Item - 2024.NY15.28

North York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council designate the northerly westbound lane on Steeles Avenue East between Highway 404 Southbound On-Ramp and a point 30.5 metres east of Townsend Road as a reserved lane for public transit vehicles and bicycles at all times.

2. City Council amend the existing northerly westbound lane designation on Steeles Avenue East between Don Mills Road and Townsend Road as a reserved lane for public transit vehicles and taxicabs, at all times to be in effect as a reserved lane for public transit vehicles and bicycles, at all times.

3. City Council amend the existing northerly westbound lane designation at Don Mills Road and Steeles Avenue East between Don Mills Road and a point 30.5 metres east, for westbound right turns only at all times, buses excepted to be in effect at all times, buses and bicycles excepted.

4. City Council amend the northerly westbound lane designation on Steeles Avenue East between Townsend Road and a point 72 metres east, for westbound right turns only at all times, buses excepted to be in effect at all times, buses and bicycles excepted.

5. City Council amend the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the north side of Steeles Avenue East between Yonge Street and Victoria Park Avenue to be in effect from Yonge Street and a point 30.5 metres east of Don Mills Road.

6. City Council prohibit parking at all times on the north side of Steeles Avenue East between Highway 404 Southbound On-Ramp and Victoria Park Avenue.

7. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on the north side of Steeles Avenue East between the Highway 404 Southbound On-Ramp and a point 30.5 metres east of Don Mills Road.

As TTC operates bus service on Steeles Avenue East, City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services is requesting approval, on behalf of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), to alter Steeles Avenue East (northerly westbound lane) from the Highway 404 southbound on-ramp to the east side of Don Mills Road. This is proposed in order to extend the existing reserved bus lane west of Townsend Road an additional 295 metres and would create a continuous queue jump lane of 500 metres.

This queue-jump lane would allow TTC buses to improve service reliability and travel times on Steeles Avenue East by bypassing general traffic in the area. This will benefit approximately 240 daily bus-trips and improve the journey times for approximately 24,000 daily customers. This proposal is supported by the City and TTC’s established criteria for queue-jump lane warrants.

This queue-jump lane can be accommodated within the existing Steeles Avenue East right-of-way by a minor widening of the roadway by up to 2.5 metres, adjusting the centre median width, and extending existing turn lanes. As per the City standard, the queue jump lane would be identified by a red paint application. Red paint would also be applied to the existing bus lane on Steeles Avenue East, west of Townsend Road to Don Mills Road.

These modifications would not result in the loss of any travel lanes for general traffic. All current lanes would remain, including existing dedicated left-turn lanes. This queue-jump lane would also serve to extend the current westbound lane for right-turning vehicles at Townsend Road.

Note that the designs for the queue jump lane are currently under review by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO). The current designs reflect MTO's first set of comments and the final design of the queue jump lane are being coordinated with MTO. Subject to Council's approval of the recommendations of this report, the proposed changes would only be implemented upon approval from the MTO.