Ongoing winter weather is making daily commutes increasingly difficult across the Greater Toronto Area, as snow, freezing temperatures and icy conditions continue to impact roads and public transit.
While winter weather is a regular challenge for commuters in Canada, this season has brought more persistent and severe conditions to the GTA than usual.
This winter follows a record-breaking snowfall last week that, according to Environment Canada, buried parts of Toronto under more than 60 centimetres of snow and left roads and sidewalks covered in snow and ice.
It seems like conditions have worsened since then.
Just today, Environment Canada issued winter weather advisories for much of the GTA, warning drivers and transit users of reduced visibility, slippery road conditions and the potential for significant travel delays.
There is also a 30 per cent chance of snow on Sunday.
The weather has led to slower traffic on major highways, service disruptions on public transit, and longer travel times for commuters across the region, according to TTC officials.
Andrew Pulsifer, executive director of the transit advocacy group TTCRiders, said snow and icy conditions force buses and streetcars to move more slowly and often eliminate lanes of traffic, contributing to longer wait times and missed connections for riders.
“Snow is going to do what it does," he said. "It makes vehicles go slower and often takes away a lane of traffic,” he said.
Pulsifer said reduced road space during storms can significantly slow commutes across the city. He said riders frequently report overcrowding and unpredictable service during severe weather, particularly on bus and streetcar routes, which are more vulnerable to snow-covered roads.
For commuters without access to a car or the ability to work from home, he said that weather-related disruptions often mean leaving earlier and spending significantly more time in transit.
Riders with disabilities are often hit hardest by winter disruptions, Pulsifer said, noting that uncleared sidewalks and snow-blocked bus stops can make boarding transit difficult or, in some cases, impossible. Pulsifer said his own commute was affected following last week’s storm, when his regular bus failed to arrive.
“I ended up walking to the subway, but the sidewalks weren’t cleared and it took probably twice as long,” he said.
Beyond the immediate impacts on transit users, experts say shifting winter weather patterns are also making it harder for cities to keep roads, sidewalks and transit routes safe and reliable.
Wyatt Weatherson, a PhD student in Environmental Applied Science and Management at Toronto Metropolitan University whose research focuses on winter road salt management in Ontario, said climate change is altering the nature of winter weather in the GTA in ways that complicate daily commuting.
Weatherson said winters are increasingly marked by freeze–thaw cycles, where snow melts during milder daytime temperatures and refreezes overnight, creating icy and unpredictable conditions on roads, sidewalks and bike lanes.
“That constant freeze-thaw cycle creates a lot more risk for commuters,” he said. He also said improving winter commuting will require ongoing training and preparation at the municipal level.
“One of the big things is making sure staff are trained and up to date on best practices for salt application, snow clearing and equipment maintenance,” he said, adding that continued investment in weather forecasting can also help cities better anticipate changing conditions.
