It wasn’t on the agenda at London city council, but rapid transit still found its way into the discussion.
Councillors approved a motion from Coun. Stephen Turner to come forward with additional information before next month’s public participation meeting.
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The motion asked staff to look into allowing bus rapid transit (BRT) to run in mixed traffic along part of King Street, to identify ways to access affected businesses along transit routes during construction and to consider a temporary community improvement plan.
Turner also wants staff to examine the possibility of providing financial assistance to businesses along Richmond Row that may be impacted by construction.
The motion was approved by council.
The routes haven’t been finalized, but staff initially proposed converting a section of King Street outside Budweiser Gardens into a single lane of eastbound traffic, with two lanes for BRT.
Some business owners and residents are concerned with a reduction in parking and loading zones, as well as vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
READ MORE: London Downtown Business Association commits to surveying members on rapid transit
City officials say putting a rapid transit route on King Street addressed a problem discovered earlier this year: that Dundas Street in the core and in Old East Village may be too narrow for a single dedicated transit lane, without sacrificing curbside parking.
Having rapid transit buses run in mixed traffic along part of King would essentially eliminate dedicated bus lanes for part of the route.
One of the other routes initially proposed by staff that has attracted criticism is the Richmond Street BRT-exclusive tunnel. Business owners along the route are worried about the impact of prolonged construction.
Council has since asked staff to come up with alternate routes.
READ MORE: London city council green lights recommendation into alternate BRT routes
The next public participation meeting on rapid transit will be held Wednesday, May 3 at Budweiser Gardens. Staff are expected to come back to council with the alternate routes May 15.
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