Bus lanes cut Spadina transit travel times, data shows

Travel times for transit riders were cut almost in half during peak hours after the city added dedicated bus lanes to Spadina Avenue to speed up traffic that had dramatically worsened when its streetcar corridor was closed for repairs.

- MAHDIS HABIBINIA

According to TTC data, the median travel time for southbound commuters had decreased by 12 minutes, while the slowest ride at the busiest times of day between Dundas Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard dropped from about 56 minutes to between 16 and 19 minutes.

The improved commuting times were presented at a news conference Thursday by Mayor Olivia Chow, accompanied by TTC chair Coun. Jamaal Myers and Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik that highlighted some of the measures the city has taken to ease Toronto's congestion, which is among the worst in the world.

According to Josh Colle, the TTC's chief strategy and customer officer, congestion has cost the transit agency alone $30 million a year for the past two years.