There are some changes on the way when it comes to your TTC commute. The Toronto City Council has endorsed the RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan which aims to improve the speed and reliability of buses and streetcars by implementing a range of transit priority solutions along major roads.

Here are all the details of what TTC riders can expect.

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20 major roadways

The changes are planned for 20 major roadways which serve some of the busiest bus and streetcar routes in the city.

Some of the priority roadways include:

  • Bathurst St – Steeles Ave West to Bloor St West
  • College St Carlton St Gerrard St East – Dundas St West to Main Street Station
  • Don Mills Rd – Steeles Ave East to Danforth Ave
  • Dufferin St South – Wilson Ave to Dufferin Gate Loop
  • Dundas St – Roncesvalles Ave to Broadview Ave
  • Queen St – Roncesvalles Ave to Victoria Park Ave
  • King St – Roncesvalles Ave to Don Valley Parkway
rapidto
Image via City of Toronto

What else is changing

The transit priority solutions the city plans on implementing to help improve commutes include: dedicated bus lanes, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, transit priority signals, queue jump lanes and bus bays.

In partnership with the TTC, the City of Toronto plans to seek out opportunities to accelerate the installation of the transit priority solutions.

Examples of some of the bus lanes that are being planned as part of the initiative include:

  • Contra-Flow Bus Lanes – a dedicated transit lane for buses that travel in the opposite direction to adjacent traffic.
  • Curb-side Bus Lanes – a dedicated outside lane beside the curb for bus use only.
  • High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes – lanes reserved for transit use or shared with bicycles, taxis and vehicles with three or more passengers. Lanes can be reserved full-time or only be reserved for specific times of the day or days of the week.
  • Offset Bus Lanes– a dedicated inside lane (not in the median or curb) for bus use only.
  • Transit Malls – a repurposed roadway, typically in downtown areas, that is used by public transit and closed off to general traffic.

The intersection and signal improvements planned are:

  • Bus Bays
  • Bus Bulbs
  • Far-Side Stops
  • Near-Side Stops
  • Queue Bypass Lane
  • Queue Jump Lane
  • Signs & Pavement Markings
  • Traffic Signal Coordination
  • Transit Signal Priority

According to the City, while RapidTO will deliver large-scale surface transit improvements on priority roadways, there are other ongoing programs that aim to enhance service, including implementing:

  • Up to 12 standalone queue jump lanes in the next five years.
  • Transit signal priority to 50 locations annually.
  • Targeted regulatory measures at 10 locations per year.

Changes are coming, Toronto commuters!

Curiocity Staff

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