A busy Toronto thoroughfare is set to be transformed in a way that moves more people faster. 

However, while a local community group is voicing its support for the proposed changes coming to Jane Street as part of the City's RapidTO project, these plans might not be so popular with motorists, who are set to lose two lanes of traffic to the infrastructure upgrades.

The City and the TTC are moving forward with a plan to implement bus priority lanes on portions of Jane Street, intended to improve transit travel times between Pioneer Village Station on Line 1 Yonge-University, and the future Mount Dennis Station on the delay-plagued Line 5 Eglinton. 

City staff have identified a recommended design for the new Jane Street priority busways, which would speed up service on the TTC's 35 Jane and 935 Jane Express busses along the majority of this route.

This would be accomplished with the removal of one lane of vehicle traffic each from both the northbound and southbound lanes, excluding a short stretch spanning Highways 400 and 401 where no lanes would be removed and buses would merge with mixed traffic.

The City notes that these TTC routes are among the transit agency's most heavily used, "playing a critical role in moving people across the city."

According to a City project page for the RapidTO: Jane Street plan, "both buses and cars would take about the same amount of time to travel the length of the study area in each direction."

Red-painted priority bus lanes would extend from Steeles Avenue West to Wilson Avenue, with a brief gap before another section spanning from Maple Leaf Drive/Church Street to Eglinton Avenue West.

City of Toronto

In addition to serving TTC buses, the lanes would be available for use by school buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles. Motorists would be forbidden from driving in these lanes, though permitted to access driveways and turn onto side streets.

City of Toronto

By the City's own estimate, motorists travelling the entire span of the busways would have about eight minutes added to their commutes, while transit users would travel the same distance approximately nine minutes faster than today.

While this loss of lanes may not sit well with drivers, the City states that the project will "make car and bus travel times more comparable."

The Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP) issued a statement in support of the new priority bus lanes on Sunday, explaining that "there is an urgent need for enhanced bus services along Jane Street between Steeles Avenue West and Eglinton Avenue West, with a strong emphasis on the necessity of reduced travel times and greater reliability of buses."

 

 

 

 

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"For years, we have been advocating vigorously for the implementation of priority bus lanes on Jane Street," reads the JFAAP statement, calling the bus routes that use this corridor "crucial for enabling the transportation of TTC riders, including thousands of manufacturing, food, retail and health care workers across the city."

The group is "cautiously" agreeing with the recommended option for the Jane Street RapidTO project "as the quickest solution available at this time and the most accommodating option for the over 40,000 bus riders in our neighbourhoods."

JFAAP acknowledges that the plan "may not be the most ideal long-term solution and requires further refinement" but stresses that "we cannot afford to delay transit improvements for another 10 to 15 years or indefinitely for 'alternatives' like widening Jane Street."

Such a widening would take years to implement and require extensive studies, planning and further community consultations.

Any road widening work would also require the relocation of existing infrastructure like hydro poles and sub-surface works like drainage that would drive up project costs exponentially.

"All of this is on top of the numerous systemic issues it will bring about, such as a reduction in pedestrian walkways, diminished walkability capacity and road safety," says JFAAP.

As the project is not cycle-specific infrastructure, it appears that these bus lanes (that will also be used by cyclists) are not subject to Doug Ford's controversial Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024.

However, that doesn't mean the move is immune from the ire of politicians and local motorists. 

JFAAP preemptively slams "any claim, especially by those in positions of power and authority, that bus lane option will make transportation harder for transit users or will not benefit bus riders" as "extremely misleading or completely false."

"This option, if implemented properly, will immediately benefit tens of thousands of workers, families, students and seniors in our communities who rely on public transportation for work, school, medical appointments, shopping and other activities by facilitating relatively faster and more reliable bus services."

JFAAP calls out the prevalent "car-dominated models and mindsets in various areas of Toronto, particularly among some vehicle owners, property owners and local politicians" as ideals that are "misaligned with our shared vision of equity, justice and fairness for all."