As part of a plan to improve congestion and TTC service on Bathurst Street, the city is considering adding dedicated lanes for both streetcars and buses, and Torontonians are unsure if this is a good plan.
The RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan is a collaborative project between the City of Toronto and the TTC, aiming to improve bus and streetcar reliability and travel times across the city by implementing transit priority solutions. As part of this plan, officials are considering adding dedicated transit lanes along the 7.5-km stretch of Bathurst that runs from Eglinton Ave. W. to Lake Shore Blvd. W.
We’re considering dedicated bus & streetcar lanes on Bathurst to ease congestion and improve TTC service. 🚎
— City of Toronto 🇨🇦 (@cityoftoronto) April 23, 2025
Your feedback will help keep Toronto moving.
🗓️ Survey closes May 26
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The city reports the 7 Bathurst bus and 511 Bathurst streetcar serve over 35,000 transit riders every say of the week, with transit on Bathurst taking 75 per cent longer than the average vehicle travel time. Meanwhile, only 61-81 per cent of transit on this stretch arrives 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,” the city website reads.
PROPOSED CHANGES
If the city goes through with this plan, it will see bus lanes added to the northbound and southbound curb lanes from Eglinton Ave. W. to Bloor St. W., while priority streetcar lanes will be created in the centre lanes from Bloor St. W, to Lake Shore Blvd W. This will exclude a stretch of Bathurst between College St. and Dundas St. W., around Toronto Western Hospital.
While these bus lanes would not be available to cars, they would be accessible to TTC and Wheel-Trans buses, emergency vehicles, school buses and cyclists. Meanwhile, streetcar lanes would be available to TTC streetcars, Wheel-Trans and emergency vehicles.
Additionally, the city is considering removing all on-street parking, except for accessible parking spaces.
Officials are also considering introducing some new or extended turn restrictions and advanced left-turn signals at major intersections.
Residents can find out more about potential changes to Bathurst here.
Through its public consultation process, the city is inviting residents to share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Those who are interested in getting involved and sharing their thoughts can register for a virtual public meeting scheduled for May 12 here, or attend the public drop-in events on May 10 and May 14. Residents can also provide feedback via a survey here.
TORONTONIANS DEBATE
Online, many people are debating if adding dedicated transit lanes will be helpful or a hindrance to Torontonians trying to get around the city.
Some people feel that adding bus and streetcar lanes is the right move.
“This should happen to every street with streetcars wide enough to support it,” one person said on X.
“Don’t consider….just do. The raised right of way for the streetcar on St. Clair has been the best,” another person shared.
“Stop considering and start MOVING people pls.”
While some feel it’s not the most effective way to combat longer commute times.
“Bathurst is already tight, the neighbourhoods are congested and the residents, businesses and community centres alike all rely on parking on Bathurst,” one person said on X. “This would decimate so many small businesses.”
“This won’t make sense. Bathurst is a very tight street already, and that dedicated lane will force all cars into one lane and have the longest traffic ever,” another person commented.
And others have suggestions of their own.
“Allowing parked cars on major streets reduces them down to one lane. No parking on Bathurst, Keele, etc would be a game changer,” one Torontonian said. “Residents and businesses have no right to street parking. Give them free permit parking overnight and on nearby side streets to offset.”
“Toronto is wasting billions in investment and turning its own people against the iconic streetcar. Do better!” another person said, adding suggestions like cutting the number of streetcar stops in half and increasing the frequency of service.
