TTC eyes new express bus routes, ‘two-tiered’ system to enhance transit service

New express bus routes, improved service enhancements and a new “two-tiered” classification system are just some of the recommendations outlined in a study being presented at the Toronto Transit Commission‘s monthly board meeting next week.

The improvements include adding new express routes on Lawrence West, Islington, Weston Road, Dufferin and Markham Road.

The TTC’s three-year Express Bus Network Study also calls for an express bus classification system which labels all-day and peak-only services.

‘It’s important to remember that 60 per cent of all people who travel on the TTC do it on the bus,” TTC Chair Josh Colle told reporters during a press conference at Lawrence West Station Thursday morning.

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Back in 2016, the TTC board approved five new express routes on Don Mills, Kipling, Finch, Victoria Park and Wilson. The study found that four of the five of are already exceeding ridership expectations.

The bus network study is recommending a 10-year strategy to enhance express service with improvements beginning this year and new routes starting in a couple of years.

Colle said phase one of the plan would include redeploying existing articulated buses on certain express routes, including all-door boarding on the Airport Rocket.

The five new routes will be rolled out in phase two, along with eight enhanced routes, and phase three would include another round of express bus service additions.

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According to the report, the net operating cost to implement the express bus network is approximately $13.1 million per year once the plan has been fully implemented and ridership fully matures.

It will cost the city an additional $34.2 million to procure 38 articulated buses to implement the plan.

The TTC currently operates express services on 24 bus routes during peak hours from Monday to Friday.

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