The City of Toronto and the TTC are pleased to release the first RapidTO dashboard and confirm that the RapidTO Eglinton East bus lanes are improving bus transit reliability and increasing capacity on bus routes, resulting in faster and more reliable commute times.
The RapidTO Eglinton East bus lanes, installed between September and November 2020, span 8.5 kilometres and include parts of Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue. They are the first RapidTO bus lanes to be installed in the city, are among the TTC’s most heavily-used routes and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to play a significant role in moving people more efficiently around Toronto.
During peak morning periods, transit travel times on the routes decreased by up to six minutes, compared to October 2019 baseline data. In the afternoon peak periods, transit travel times decreased on the routes by up to five minutes, compared to October 2019 baseline data, as well as the week prior to the RapidTO launch.
The reliability of all four routes also improved by an average of 12 per cent, compared to the October 2019 baseline, with the 116 Morningside route improving by 19 per cent.
The bus lanes have not affected vehicles travelling through the area and there is no indication that traffic has moved to other streets such as Lawrence Avenue East and St. Clair Avenue East. Average vehicle travel times are lower than fall 2019 baseline data and comparable to the month prior to launch.
Data was collected during the City’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While traffic volumes and public transit ridership have remained lower than usual, all data has varied significantly in recent months as pandemic response efforts have evolved. The City and TTC will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the RapidTO bus lanes and will aim to release more dashboards in the future.
Improved reliability and increased capacity on RapidTO bus routes are expected to support residents as the city enters new steps of the provincial reopening plan and is expected to provide faster and more reliable trips, and continue to improve access to employment, healthcare and community services in equity-deserving neighbourhoods.
More information about RapidTO .
Images and video of the RapidTO Eglinton East bus lanes.
Quotes:
“The data shows that RapidTO bus lanes are working. It is encouraging to see increased reliability and faster transit travel times on the routes that benefit from our RapidTO bus lanes. I look forward to seeing the results of future dashboards as the reopening continues and transit ridership increases along with traffic volumes.”
– Mayor John Tory
“We remain committed to improving service reliability and travel times on our surface transit network. Enhancing bus service will encourage more Torontonians to choose the TTC – a sustainable transportation option.”
– Councillor Jaye Robinson (Don Valley West) Chair of the TTC Board
“RapidTO priority bus lanes are a long-term action that is already helping to improve bus travel in Scarborough by supporting quicker and on-time service, while also helping to better connect our cycling infrastructure along major roads. I’m encouraged by the initial data and expect these lanes to continue to improve the bus transit experience for thousands of daily riders.”
– Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee and member of the TTC Board
“More TTC customers rely on the bus network for their trips than any other mode of transit. This has been especially true during the pandemic. Giving buses exclusive use of priority lanes is important for the long-term health of the city and quality of life for its residents. It also helps with the City’s pandemic recovery efforts, by making sure the TTC’s surface network remains a reliable, frequent and safe option, as people start returning to work.”
– TTC CEO Rick Leary
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