[DSCToronto]

This is in WT Board Book for April 2025 meeting:

"Waterfront East LRT

The Waterfront East LRT (WELRT) is a planned light rail transit line extending from Union Station to Villiers Island, via Cherry Street and Commissioners Street; along with an extension of the existing 504A King Street streetcar from the current Distillery Loop to Ookwemin Minising. This project will provide improved transit options to the Central Waterfront, Lower Yonge, East Bayfront, Quayside, Keating Precinct, Lower Don Lands, and the Port Lands communities and is an integral part of the future development of new communities on Ookwemin Minising and the eastern waterfront.

When fully built, the Waterfront East LRT is proposed to extend over 3.8 kms, and is forecasted to provide over 50,000 daily trips, supporting an estimated 100,000 residents in the Eastern Waterfront.
Waterfront Toronto, in partnership with the City and the TTC, is advancing the design to 60% for two segments, comprising all above-ground components of the line. The detailed design is expected to be complete in 2025, and draft designs of the Yonge Slip and Queens Quay extension early works are currently being finalized. Waterfront Toronto also continues to advance approvals for the Waterfront East LRT. The Minister’s review period for the Transit and Rail Project Assessment Process has closed, and the Statement of Completion has been finalized and submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks to formally complete the process.

Staff are also looking at phased solutions for advancing transit in the eastern waterfront prior to the full implementation of the WERLT in order to provide the required increased service in the area. Conversations continue as part of as part of broader federal, provincial, and city discussions in an effort to secure the necessary funding.

As an immediate step, the TTC and City of Toronto are advancing plans for a priority bus lane in the existing Queens Quay right of way in advance of the WELRT project. The interim priority bus lanes are intended to provide immediate improvements to approximately 4,000 daily customers prior to the implementation of WELRT.

The priority bus lanes will improve travel times and reliability for transit customers on the following street segments:
 Southbound Parliament Street from Lake Shore Boulevard to Small Street;
 Westbound Queens Quay East from Small Street to Bay Street;
 Eastbound Queens Quay East from Lower Jarvis Street to Bonnycastle Street; and
 Eastbound Front Street West 50 metres east of Bay Street to Yonge Street.

These dedicated lanes along portions of the street would be added without reducing space for vehicular traffic, and installation is targeted for Spring 2025."

Yes, TRANSIT FIRST is clearly still everyone's top priority!!!

 

[evandyk]

You know it's TRANSIT FIRST when they will only put in priority bus lanes to the extent that it doesn't reduce road space for cars.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

You know it's TRANSIT FIRST when they will only put in priority bus lanes to the extent that it doesn't reduce road space for cars.

I must admire the temerity of calling it "Transit First" when EBF is slowly reaching full build-out.

AoD

 

[Jeff Morgan]

First signs of bus lanes.

 

[DSCToronto]

First signs of bus lanes.

View attachment 655043

Yes, they had noted on street where the new lines were to go last weekend. Problem is that they 'forgot' to deal with Lower Jarvis between QQE and Lake Shore East - they ought to have stopped all parking/stopping on east side as it blocks a lane and delays the 75 bus.

 

[GameOnBrad]

First signs of bus lanes.

View attachment 655043

I was wondering what that "red lane" was for when I walk past it last week. I saw a Porsche driving along it and wondered if I was missing something. Then, my playful mind kicked in and I thought "Maybe it's a rich people advance lane".

 

[DSCToronto]

Steve Munro has published a review of the recent WT DRP meeting on the QQE LRT - as usual the WT documents about this meeting are not posted on the WT website as they cannot (will not) put things up that are not AODA compliant. SEE https://stevemunro.ca/2025/06/06/waterfront-east-design-update/

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Steve Munro has published a review of the recent WT DRP meeting on the QQE LRT - as usual the WT documents about this meeting are not posted on the WT website as they cannot (will not) put things up that are not AODA compliant. SEE https://stevemunro.ca/2025/06/06/waterfront-east-design-update/

That's a rather convenient excuse at this point.

AoD

 

[DSCToronto]

That's a rather convenient excuse at this point.

AoD

Yes, I strongly doubt that the purpose of AODA (laudable as it is) was to REDUCE information sharing on the basis that if EVERONE cannot read something, then NOBODY should be able to (at least not without asking for it.)

 

[reinventingthewheel]

I like the new hybridized option for green track that buses can drive on, never seen this before.

 

[Amare]

That's a rather convenient excuse at this point.

AoD

The funny thing is, organizations were supposed to be compliant long ago. I remember working on a project years ago with a company where I was responsible for outlining steps that needed to be taken to make websites and other web based information compliant with the AODA. This was 10 years ago.

The fact that Waterfront Toronto didnt even prepare for this, and still isnt complying is baffling. What's even more baffling is that they havent been penalized in any way for it.

Not shocking since there basically hasnt been any penalties for government organizations who haven't complied with the AODA.

 

[evandyk]

The problem is that you can stay compliant by just not posting something online. AODA requires you to meet accessibility standards if you post it. But it doesn't obligate you to post anything. So yes, by design, AODA creates the environment where if everyone cannot read something, nobody can read it. WT would be in violation of AODA if it posts this stuff (accepting their statement that it doesn't meet accessibiltiy standards) but it is just fine as long as it remains meeting materials that aren't posted on their publicly accessible website.

 

[GameOnBrad]

Yes, I strongly doubt that the purpose of AODA (laudable as it is) was to REDUCE information sharing on the basis that if EVERONE cannot read something, then NOBODY should be able to (at least not without asking for it.)

I'm signed up for City of Toronto job posting information (basically, city jobs) and they always stress this is every post. Meanwhile, I'm like, if I get an interview for a job at the CoT, "How long of a list of accessibility issues do they want me to point out about the City of Toronto website alone?" hehehe

 

[GameOnBrad]

I like the new hybridized option for green track that buses can drive on, never seen this before.

This popped into my head last week as I keep seeing buses parked on the street car tracks on Cherry Street, right beside the YMCA. It made me think "How will this work with green tracks? The weight and wheels on the buses alone will destroy the ground."

 

[drum118]

Wake me up when the LRT starts running on QQE

New bus priority lane introduced on Queens Quay East

June 10, 2025

Commuters along Queens Quay E. are now benefiting from a dedicated bus priority lane between Bay and Lower Sherbourne streets. This lane is projected to improve travel times by up to five minutes and improve service reliability for commuters in the area.

“The new dedicated bus lane along Queens Quay will significantly improve the public transit experience for commuters,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “As our city continues to grow, the TTC needs to offer frequent, reliable, and affordable public transit. We are getting Toronto moving by helping transit users get to their destination faster.”

“During consultations for this bus lane, we learnt that over 70 per cent of commuters in the Queens Quay area were choosing to walk to the subway rather than take the bus. Most respondents expect the new lane will improve travel times and their overall commutes,” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “This new priority lane will increase reliability and overall provide a more efficient service for commuters.”

“We know that most people in this area prefer to use public transit to get around. Introducing these bus lanes is the first step in providing a better transit experience for commuters,” said TTC Interim CEO Greg Percy. “We will continue to monitor usage along this corridor, and adjust service as needed.”

The 65 Parliament, 75 Sherbourne, 114 Queens Quay East and the seasonal 202 Cherry Beach are the routes that will use the new priority bus lane. In May, the TTC adjusted the 114 Queens Quay East service to have buses operate more frequently in most periods. The 202 Cherry Beach will accommodate increased travel demand to Cherry Beach, Ookwemin Minising, the Waterfront, and event venues in the Port Lands during summer months.

In December, the City Council directed the TTC to implement priority bus lanes on Queens Quay. The population of the East Bayfront neighbourhood has grown by 200 per cent from 2016 to 2021, creating a strong demand for better transit for those who live and work in the area.

As part of the project, the TTC will also be improving customer experience at Union Station by improving the designated Union Station bus stop on Front Street West.

For more information on the bus priority lane, visit https://www.ttc.ca/queensquaybuslane.