor @PaulaFletcherTO , MP @juliedabrusin and members of our Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit.
Learn… pic.twitter.com/lBFimD3vOl

— TTC Media Relations 📰🚌🚋🚈 (@TTCNewsroom) October 16, 2024

"Installing elevators at Donlands Station supports a more accessible Line 2 Bloor-Danforth for Torontonians," said Julie Dabrusin, Toronto—Danforth MP, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. 

However, today's announcement comes over two months after the public got a first glimpse at the new entrance to Donlands Station when it quietly opened on August 8.

"but negative reviews are already pouring in". Of course they are going to be negative. This is Toronto, after all.

— Greg (@Yes603827) August 26, 2024

This opening was met with negative reviews slamming the project's design and limited use of valuable land, while others lauded the new upgrades as an important step forward for accessibility on the TTC. 

Went by the new second entrance at Donlands Station today. pic.twitter.com/Rgm4YUBQ8V

— Damian W.K. Baranowski (@DamianDC7) August 23, 2024

Despite complaints about the design, including from a prominent architecture critic, local councillor Paula Fletcher insisted that "Everyone in the community is so happy the new Donlands Station elevators are now open."

While the project's design may not be everyone's cup of tea, Mayor Olivia Chow hailed the new entrance as a step in the City's commitment "to making transit accessible to all residents, and the opening of an accessible Donlands Station contributes to our goal of making the TTC barrier-free and equitable."

Chow thanked everyone who worked on the project and the TTC's Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit "for ensuring that residents of all abilities can use public transit with dignity and ease."

The Easier Access Program will eventually bring accessibility to all stations on the TTC subway network, with work currently ongoing at 14 other stations along the line.