Commuters are voting with their feet in Toronto as ridership surges on the King Street streetcar after changes that restricted cars along the route.
Oliver Moore reports: "Ridership on the King streetcar has surged 25 per cent during the busiest times of the day in the wake of efforts to speed up transit on the key downtown roadway, according to the Toronto Transit Commission."
Now the TTC is faced with the challenges of success, such as demand that exceeds capacity. The TTC has a plan to redeploy some rolling stock from nearby routes to increase capacity. Another challenge might be harder to resolve: local business owners convinced the priority on transit has had a negative impact on their bottom line. "Many of them are expected to meet Friday with Toronto Mayor John Tory to argue for rolling back some of the transit changes," according to Moore.
For more background on the King Street streetcar, see previous coverage by Planetizen correspondent Katharine Jose. Planetizen also covered the revamped King Street earlier in the planning phase.
FULL STORY: Toronto's King streetcar sees ‘spectacular’ rise in ridership
King Street Transit Priority Project Now Permanent in Toronto
Transit has priority over cars on King Street in Toronto between Bathurst and Jarvis streets, now and in perpetuity.
Who's Still Riding Transit During the Pandemic? Evidence From Toronto
Transit routes used by workers in Toronto heading to industrial jobs have still been crowded with riders during the coronavirus pandemic.
Transit Ridership Dropping Due to Coronavirus; Long-Term Funding Consequences Feared
The effects of a global pandemic on American shores are beginning to emerge for public transit systems. The consequences of a drop in transit ridership could extend beyond the end of the pandemic.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research