If John Tory has his way, TTC’s bus rapid transit plan project will get on the roads as soon as possible.
Let’s just hope none of those routes take place on St. Clair, where businesses were decimated for a supposed municipal requirement that had them install streetcars over a 6 year stretch of time, spurring a class-action lawsuit.
This week, the TTC unveiled its new five-year plan to install a series of Toronto-bus-only lanes along other service enhancing measures on five of its most popular routes. The $41.8 million plan was partly inspired by the King St. pilot project. Currently, $40 million of that budget remains unfunded.
READ: The Problem With Today’s TTC: All Talk And No Action
“Over the next five years, we will explore opportunities on Eglinton Ave. East, Dufferin Street, Jane Street, Steeles Avenue West, and Finch Avenue East. Although our focus will be on these major corridors to start, we will continue to identify opportunities on other busy corridors to improve travel time and reliability for customers,” the proposal states.
However, a large chunk of that $40 million currently remains unfunded.
“Bus priority lanes would improve the reliability and speed of bus service. For customers, this means shorter travel times and less time waiting for buses,” TTC spokesperson Stuart Green told the Toronto Star.
Tory explained that Toronto’s ever-expanding population was a big part of his support for a quick-fix transit plant.
“The city’s population and economy are growing, but our roads are not and cannot. The focus needs to be on moving more people in higher-capacity vehicles,” he added.
Mayor John Tory announced his backing for the new TTC’s proposal on Thursday.
“I championed the King Street pilot, and, based on its success, I have been supportive of looking at bus-priority corridors as a way to improve transit reliability,” he said.
Perhaps this actually will reduce Toronto’s crazy commute times.
