Thank you to everyone for your continued support in protecting the Bathurst Street communities while advocating for balanced transit solutions.

An important update on the RapidTO: Bathurst Street project; Following significant community feedback, the City of Toronto has paused the plan to implement dedicated transit lanes on Bathurst Street north of Bloor Street and instead, South of Bloor Street has approved the implementation of streetcar-only priority lanes to Lake Shore Boulevard West (except between Nassau Street and Dundas Street West due to Toronto Western Hospital construction).

These lanes, part of the RapidTO initiative, are expected to improve streetcar travel times by approximately 13% (3 minutes) and will be started in October 2025 and completed by April 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup. This involves removing 277 parking spaces and introducing no-stopping zones.
 
We view this as a partial victory, as the pause north of Bloor reflects the City’s responsiveness to community concerns about economic and accessibility impacts. However, we remain vigilant about ensuring any future plans prioritize both transit efficiency and the needs of residents, businesses, and vulnerable groups. We also support exploring alternatives like timed HOV lanes or enhanced service on parallel corridors, as suggested in our petition. 

We continue to urge the City of Toronto to conduct a comprehensive impact assessment before revisiting plans north of Bloor and engage in inclusive consultations with businesses, residents, and accessibility advocates while developing solutions that enhance transit without sacrificing community infrastructure.

Your voices have made a difference, and we encourage you to stay engaged. Please share this update, continue to provide feedback to the City, and join us in advocating for a balanced approach towards decisions that affect our city.

Keep up with us here on Social Media