Path (Toronto)

Path
Path logo
Path network viewed from under Commerce Court
Map
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates43°39′N 79°23′W / 43.65°N 79.38°W / 43.65; -79.38
Opening date1900 – first pedestrian tunnel in Toronto
1960–1970s – construction begins of underground shopping concourses and linkages
1987 – City becomes coordinating agency of network
ManagementCity of Toronto government (coordinating agency)
No. of stores and services1,200
Total retail floor area371,600 m2 (4,000,000 sq ft)
No. of floors1
Parking20 parking garages
Websitewww.toronto.ca/path/

Path (stylized as PATH)[1] is a 24/7 network of underground pedestrian tunnels, elevated walkways, and at-grade walkways connecting the office towers of Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It connects more than 70 buildings via 30 kilometres (19 mi) of tunnels, walkways, and shopping areas. According to Guinness World Records, Path is the largest underground shopping complex in the world, with 371,600 square metres (4,000,000 sq ft) of retail space[2] which includes over 1,200 retail fronts (2016).[3] As of 2016, over 200,000 residents and workers use the Path system daily with the number of private dwellings within walking distance at 30,115.[3]

The Path network's northern point is the Atrium on Bay at Dundas Street and Bay Street, including a now-closed tunnel to the former Toronto Coach Terminal, while its southern point is Waterpark Place on Queens Quay. Its main north–south axes of walkways generally parallel Yonge and Bay Streets, while its main east–west axis parallels King Street.

There is continuous expansion of the Path system around Union Station. Two towers being built as part of CIBC Square will be linked to the Path system, extending it to the east to cross over Yonge Street by a pedestrian bridge into the Backstage Condominium building (Esplanade and Yonge corner), giving closed access to Union Station, Scotiabank Arena, and other buildings in Toronto's Financial District.

  1. ^ "PATH – Downtown Toronto pedestrian walkway". City of Toronto. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. ^ "PATH – Toronto's Downtown Underground Pedestrian Walkway". Archived from the original on 2014-06-20.
  3. ^ a b Hume, Grant (Feb 2016). "Downtown PATH makes North American history as a mall". No. Feb 2016, page 6. The Bulletin (Local Toronto Newspaper).