Toronto city council approved priority transit lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin streets to ease traffic congestion before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The RapidTO initiative aims to enhance transit in the city. Council voted 18 to 5 for lanes on Bathurst from Front Street to Bloor Street W. and 20 to 3 for Dufferin from King Street W. to Bloor Street W. Bathurst will feature a streetcar-only lane, while Dufferin will have a bus-only lane. Work will commence this fall, with a review planned after the World Cup.
Mayor Olivia Chow addressed the controversial issue before the vote, saying there were "legitimate concerns" expressed at council's recent executive committee meeting, where about 90 people argued for and against the lanes.
Chow said the lanes are needed to keep people moving on Bathurst and Dufferin, and according to the TTC, the lanes will lead to thousands more people taking the TTC.
"Change is always hard, but once it's put in, people love those dedicated streetcar lanes," Chow told reporters at city hall.
Originally, the priority transit lanes on both roads were supposed to stretch to Eglinton Avenue W. but opposition from local resident associations and business owners, worried about the prospect of losing curbside parking, prompted staff to revise the plan.
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