Bessarion (TTC)

Bessarion
File:Bessarion TTC 16020292290.jpg
Location	731 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario Canada
Coordinates
Platforms	centre platform
Tracks	2
Connections	TTC buses
Construction
Structure type	underground
Disabled access	Yes
History
Opened	24 November 2002
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	2,530
Services
Preceding station   TTC   Following station Bayview toward Sheppard–Yonge Sheppard Leslie toward Don Mills

Bessarion is a station on the Sheppard line of the subway/RT system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 731 Sheppard Avenue East, at Bessarion Road and Burbank Drive, and was opened in 2002. The station is, as of 2008, the second least-used in the TTC's subway network (after Ellesmere) and has the shortest maximum ride of any station on the network, at 2.9 kilometres to the furthest Sheppard line station. As there are no commuter parking spaces at the station, most riders embarking at the station arrive by the lone bus route that connects to it, are dropped off, or walk from nearby residences.

History

Bessarion opened on 24 November 2002, in the first phase of the Sheppard line, and was one of the stations originally planned for the Sheppard line. Due to budget overruns that came up on several occasions, there were many suggestions to remove it from the original plan for a cost savings of $34 million. When the question was raised a last time in 1998, it was decided that the station should be built, because it was in a prime redevelopment area and the station was an important selling feature for these proposed housing units pushed by Councillor David Shiner.

When the site was excavated, the soil was found to be contaminated with various levels of hydrocarbons (likely from the former Canadian Tire service station on the site). This was removed and decontaminated during the construction of the subway station.

As of the late 2000s, Concord Park Place, a 45-acre (18 ha), master-planned multi-tower condominium and townhouse complex, is under construction on the former Canadian Tire warehouse site that adjoins the station.

Station description

Like all stations on the Sheppard line, Bessarion is fully accessible. The main entrance on the south side of Sheppard Avenue is fully accessible, with elevator, escalator, and stair access to the concourse level, where another elevator connects to the subway platform level. The north entrance provides direct access to the concourse level only with stairs.

The subway continues underground in a bored tunnel in both directions; east into Leslie and west to Bayview.

Architecture and art

The public art in the station, titled Passing by Toronto artist Sylvie Belanger, is a frieze of hands, feet, and backs of heads, which represent the users of the station. The images of feet appear on the concourse level, while the heads appear on the platform level. The images of hands appear along the stairs between the Sheppard Avenue north side entrance/exit and the concourse.

• Inside Bessarion station (concourse).JPG

  images of feet greet passengers at the concourse level

• 

  backs of heads decorate a pillar on the platform

• TTC Bessarion 02.JPG

  legs & feet, dog & boy

Surface connections

Main article: List of Toronto Transit Commission bus routes

There are no off-street bus platforms at this station, and connecting service is available at the bus stops on Sheppard Avenue with a valid transfer.

• 85 Sheppard East westbound to Sheppard–Yonge Station and 85J eastbound to Don Mills Station

Nearby landmarks

Nearby landmarks include the Bessarion Parkette, a Canadian Tire and the Canadian Tire Park, and a Mark's. Mountain Equipment Co-op's new North York store will open a short distance from the station in 2015.

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• Bessarion Station at the Toronto Transit Commission
• Finding Bessarion, a documentary by John Gape featuring Jeremy Woodcock.