Should exclusive bus lane make way for car traffic?
Route to York University had priority on the road until subway extension came
Progress has overtaken express buses that until recently zipped passengers from the Sheppard West TTC station to the halls of higher learning.
But progress has yet to catch up on the bus route. Regular traffic still can’t use the curb lane on northbound Allen Rd. and Dufferin St., even though the express bus service ended when the subway extension into York Region opened in December.
Until the new subway, the TTC’s 196 York University Rocket bus was important enough that it was granted its own lane from Sheppard Ave. to north of Finch Ave., forcing all other traffic into the other two lanes.
The express bus service is now a thing of the past, but signs and road markings for an exclusive bus lane are still in place, which has some drivers wondering why they haven’t been taken down and the lane reopened to all traffic.
George Chajes sent us a note saying traffic going north on Allen Rd. and then onto Dufferin St. can be bumper-to-bumper during the afternoon rush, and is made worse by the lane restriction.
“The city has not removed ‘buses only’ lane signs from Dufferin St, be- tween Sheppard and Finch (Aves.),” Chajes said.
“The ‘buses only’ lane adds to the already over-congested traffic on Dufferin (St.) and they should have been returned, for all vehicles to use, immediately with the opening of the subway.”
We went there and found that the curb lane north of Sheppard Ave. W. is indeed marked with a lot of signs and diamonds on the road that no doubt persuade most drivers that they can’t use it. Status: We asked Allen Pinkerton, who’s in charges of traffic signs and markings, if he could remove the bus signs and diamonds. Not so fast, Pinkerton said, noting that he has not received direction from city council. He sent us to Dan Clement, an acting manager of traffic operations, who told us that the transportation services committee asked for a staff report, which will include a recommendation. Among the issues to be considered are two bus routes that still use Allen Rd. and Dufferin St. — TTC route 105 Dufferin north and York Region Transit route 105, he said. So even if it seems to drivers that they should be able to use the northbound curb lane, it is by no means a done deal. Stay tuned. What’s broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. Send an email to jlakey@thestar.ca. Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.