FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Groups urge TTC to speed up bus lanes, fix crowding during COVID
July 13th 2020 (Toronto, ON) -- Concerned community members and community and grassroots groups will address the TTC Board on July 14th to urge additional bus service and the acceleration of more bus-only lanes. Advocates say the TTC's plan to install one bus lane in 2020 falls short of a June proposal to fast-track six bus lanes by September 2020 on Jane, Dufferin, Finch East, Lawrence East, Eglinton East, and Steeles West.
"The Jane bus has been overcrowded throughout the pandemic and needs better service now", said Butterfly GoPaul of Jane Finch Action Against Poverty. “Neighbourhoods along Jane Street are hot zones for COVID-19 and our essential and precarious workers need to be protected.”
"Prioritizing bus-only lanes along Eglinton East is a great first step, but Scarborough can't wait years for better service on other crowded routes," said Scarborough Civic Action Network coordinator Anna Kim.
The TTC will vote on a report that recommends implementing bus lanes on Eglinton East in Fall 2020 and implementing lanes on Jane Street in June 2021. Other bus lane corridors would not be implemented until 2022 or later. But advocates say better service and bus lanes must be implemented as soon as possible to reduce crowding as more people return to work and school. On June 17th 2020, the TTC Board voted to study a bolder plan that would fast-track bus-only lanes on six corridors by September 2020.
"More frequent bus service is needed to reduce crowding, not less," said TTCriders spokesperson Ketheesakumaran Navaratnam. "Premier Ford and Prime Minister Trudeau must also provide emergency transit funding to increase service now."
The report going to the TTC Board recommends reducing the number of buses along bus lanes, because prioritized buses will be able to travel more quickly and provide the same service level with fewer buses. But advocates say that reducing bus frequency defeats the purpose of prioritizing transit.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Butterfly GoPaul, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, [email protected]
Shelagh Pizey-Allen, TTCriders, [email protected]
Anna Kim, Scarborough Civic Action Network, [email protected]
Link to July 14th TTC report: Bus Lanes Implementation Plan
http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/July_14/Reports/5_Bus_Lane_Implementation_Plan.pdf
Link to June 17th TTC report: Fast-Tracking Bus Lanes on 5 Critical Suburban Corridors
http://ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Commission_reports_and_information/Commission_meetings/2020/June_17/Reports/12_Notice_of_Motion_Fast_Tracking_Bus_Priority_Transit_Lanes.pdf
List of proposed bus-only corridors:
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Eglinton Ave East/Kingston Rd /Morningside Ave: Kennedy Station to UTSC (Priority A: Fall 2020)
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Jane Street: Bloor Street to Steeles Avenue (Priority B: 2021)
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Dufferin Street: Dufferin Gate to Wilson Avenue (Priority C: 2022 and beyond)
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Steeles Ave West: Yonge St to Pioneer Village Station (Priority C: 2022 and beyond)
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Finch Avenue East: from Yonge Street to McCowan Road (Priority C: 2022 and beyond)
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Lawrence Avenue East: from Victoria Park to Rouge Hill (Priority C: 2022 and beyond)