How the King Street pilot project will affect Torontonians
The King Street pilot project has officially kicked off and will be facing its first week of operations this week. The project is aimed at improving the King Street streetcar, which upwards of 65,000 people use every weekday.
No matter how you travel along King Street, you will see some changes on your morning commute. Here is how the project will affect pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and streetcar riders alike.
Pedestrians and cyclists
The main thing that pedestrians need to be wary of, are the new ‘right-turn’ signals that have been implemented along King Street. Plans for better sidewalks for pedestrians are also in the works. As for cyclists, while no new bike lanes are part of the project, painted ‘bike boxes’ will be situated at the Peter and Simcoe intersection on King to better connect the lanes running north and south.
Motorists
From the project’s changes, motorists face the biggest learning curve. The most prevalent impact on motorists will be the fact that they can no longer drive straight across King Street. Additional restrictions include:
- Motorists have to turn right or left when heading east at Bathurst, or west at Jarvis.
- Left turns will no longer be permitted within the pilot zones.
- In order to get onto King Street motorists will have to turn right, and then turn right once again a block later to get off.
The changes will also impact taxi and Uber drivers. As part of the design plan, there will be designated cab spots, and between the hours of 10pm to 5am cab drivers are exempt from the no-through traffic rule. Uber drivers will need to follow the rules of the road followed by all other regular motorists, giving taxis a leg up over their main competition.
Streetcar riders
And last but not least, the streetcar. The new project was created to help relieve congestion for the upwards of 65,000 Torontonians who use the streetcar during their weekday commutes.
"You can be sitting in traffic for almost an hour," said Coun. Mike Layton, whose ward includes thousands of Liberty Village residents who rely on the route. "We have to do something about that."
To help accomplish this, the streetcar has been given top priority on King Street. The only change that those who utilize the streetcar will experience is where they get on and off the streetcar. Stops have been move to the far side of an intersection, leading you to a protected waiting area.