Latest TTC explainer preps the city for King Street Transit Pilot

The King Street Transit Pilot begins on Sun., Nov. 12. The year-long reconfiguration of the central portion of King (Bathurst to Jarvis) aims to improve the speed and reliability of the 504 King and 514 Cherry streetcar services.

The pilot is the most elaborate effort to date to better serve the more than 65,000 daily riders who rely on the King thoroughfare. Most notably, vehicular traffic will be forced to turn right at each block and left turns will be banned at signalized intersections. Streetcar stops have been moved to the far side of intersections and into the curb lane, protected by a physical barrier at both ends of the stop. And on-street parking will be removed during the pilot.

Exceptions include TTC and City of Toronto emergency and maintenance vehicles, and taxis between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Local traffic will still be able to access King for passenger pick up and drop off, deliveries and loading.

CEO Andy Byford and Corporate Communications Executive Director Brad Ross guide viewers along King in the latest explainer video on the TTC’s YouTube channel – King Street Transit Pilot. The video report is also available TTC-TV.

“The 504 is the busiest streetcar route and the busiest surface route on the TTC. It’s hopelessly caught up in traffic despite our best efforts,” Byford says. “The status quo isn’t working. It’s a growing city; a busy route; we have got to do something about it.”

The 504 King route carries more than 65,000 customers on the average business day versus about 20,000 vehicles that travel across King Street. For complete details about the King Street Transit Pilot, please visit www.toronto.ca/kingstreetpilot.

UPDATE: Watch the TTC time lapse video posted on Nov. 15 on the Official TTC YouTube Channel: Preparing for the King Street Pilot.