As part of RapidTO: Eglinton East, a total of 8.5-kilometres of priority bus lanes were added along Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue from Brimley Road to the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. To do this, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Eglinton Avenue East were converted to priority bus lanes and curbside mixed-traffic lanes on Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue were converted to priority bus lanes.
Priority bus lanes are reserved for TTC buses, Wheel-Trans buses, school buses and bicycles 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and identified using red paint on the road and signage.
In total, the project cost approximately $4 million. There is an annual savings of $2.5 million in operating costs and a one-time capital cost savings of $6.3 million due to decreased travel time and the need for fewer buses to provide the same level of service.
Priority bus lanes are sections of the street designated by regulatory signs and pavement markings for use by public transit, bikes may also use them. The priority bus lanes also have regulatory “No Stopping” signs placed along each roadway. Other vehicles are not allowed to stop or wait in the priority bus lanes.
People driving should be aware and always look for people cycling, buses and pedestrians when travelling along or moving into priority bus lanes to make turns. People cycling and pedestrians should also be aware and look out for buses and cars.
Emergency vehicles are allowed in the bus lane when required.
When an emergency vehicle is approaching, drivers should enter the priority bus lane, when safe, and stop as near to the curb lane as possible. Drivers should merge safely out of the priority bus lane and back into the mixed-traffic lane after the emergency vehicle has passed.
Dashed lane markings indicate where drivers should enter the priority bus lane to turn right.
For the purpose of exiting from the priority bus lane (e.g. making a right turn to a side street or driveway), drivers may enter the reserved lane no more than 45 metres before the exit point.
When turning left, drivers can cross through the priority bus lane to access driveways.
People driving can enter the priority bus lane where the lane markings and red paint are dashed to make a right turn at intersections or at driveways.
For safety, people driving may remain in a bus lane no more than 45 metres from their entry point.
People driving should not cross a solid white line or travels in the solid red section of the priority bus lane.
Only buses, Wheel-Trans and bikes are allowed on the priority bus lanes. Emergency vehicles and vehicles used to conduct City services, such as garbage trucks, are allowed in the priority bus lane when required.
When turning right, people driving should enter the priority bus lane and merge left when it is safe.
For safety, people driving may remain in a bus lane no more than 45 metres from their entry point.
To keep traffic moving, drivers can use the priority bus lane to get around left-turning vehicles.
For safety, drivers may remain in a bus lane no more than 45 metres from their entry point.
Enforcement of the priority bus lanes, by Toronto Police Service, has begun for all of the Eglinton East priority bus lanes (Eglinton Avenue East/Kingston Road/Morningside Avenue).
The fine for improper use of a bus lane is $110 and three demerit points.
The fine for stopping in a priority bus lane is $150.
Regulatory bus lane signs, red lanes and pavement marking symbols are posted along priority bus lanes to clearly show where priority bus lanes are in place.
The bus routes on Eglinton Avenue East are among the TTC’s most heavily used, making this roadway the top candidate for the accelerated installation of priority bus lanes based on an assessment of several factors including improvement to transit reliability, available right-of-way and considerations for transportation equity and inclusion of Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
This route serves seven of Scarborough’s eight Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
Providing the priority bus lane advances Action 7.2.1, of the City Council approved Poverty Reduction Strategy 2019-2022 Term Action Plan, to explore bus transit lanes on heavily used bus routes in the inner suburbs to improve speed and reliability of existing transit service.
