Pilot project working

Halfway through the year-long King St. pilot project it appears to be a success, by any measure.

The $1.5-million venture, which gives streetcars priority over cars on the busiest transit surface route in North America, almost immediately saw ridership increase and transit times decrease — with minimal negative effects overall on car traffic.

Still, the project has yet to get buy-in from some local business owners, who argue, contrary to statistics compiled by the city, that sales are declining because patrons cannot park right outside their restaurants and stores.

As tough as it may be to adapt to change, they should get used to it. The bottom line is the project is a success for the more than 80,000 people cramming onto King cars each day, a figure that is only going to grow as the city does.

Further, prioritizing transit over the car isn’t necessarily a bad thing for business. Indeed, some of the city’s most successful restaurateurs and entrepreneurs have long been located on routes with no street parking, while some of the busiest business districts in the world are completely car-free.

Nor is the city ignoring business concerns. It’s just the opposite. The city has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on creative initiatives to drive business and new customers to King St.

It has subsidized parking at nearby city parking spots to offset ones that were lost on King. It has installed parklets, planters and public art to make the street more pedestrianfriendly. And it has subsidized promotions like the recent “Food is King” that saw a sales increase of $426,000 over a two-week period for area businesses.

No one, least of all the city, is downplaying the challenge change poses for businesses. But transit is Toronto’s future and that must be the priority over a few parking spots.

In a big city, public transit must take priority over cars