The City of Toronto continues to work closely with Metrolinx, contractors and the TTC to ensure that the needs and safety of people travelling downtown are a priority, particularly around the Queen Street diversion from Bay Street to Yonge Street and Yonge Street to Victoria Street, which took effect on Monday, May 1.
Traffic management measures are being used to assist diverted public transit vehicles, ensuring minimal delays and consistent reliability for TTC customers, the city said in a news release. The TTC’s 501 Queen streetcar service has been diverted and bus service has been increased in the area.
The Queen Street diversion will accelerate Metrolinx’s safe construction of an Ontario Line connection to TTC Line 1 and provide consistency for all road users instead of varying, partial closures.
As part of the city’s work to balance critical construction with the needs of people and businesses using Toronto’s roads, staff are actively assessing all construction permit applications and related traffic management plans to minimize the overall disruption, the city said. This includes reducing non-essential construction and rescheduling lane closures for mobile crane hoists on all arterial roads.
City traffic agents are being deployed to key intersections during the morning and afternoon peak traffic periods to manage the movement of all road users, reduce delays and improve safety. Traffic agents are placed where they are needed most, based on evolving traffic demands, but can often be found working at the following intersections:
• Lower Jarvis Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East
• York Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West
• Bremner Boulevard and York Street
• University Avenue/York Street and Front Street
• Bay Street and Front Street West
• Bay Street and Queen Street West
• University Avenue and Queen Street West
• Bay Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West
Paid duty officers are also helping to regulate and direct traffic at the following intersections:
• Yonge Street and Queen Street West
• Victoria Street and Queen Street East
• Bond Street and Queen Street East
• Bay Street and Richmond Street West
Traffic signal timings have been modified between Parliament Street and Bathurst Street to allow for the efficient flow of east and westbound traffic on Dundas Street, Queen Street, Richmond Street, Adelaide Street, King Street and Wellington Street.
The city said it is also taking several measures to improve traffic flow around major venues in Toronto as events resume with increased frequency in the coming months. City staff are working closely with Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), Rogers and other partners on the establishment of event traffic management zones that comprise major venue blocks such as the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, the CN Tower and Exhibition Place.
All of these traffic management strategies are supported by the City’s MoveTO Congestion Management Action Plan, which is managing congestion and building a more resilient, modern and safe transportation system.
The city encourages anyone who is travelling downtown or to a destination near Queen Station to plan their travel in advance, allow for extra time, consider taking public transit or other travel methods such as walking or cycling and be sure to follow signage around the work zone to keep everyone safe.
Information about the TTC service change is available on the TTC’s website.