RapidTO: Bathurst Street

September 2025: Installation Update

Work will be completed in two phases, starting in October 2025:

• Phase 1: Installation will begin at Dundas Street West and continue south to Lake Shore Boulevard West. This phase is expected to be finished by December 31, 2025.
• Phase 2: Installation will continue from Bathurst Station south to Dundas Street West, starting immediately after Phase 1. Work will pause during the winter and resume in spring, with completion expected by May 29, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 26™ (FWC26).

During installation, the City and TTC’s contractors will complete the following work:

• Remove existing pavement markings, apply red paint and install new pavement markings
• Remove existing and install new signage or signals, as required
• Regulatory signs may go up before pavement markings are done. These signs will stay covered until the markings are in place. Once a section is complete, the signs will be uncovered and take effect.

An updated roll plan will be posted once Detailed Design is complete, closer to installation.

Work Hours

Pavement marking changes will take place overnight from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. with efforts made to complete the noisiest work before 11 p.m. Daytime work (e.g. signage changes) will take place mostly in the off-peak hours to limit traffic disruptions.

Transit

TTC vehicles will continue to operate, and access to Bathurst Station will be maintained. To accommodate overnight red paint installation in the streetcar lanes, 511 Bathurst streetcars will be replaced by buses between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Overnight 307 Bathurst bus service will continue to operate, and regular streetcar service will resume each morning at 5:30 a.m.

Please note: Locations of some loading zones are currently under review and may be subject to change.

Bathurst Station to Dundas Street West

From Bathurst Station (north of Bloor Street West) to Dundas Street West, approved changes include:

• Convert centre lanes to priority streetcar lanes by adding new signage, red paint and pavement markings
• Remove all one-hour, unsigned and Green P parking spaces
• All existing turn restrictions will remain in place
• Bloor Street West: Left-turn and right-turn restrictions at all times (northbound and southbound)
• Maintain accessible permit parking spaces and school bus loading zone northbound between Bloor Street West and Lennox Street
• Add a loading zone in front of St. Moses & St. Katherine Coptic Orthodox Church for Sunday mornings and public holidays

Nassau Street to Dundas Street West

From Nassau Street to Dundas Street West, approved changes include:

• Maintain two vehicle lanes in each direction
• Maintain taxi stand and Green P parking spaces in front of Toronto Western Hospital
• Dundas Street West: Left-turn restriction at all times (southbound)

Dundas Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West

From Dundas Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, approved changes include:

• Convert centre lanes to priority streetcar lanes by adding new signage, red paint and pavement markings
• Remove all one-hour, unsigned and Green P parking spaces
• All existing turn restrictions will remain in place
• Queen Street West: Left-turn and right-turn restrictions at all times (northbound and southbound)
• King Street West: Left-turn restriction at all times (southbound)
• Front Street: Advanced left-turn signal and dedicated left-turn lane (southbound)
• Maintain loading zone in front of 1 Kitchen

2026+ (Post-FWC26): Future Study

In response to public feedback and as approved by City Council (2025.EX25.4), further consideration of the section between Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Station is proposed to be undertaken at a future time, rather than immediate implementation before FWC26.

2025–2026: Proposed Interim Changes

Separate from the RapidTO: Bathurst Street initiative, City staff are recommending the following measures to improve the speed and reliability of the 7 Bathurst, as directed by City Council (2025.EX25.4):

• Update curbside no-stopping restrictions on the east side of Bathurst Street between Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Station North Exit to the following times:
  • Weekdays: 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Weekends (except on public holidays): 12 noon to 7 p.m.
• New no left-turn restriction (northbound): No left turns from Bathurst Street onto Davenport Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except on public holidays
• Extended no left-turn restriction (southbound): No left turns from Bathurst Street onto Dupont Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except on public holidays
• Traffic signal retimed to reduce queuing and improve travel times for the 7 Bathurst between Eglinton Avenue West and Bathurst Station

As part of the approval process, staff will report to Toronto and East York Community Council and City Council in September and October 2025. A copy of the staff report is available at 2025.TE25.41.

It takes time for people to adjust their travel habits to the changes.

As part of the implementation of priority streetcar lanes on Bathurst Street, the City and TTC will be collecting and monitoring traffic and transit data to address any impacts on local road safety, traffic infiltration and travel times. Adjacent streets will be monitored before and after installation to understand changes to transportation patterns.

Public consultation on this project took place from April 22 to May 26. The public consultation report (linked below) provides a detailed summary of all activities that took place, proposed changes and feedback received.

• Public Consultation Report
• Consultation Materials:
  • Presentation
  • Roll Plan
  • Transit Stop Analysis Map

The RapidTO: Bathurst Street project area spans Bathurst Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lake Shore Boulevard West.

The City Council-approved RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan (2024.EX11.8) is a comprehensive roadmap to improve our surface transit through transit priority measures. It identifies Priority Roadways for study, consultation and implementation by 2032, and Long-Term Planning Studies to be explored beyond 2032.

The northern section of Bathurst Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Bloor Street West, is identified as a Priority Roadway. The southern segment, from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, is part of the plan’s Long-Term Planning Studies. Both segments may be advanced sooner if they are aligned with emerging local priorities or can be coordinated with other City-led projects.

In July 2024, City Council directed staff to accelerate transit priority designs for Bathurst Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, to support reliable transit during FIFA World Cup 26™ (FWC26).

City Council Decisions

• September 18, 2025: Improving the Speed and Reliability of the 7 Bathurst (2025.TE25.41)
• July 23 & 24, 2025: RapidTO: Transit Priority on Dufferin Street and Bathurst Street (2025.EX25.4)
• July 24 & 25, 2024: Governance, Community Benefits Plan, Legacy and Program Advisory Framework, FIFA Fan Festival (2024.EX16.21)