Toronto city staff scale back proposal for priority bus lane on Dufferin, Bathurst streets

CBC

4 days ago

Toronto city staff are curtailing proposed plans for dedicated bus lanes along Bathurst and Dufferin streets, according to a report going to council's executive committee later this month.
The report, which will be considered on July 16, recommends bus-only lanes be installed on Dufferin Street from King Street W. up to Bloor Street W. — not up to Eglinton Avenue W. as initially proposed.
It similarly recommends bus-only lanes be installed on Bathurst Street from Lake Shore Boulevard W. north to Bloor Street, except for the stretch between Nassau Street and Dundas Street W., where construction is ongoing at the Toronto Western Hospital.
The Dufferin proposal sparked mixed reaction from residents in the spring, who raised concerns over the loss of parking spaces and congestion during a virtual town hall.
WATCH | Reaction mixed over proposed bus lanes on 2 major Toronto streets:
'It's desperately needed': Bathurst and Dufferin could get priority bus lanes
2 months ago
Duration 2:19
The city is considering installing priority bus lanes on two major Toronto streets. But as Tyler Cheese explains, some say the decision is being rushed without properly consulting those who will be most affected.
At the time, Philip Morse, senior project manager for the city's transportation services, told attendees that "What we saw in the data is that Dufferin is congested, Dufferin is slow and Dufferin needs to be better."
According to the city staff report, the priority lanes would see 75 parking spaces removed along Dufferin Street and 277 parking spaces on Bathurst Street.
It would require an estimated $8 million in capital funding to make the changes, the city staff report says.
If approved by the executive committee, the proposal would go before city council. If approved by city council, the report suggests construction would begin this fall with an estimated completion in the spring of 2026.