Item - 2022.TE31.68

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that: 

1. City Council amend the existing northbound left-turn prohibition in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West to be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) vehicles excepted.

2. City Council amend the existing eastbound right-turn prohibition in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except Sunday at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street to be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except Sunday, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) vehicles excepted.

3. City Council amend the existing westbound right-turn prohibition in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except Sunday at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street to be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, except Sunday, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) vehicles excepted.

The installation of cycling tracks on Bloor Street West along with various other streets were approved by City Council, May 28, 2020 (CC21.20).  

As part of the cycle track installation, eastbound and westbound right turn restrictions between the hours of 7:00am to 6:00pm were enacted at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.  

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) was consulted by staff from the Cycling & Pedestrian Projects unit prior to enacting the turn prohibitions. However, recent service changes to the 402 Parkdale community bus route in conjunction with the pre-existing prohibitions has had a negative impact on service reliability.

The TTC has since advised Transportation Services that the northbound left and eastbound right turns at Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street is utilized by the 402 Parkdale community bus, which operates 8 trips per day, week days only, between 9:30am to 6:00pm on an approximately one-hour headway. 

For this reason, the TTC has requested an exemption from the existing northbound left turn prohibition at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street. This prohibition has been in place for several years to prevent turning motorists from impeding through traffic in the shared lane. 

Given the infrequency of turns (approximately two) made by the 402 Parkdale bus at Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street in addition to operational concerns, I am recommending that the TTC be exempted from the turn prohibitions at the subject location, which in turn will create a more efficient and reliable transit system. Transportation Services has no objections to the proposed changes.