RapidTO – Eglinton Avenue East Corridor

Eglinton East is among the TTC’s most heavily used corridors and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to play a significant role in moving people around the city. It emerged as 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.

The Eglinton East corridor 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 corridors in the inner suburbs to improve speed and reliability of existing transit service.

Diagram indicating the lane configuration on Eglinton

The 8.5-kilometre Eglinton East corridor runs along Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue from Brimley Road, through to the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.

  • The existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Eglinton Avenue East will be converted to priority bus lanes. View section drawing.
  • Curbside general-purpose lanes on Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue will be converted to priority bus lanes
  • Priority bus lanes will be reserved for TTC buses, Wheel-Trans buses, and bicycles 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and identified using red surface treatment (see below) and signage
  • The one-time installation cost is approximately $7.8 million

Image of Eglinton showing 4 lanes of traffic. The curb side lanes in each direction are painted red to indicate that only buses are allowed to use the lane.

Benefit Description
Tactical Transit Improvements Convert high occupancy vehicle lanes and general purpose lanes with red paint, signage
Increased Access and Reliability Faster travel times allow longer distance travel
Real Improvements for Existing Customers Improved reliability and speed for 56,000 customers
Advance Equity Initiatives Advances: Poverty Reduction Strategy Serves 7 of 8 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas
Improved Transit Speed Average travel time savings of 2-5 minutes per trip
Advance Approved Strategic Documents and Action Plans Advances: Transform TO, Resilience Strategy, Corporate Strategic Plan, TTC Corporate Plan
Cost Savings Annual savings of $2.5 million in operating cost and a one-time capital cost savings of $6.3 million as a result of decreased travel time and the need for fewer busses to provide the same level of service

 

Map of the 8.5-kilometre Eglinton East corridor which runs along Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue from Brimley Road, through to the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus.

Staff Reports to City Council and Committees

Materials