Public Works Committee considering removing scramble crossing at Bay and Bloor

WATCH: A staff report finds the scramble crossing at Bay and Bloor streets only provide a small benefit to pedestrians but puts a largely negative impact on motorists. Mark Carcasole reports.

Since 2010, the scramble crossing at Bay and Bloor Streets has allowed pedestrians to cross the major intersection diagonally, making the trek a bit quicker.

But it may soon become a thing of the past due to what city staff identify as negative ripple effects.

A staff report to be presented to the Public Works Committee next Monday finds the scramble provides “modest positive benefits for pedestrians while negative impacts to vehicular traffic have been significant.”

Specifically, the report states that the delay for vehicles at the intersection has tripled in the evening rush hour since the scramble was implemented; increasing emissions and fuel consumption.

City staff also report that sideswipe collisions have doubled and rear-end crashes are up by 50 per cent, which the report claims is “likely due to increased driver frustration.”

“The motorists are way too impatient,” said Winston Anderson, having just finished crossing from the Northwest corner to the Southeast.

“Nobody stops for a yellow light anymore and most of them, they’re actually in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red.”

The staff report also shows that the crossing doesn’t serve as high a volume of pedestrians through the day as the other two scrambles in Toronto at Yonge and Bloor, and Yonge and Dundas Streets.

That reasoning doesn’t quite jive with some pedestrians.

“I think they should encourage pedestrians to walk around as much as possible,” said Rochelle Kosar.

“And there are more corners that I think they should have this at.”

A little earlier Monday, Ryan Pike walked through the intersection. He also regularly drives through the area, so he says he sees both sides of the coin.

“Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. It can slow things down I guess.”

The local City Councillor for the area, Kristyn Wong-Tam wasn’t available for comment Monday but has told reporters that she’s not opposed to the idea. She says she hasn’t heard any concerns from residents or business groups in the area, and that she would consider bringing the scramble back in a few years once there’s more density in the area.