Toronto’s SmartTrack started as an ambitious transit plan under Mayor John Tory in 2014, but over the years, it has changed dramatically. Was SmartTrack a success or a failure?

From dedicated tracks to just 3 GO stations, costs have gone up to almost $1.7 billion. 🚆

In this video, we break down:

• How SmartTrack started and its early promises

• The major cost changes and station removals over time

• Why the plan shifted to focus on GO Transit integration

• The latest updates and whether SmartTrack is still worth it

Sources

On Spadina Avenue, the City of Toronto has recently installed a quick-build bus lane southbound between Richmond Street W. and Lake Shore Boulevard W. 

According to the City, travel times tripled since replacement buses started due to the ongoing upgrade of the streetcar right-of-way. This bus lane was created for just $240,000, with most of that cost being lost parking revenue of approx. $162,300.88 (pre-HST) and an implementation cost of approx. $78,586 (pre-HST). It goes to show that when the City puts its mind to it, we can move more people on transit in record time (for Toronto standards).

• In 2023, around 35,000 people used the 510 Spadina streetcar per weekday, making it the second busiest streetcar route behind King.

• This lane is set to remain in place until January 2025 to prevent replacement buses from getting stuck in traffic. With traffic agents stationed at key intersections like Front St., Fort York, Lakeshore/Gardiner, and Queens Quay, they keep the flow of traffic moving.

• The acceleration on RapidTO corridors like Jane and Dufferin needs to be emphasized due to the upcoming 2026 games and further congestion due to construction, and we must act quickly like we did on Spadina.

Source:

https://secure.toronto.ca/council/age...

https://cdn.ttc.ca/-/media/Project/TT...

Speaker:

Jonathan Lee

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