RapidTO: Dufferin Street

July Update: City and TTC staff will present recommendations to Executive Committee on July 16. View the staff report EX25.4. Arrange to speak or submit comments by calling 416-392-7033 or emailing exc@toronto.ca by 4:30 p.m. on July 15.

 

The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) invite residents to learn more and provide feedback on the opportunities to prioritize transit along 7.1 km of Dufferin Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to King Street West.

Tens of thousands of people rely on buses along this key route every day but traffic congestion slows service down. Priority bus lanes are being considered to help reduce delays and improve reliability.

On weekdays, the 29/929 Dufferin buses serve over 40,000 transit riders. Buses on Dufferin Street take 65 per cent longer than the average vehicle travel time and only 55 per cent of buses arrive on time. Priority bus lanes would improve the speed and reliability of transit service and help meet the city’s evolving transportation needs. As Toronto grows, updating roadway designs can help meet the city’s evolving transportation needs, including during major events such as FIFA World Cup 26™ (FWC26).

July 2026: Report to Executive Committee

The City and TTC have reviewed public feedback alongside technical information, policies, guidelines and site observations.

Staff are recommending the installation of priority bus lanes on Dufferin Street, south of Bloor Street to be delivered in time for FIFA World Cup 26™ (FWC2026).

On Dufferin Street, further consideration of the section between Bloor Street West and Eglinton Avenue West is proposed to be undertaken at a future time, rather than immediate implementation before FWC26.

Highlights of the revised design include:

  • Conversion of the curbside lanes to priority bus lanes, south of Bloor Street West to King Street West. These lanes would be used by TTC vehicles, Wheel-Trans, school buses, emergency vehicles and bicycles.
  • Ontario Line construction vehicles would be permitted to use the priority bus lanes on Dufferin Street between Dundas Street West and King Street West until May 31, 2031.
  • Conversion of the southbound lane, between Thorburn Avenue and Springhurst Avenue to priority streetcar lanes.
  • Removal of all one hour, unsigned and Green P parking spaces and overnight parking.
  • Addition of loading zone areas for passenger pick-up, drop-off, loading and unloading of goods and materials along Dufferin Street. The loading zones would allow vehicles to temporarily stop during:
    • Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Weekends: 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Traffic signal timing adjustments and turn restrictions installed/extended at key intersections, including at College Street West, Dundas Street West, Queen Street West and Liberty Street.
  • Removal of the bus stop at Croatia Street to balance safety concerns, transit speed and reliability, local access and walking distances, while aligning with TTC service standards.

Detailed information can be found in the staff report under Executive Committee agenda item EX25.4.

RapidTO: Dufferin Street is proposed along Dufferin Street from Eglinton Avenue West to King Street West Map of Dufferin Street showing proposed curbside priority bus lanes from Bloor Street West to King Street West with streetcar priority lane adjacent to Dufferin Gate Loop

The comment period for this consultation has closed. The Public Consultation Report summarizes feedback received.

 

From April 22 to May 26, the City and TTC invited residents to learn more and provide feedback on RapidTO: Dufferin Street. Public opinion, along with technical and policy considerations, helped shape staff recommendations and will inform upcoming decisions made by City Council.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require alternate formats or need assistance, please contact us at 416-396-5785 or email RapidTODufferin@toronto.ca

Virtual Public Meeting

The Virtual Public Meeting was held on May 13, and included a presentation followed by a question and answer period.

Public Drop-In Events

Two Public Drop-In Events were held on May 15 and May 20, and included an opportunity to view project information panels and speak with members of the project team.

Priority bus lanes are being considered in the northbound and southbound curb lanes using new signage, red paint and pavement markings.

Key features:

  • Priority bus lanes would be used by TTC and Wheel-Trans buses, emergency vehicles, school buses and people cycling.
  • People driving would be able to enter into priority bus lanes to access driveways, side streets and signalized intersections.
  • All on-street parking is being considered for removal on Dufferin Street, from Eglinton Avenue West to Dufferin Gate Loop, including paid, overnight permit and unsigned spaces. Accessible parking space would be maintained.
  • School loading zones would be maintained for Fairbank Public School and St. Mary of the Angels School.
  • Two mid-block bus stops (Croatia Street and Eversfield Road) without nearby protected intersections are proposed to be removed to improve road safety.
  • Existing turn restrictions at key intersections are being considered to be extended, new advanced left-turn signals added and traffic signal timing updated. Cross section of the proposed design on Dufferin Street including curbside bus priority lanes

Between Eglinton Avenue West and St. Clair Avenue West, the proposed design includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction.

The proposed design considers the following changes to parking:

  • Removal of 8 Green P on-street parking spaces
  • Removal of all unsigned parking spaces

There are currently turn restrictions in place at St. Clair Avenue West. The proposed design considers the following changes to turning and intersection signals:

  • Rogers Road
    • Extend advanced left-turn signal (southbound) to 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • St. Clair Avenue West
    • Extend left-turn restrictions (northbound and southbound) to all times and add no right-turns (northbound and southbound) at all times

Between St. Clair Avenue West and Bloor Street West, the proposed design for includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction.

The proposed design considers the following changes to parking:

  • Removal of 7 Green P on-street parking spaces
  • Removal of all unsigned parking spaces

There are currently turn restrictions in place at Davenport Road, Dupont Street and Bloor Street West. The proposed design considers the following changes to turning and intersection signals:

  • Davenport Road
    • Extend left-turn restrictions to 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except on Sundays (northbound and southbound)
  • Dupont Street
    • Remove left-turn restrictions (southbound) and activate advanced left-turn signal from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except Sundays
    • Remove left-turn restrictions (northbound) and activate left-turn signal at all times
    • Add no right-turns (southbound) from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except on Sunday
  • Bloor Street West
    • At the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West, there are currently turn restrictions that do not allow left-turns onto Bloor Street West during certain times and days as well as no right-turns onto Dufferin Street during certain times and days.
    • Based on the high volumes of pedestrians and low turning vehicle counts, the proposed changes include extending restrictions to all day for both left and right-turns onto Bloor Street West.

Between Bloor Street West and Queen Street West, the proposed design for Dufferin Street includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction.

The proposed design considers the following changes to parking:

  • Removal of all unsigned parking spaces

The proposed design considers the following changes to turning and intersection signals:

  • College Street
    • Add advanced left-turn signal (southbound) and no left-turns at all times (northbound)
  • Dundas Street West
    • Add no left-turns from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., except on Sundays (southbound)

Between Dundas Street West and Queen Street West, the proposed design for Dufferin Street includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction.

The proposed design considers the following changes to parking:

  • Removal of 72 permit parking spaces in Area 2
  • Removal of 56 permit parking spaces in Area 3K
  • Removal of all unsigned parking spaces

Currently, during peak times, permit parking in Area 2 and Area 3K are at approximately 80 – 85 per cent utilization. Alternative parking is being studied for impacted permit parking holders in Areas 2 and 3K.

The proposed design considers the following changes to turning and intersection signals:

  • Queen Street West
    • Add no left or right-turns at all times

Between Queen Street West and King Street West the proposed design for Dufferin Street includes one curbside lane converted into a priority bus lane in each direction. Between Thornburn Avenue and Springhurst Avenue, the proposed design for Dufferin Street includes one centre lane converted into a priority transit lane for streetcar storage.

The proposed design considers the following changes to parking:

  • Make permanent the temporary removal of 75 Green P on-street parking spots

The proposed design considers the following changes to turning and intersection signals:

  • Liberty Street
    • Add new advanced left-turn signal (southbound)

Subject to City Council approval, installation would begin in fall 2025, ahead of FIFA World Cup 26™ in summer 2026. If approved for installation, monitoring would be undertaken pre- and post-FIFA to ensure traffic keeps moving. The City and TTC would make adjustments based on data collection and monitoring, along with public feedback.

The City of Toronto and the TTC are developing a plan that will deliver shorter travel times and more reliable bus service on Dufferin Street between Eglinton Avenue West and King Street West with the use of priority bus lanes. Dufferin Street is being prioritized due to its high ridership, long travel times, and its important role connecting Line 2 Bloor-Danforth (at Dufferin Station), the 512 St. Clair Streetcar (at Dufferin Street) and the future Line 5 Eglinton (at Fairbank Station).

In February 2024, City Council endorsed the RapidTO: Surface Transit Network Plan (2024.EX11.8). The Surface Transit Network Plan (STNP) is a comprehensive roadmap and work plan that outlines the planned investment in Toronto’s surface transit network. Following this, the City of Toronto and the TTC began a three-phase consultation process to develop and implement the plan. In Phase 1 consultation, titled Understanding Your Priorities, crowding, congestion and slow service were top concerns. In Phase 2 consultation, Identifying Top Roadways, Dufferin Street was ranked in the Top 20 roadways that would most benefit from transit priority. In Phase 3, Roadway-Specific Studies (2023 – 2032+), the City and TTC will study, design and consult with the public to deliver transit priority projects, including Dufferin Street.

In July 2024, City Council authorized staff to accelerate the review and design of transit priority projects on Dufferin Street (between Eglinton Avenue West and the Dufferin Gate Loop) and Bathurst Street (between Eglinton Avenue West and Lake Shore Boulevard West), to support reliable and convenient bus service during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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