Streetcars are officially king on King St. W., and their reign could expand to other streets.City council voted 22-3 Tuesday to make permanent the King St. pilot project, giving streetcars priority over other vehicles between Bathurst and Jarvis Sts.After resounding success that saw, for a relatively modest investment, weekday rush-hour streetcar boardings skyrocket from 72,000 to 84,000, and overall people movement into downtown increase while vehicle traffic decreased, city staff are looking at other routes.Barbara Gray, transportation general manager, said staff are not necessarily looking at restricting vehicles on the other transit routes, noting traffic signal improvement and relocated stops has helped make the King pilot a model that has other cities around the world looking to emulate it.“When we start to look at ... environmental goals and climate-change goals, getting people onto transit, walking and biking is a critical need and goal of the city and projects like King St. help to get us there,” Gray told council.“We are looking at moving people out of cars and onto public transit.”The city installed the pilot in November 2017 at a projected cost at the time of $1.5 million split between the city and the federal government. It restricts car movements on the 2.6-kilometre stretch of King by compelling drivers to turn right at most major intersections.The project wasn’t a hit with everyone. Some King St. merchants said the pilot project hurt their businesses and even forced some to close. City staff acknowledged tracking growth in customer spending slowed to 1.7 per cent during the project, from 2.5 per cent the year before.Mike Williams, in charge of economic development, said his department will continue working with businesses to boost foot traffic in the corridor and their receipts. Now that the pilot is permanent, city staff plan street improvements including elevated patios and comfortable seating in freed-up space.Cou ...
|
