TTC: RapidTO Bathurst Street

[Monarch Butterfly]

The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) invite residents to learn about and provide feedback on opportunities to improve public transit along 7.5 km of Bathurst Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lake Shore Boulevard West.

Tens of thousands of people rely on buses and streetcars along this key route every day, but traffic congestion slows service down. Priority transit lanes are being proposed to help reduce delays and improve reliability.

On weekdays, the 7 Bathurst bus and 511 Bathurst streetcar serve over 35,000 transit riders. Buses and streetcars on Bathurst Street take 75 per cent longer than the average vehicle travel time and only 61 to 81 per cent of buses and streetcars arrive on time. As Toronto grows, updating roadway designs can help meet the city’s evolving transportation needs, including during major events such as FIFA World Cup 26™ (FWC26).

Go to https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/transportation-projects/rapidto/rapidto-bathurst-street/ for more information.

The City and TTC are considering the installation of priority bus lanes in the northbound and southbound curb lanes from Eglinton Avenue West to Bloor Street West and priority streetcar lanes in the centre lanes from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, except for a section around Toronto Western Hospital between College Street and Dundas Street West.

Key Features​

• TTC and Wheel-Trans buses, emergency vehicles, school buses and people cycling would be able to use the priority bus lanes
• TTC streetcars, Wheel-Trans and emergency vehicles would be able to use the priority streetcar lanes
• Vehicles can enter transit lanes to access driveways, side streets and designated intersections
• Four mid-block bus stops (Dewbourne Avenue, Ardmore Road, Heathdale Road and Barton Avenue) without nearby protected crossings are being considered for removal to improve road safety.
• All on-street parking, except for accessible parking spaces, is being considered for removal
• To support traffic flow and improve road safety, a combination of new or extended turn restrictions and advanced left-turn signals are being considered at major intersections.

Proposed Priority Bus Lanes: Eglinton Avenue West to Bloor Street West​

Typical cross section of Bathurst Street, showing the proposed priority streetcar lanes being considered between Eglinton Avenue West and Bloor Street West.

Proposed Priority Streetcar Lanes: Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West​

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Between Eglinton Avenue West and Bloor Street West (Bathurst Station), the proposed design includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction.

To improve road safety, four mid-block bus stops lacking nearby protected crossings are considered for removal:

• Dewbourne Avenue
• Ardmore Road
• Heathdale Road
• Barton Road

Parking changes being considered:

• Removal of one hour or unsigned parking spaces
• Removal of 138 Green P on-street paid parking between Dupont Street and Bloor Street West
• All accessible spaces will be maintained

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There are currently turn restrictions in place at Davenport Road, Dupont Street and Barton Avenue. The following changes are being considered:

Davenport Road​

• Extend left-turn restriction to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Sundays (northbound)

Dupont Street​

• Remove left-turn restriction (northbound)
• Extend left-turn restriction to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Sundays (southbound)

Barton Avenue​

• Extend left-turn restriction to at all times (southbound)

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Priority streetcar lanes would be installed in the centre lanes from Bloor Street West (Bathurst Station) to Dundas Street West, including new signage, red paint and pavement markings in the centre lanes.

Parking and loading zone changes being considered:

• Removal of one hour or unsigned parking spaces
• Removal of 250 Green P on-street paid parking between Lennox Street and Nassau Street
• All accessible spaces would be maintained
• All vehicle travel lanes and on-street parking spaces will be maintained between College Street and Dundas Street West
• Existing Wheel-Trans loading zones in front of Toronto Western Hospital will be maintained

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There are currently turn restrictions in place at Bloor Street West, Harbord Street, College Street and Dundas Street. The following changes for turning vehicles are being considered:

Bloor Street West​

• Extend left-turn restrictions to all times (northbound and southbound)
• Add right-turn restrictions at all times (northbound and southbound)

Harbord Street​

• Add left-turn restriction from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Sundays (northbound)
• Extend advanced left-turn from 7 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. (southbound)

Dundas Street West​

• Add left-turn restrictions at all times (southbound)

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Priority streetcar lanes would be installed in the centre lanes from Dundas Street West (Bathurst Station) to Lake Shore Boulevard West (except for a gap between College Street and Dundas Street West around Toronto Western Hospital), including new signage, red paint and pavement markings in the centre lanes.

Parking changes being considered:

• Removal of one hour or unsigned parking spaces
• Removal of 90 Green P on-street paid parking spaces between Dundas Street West and Wolseley Street and between King Street West and Wellington Street

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There are currently turn restrictions in place at Queen Street West, King Street West, Wellington Street, Niagara Street and Front Street. The following changes for turning vehicles are being considered:

Queen Street West​

• Extend left-turn restrictions at all times (northbound and southbound)
• Add right-turn restrictions at all times (northbound and southbound)

King Street West​

• Extend left-turn restriction at all times (northbound and southbound)
• Add right-turn restriction at all times (northbound)
• Extend left-turn restriction to all times (southbound)

Wellington Street West​

• Add advanced left turn from 7 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. (northbound)

Niagara Street​

• Add left-turn restriction at all times (southbound)

Front Street​

• Add advanced left-turn at all times (southbound)

 

[bearcat]

As much as I am pro bicycle infrastructure, I am not a huge fan of shared bus and bike lanes. Bathurst is all generally uphill from Dupont to Eglinton. If someone is cycling northbound they will be going pretty slowly. I am worried that would affect the movement of buses. With all the cars now only allowed in the left lane it may be more difficult for the bus to switch to the the left lane to pass a bicycle as well.

I don't want a whole bus full of people being mad at me as I slowly go uphill and slow them down.

 

[Northern Light]

As much as I am pro bicycle infrastructure, I am not a huge fan of shared bus and bike lanes. Bathurst is all generally uphill from Dupont to Eglinton. If someone is cycling northbound they will be going pretty slowly. I am worried that would affect the movement of buses. With all the cars now only allowed in the left lane it may be more difficult for the bus to switch to the the left lane to pass a bicycle as well.

I don't want a whole bus full of people being mad at me as I slowly go uphill and slow them down.

I don't think I would read this as you are; bikes can use the curb lanes now, as-of-right, just with no protection.

They are already present.

The proposal isn't to invite masses of cyclists to 'take the lane' in the curb, but rather not to prohibit them, or compel them to shift to the centre lanes, which would strike me as unsafe.

I think this is more status quo in that regard than anything else.

The only alternative would be prohibiting cycling on Bathurst, which doesn't seem like a great idea either.

 

[Northern Light]

In respect of the proposal as written above.

Its set to remove 340 pay and display parking spaces, and additional free spots. Good!

The turn restrictions mostly seem reasonable and sensible.

I have some concerns about retaining parking in the College to Dundas block. I get it; but that seems high risk for a bottleneck. We've discussed how roads are capacity constrained by their lowest capacity point. What about shifting that parking to side streets as pay and display?

***

I'd like to see a few of the streetcar stops removed.

Carr, Nassau and Ulster.

There wouldn't be any stop distances exceeding 600M.

I'll grant, that's a smidge high, but Ulster and Harbord are under 200M apart.

 

[bearcat]

I don't think I would read this as you are; bikes can use the curb lanes now, as-of-right, just with no protection.

They are already present.

The proposal isn't to invite masses of cyclists to 'take the lane' in the curb, but rather not to prohibit them, or compel them to shift to the centre lanes, which would strike me as unsafe.

I think this is more status quo in that regard than anything else.

The only alternative would be prohibiting cycling on Bathurst, which doesn't seem like a great idea either.

You're right, this change will not really attract many if any people to cycle on Bathurst, so I am blowing the problem out of proportion.

This really would only be an issue if because of this change so many people decide to cycle uphill on Bathurst that it cumulatively slows the buses down as much as having cars in the right lane. And this is exceedingly unlikely.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

I can see complaints from the automobile owners who would grumble about the lose of on-street parking. More accurately, those who search for a "free parking spot", or failing that, an empty on-street "NO PARKING"/"NO STANDING"/NO STOPPING" spot to "stop for just a minute".

The condo buildings should make available parking spaces to rent out for an hour or so. But still make on-street parking on arterial streets a memory.

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

RapidTO: Bathurst Street is proposed along Bathurst Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lake Shore Boulevard West.

I can envision a streetcar right-of-way on Bathurst Street SOUTH of Queen Street West. Only if they implement a REAL transit priority at traffic signalled intersections, south of Queen Street West, AND transit traffic signals that the rest of the world uses. If no REAL transit priority, then no streetcar right-of-way and keep the streetcars in mixed traffic.

 

[Sauga89]

I have some concerns about retaining parking in the College to Dundas block. I get it; but that seems high risk for a bottleneck.

I don't quite get this either, but I'm not very familiar with this stretch of Bathurst St. Is it just the density of this stretch that demands more parking? Most of the businesses seem to have their own parking when I looked on Google Maps.

 

[Northern Light]

I don't quite get this either, but I'm not very familiar with this stretch of Bathurst St. Is it just the density of this stretch that demands more parking? Most of the businesses seem to have their own parking when I looked on Google Maps.

Its the hospital. The assumption of large numbers of people being picked up and dropped off.

 

[Sauga89]

Its the hospital. The assumption of large numbers of people being picked up and dropped off.

Ah, I see now. Thanks for the explanation. But if the hospital needs a better pick up/drop off area, I would think there were other solutions than having people stop on Bathurst. Maybe they could work with the hospital on some shrubbery/fencing along Bathurst to deter pickup/drop offs, and then put in a new Bathurst driveway connection to the hospital's existing Nassau drop-off loop?

Or take out that parkette near Dundas and put in a new Dundas drop-off loop?

Or do both? (EDIT: or maybe just narrow the sidewalk a bit and add a pick-up drop-off lane?)

 

[Steve X]

I wonder how much worst traffic would be from St Clair to Eglinton when reduced to one lane. South of Dupont is less of a problem as people are always parked on the curb lane.

I do think Oakwood, Dufferin and Spadina would suffer significantly once traffic on Bathurst is impeded.

 

[dob467]

New left and right turn restrictions on Bathurst at all major intersections would do so much to improve transit. The countless times I've been on a packed streetcar stuck behind one driver trying to make a left turn. It's shocking it's taken the city this long to get around to fixing what should be a pretty straight forward problem to solve.