Wheel-Trans
Paratransit system in Toronto, Ontario
title: "Wheel-Trans" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["toronto-transit-commission", "paratransit-services-in-canada"] description: "Paratransit system in Toronto, Ontario" topic_path: "geography/canada" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel-Trans" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Paratransit system in Toronto, Ontario ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox bus transit"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Wheel-Trans |
| logo | Logo of the Toronto Transit Commission.svg |
| logo_size | 150px |
| image | TTC Wheel Trans 9809.JPG |
| parent | Toronto Transit Commission |
| founded | |
| headquarters | Lakeshore Bus Garage |
| service_area | Toronto (city proper), Toronto Pearson International Airport |
| service_type | Door-to-door paratransit |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Wheel-Trans | logo = Logo of the Toronto Transit Commission.svg | logo_size = 150px | image = TTC Wheel Trans 9809.JPG | image_caption = | company_slogan = | parent = Toronto Transit Commission | founded = | defunct = | headquarters = Lakeshore Bus Garage | locale = | service_area = Toronto (city proper), Toronto Pearson International Airport | service_type = Door-to-door paratransit | alliance = | routes = | destinations = | stops = | hubs = | stations = | lounge = | fleet = | ridership = | annual ridership = | fuel_type = | operator = | ceo = | leader_type = | leader = | website = 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 and mental 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 the regular TTC fare.
History
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. 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. 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
Service provision
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
Main article: Toronto Transit Commission bus system
Wheel-Trans buses operates as part of the main TTC fleet but do not include wheelchair accessible buses from the regular fleet.
Contracts
Most of Wheel-Trans operations are provided by the TTC, but some of the services are contracted out to private operators.
Able Atlantic Taxi
::data[format=table title=""]
| Make/model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler Caravan | Converted van | 2 | |||
| :: |
Bee Line Taxi
Beck Taxi
::data[format=table title=""]
| Make/model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Uplander | Converted van | 4 | 1998 | June, 2011 | |
| Chevrolet Venture | Converted van | 4 | 1998 | June, 2011 | |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | Converted Van | 4 | 1997 | ||
| Toyota Sienna | Converted Van | 4 | 2005 | ||
| Ford Transit Connect | Modified Vehicle | 5 (Includes Wheelchair) | 2015 | ||
| Plymouth Voyager | Converted Van | 5 | 1996 | November, 2002 | |
| Toyota Camry | Sedan | 4 | 2007 | ||
| MV-1 (Mobility-Vehicle 1) | Minivan | 2 (Wheelchairs) | 2013 | ||
| Toyota Corolla | Sedan | 4 | 2015 | ||
| Ford Crown Victoria | Sedan | 4 | 1994 | 2008 | |
| :: |
Royal Taxi
::data[format=table title=""]
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| Ford Crown Victoria | Sedan | 4 | 1996 | 2008 | |
| :: |
Scarboro City Cab
::data[format=table title=""]
| Make/model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Grand Caravan Sport | Converted van | 2 | |||
| :: |
Toronto Para Transit
::data[format=table title=""]
| Make/model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Venture-Kino Maxi Shuttle | Converted van | 2 | |||
| Chrysler Caravan | Converted van | 2 | |||
| :: |
Wheelchair Taxi
::data[format=table title=""]
| Make/model | Description | # passengers | Year acquired | Year retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford E350 minibus | Converted van | ~3 | |||
| Chrysler Caravan | Converted van | 2 | |||
| Chrysler Sprinter van | Converted van | 2 | |||
| Ford Transit Connect | Converted van | 4 | 2014 | ||
| :: |
Accessibility outside of Wheel-Trans
Main article: Toronto Transit Commission accessibility
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 Flexity Outlook streetcars are fully accessible. However, not all stops are easily accessible for customers in wheelchairs, particularly in winter.
References
References
- (2019). "Urban Transport: A Century of Progress?". Taylor and Francis.
- (1989-01-16). "Wheel-Trans called a 'mess' since the TTC took over: [FIN Edition]". Toronto Star.
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::