The TTC board is about to hold its third remote meeting of the pandemic. Items on the agenda include a plan to put bus lanes on Eglinton East, which I wrote about here: thestar.com/news/gta/2020/…
The board will also consider a report that states the TTC is facing an uphill battle to make all its subway stations accessible by 2025, despite knowing of that deadline since 2005. thestar.com/news/gta/2020/…
There's also a motion from board member Alan Heisey to look at providing free wifi on streetcars and buses. TTC has considered this before but not pursued it. ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/…
The board meeting is off and running. If you miss that feeling of crowding yourself into committee room 2 at city hall, you can follow along here:
In his regular update to the board, TTC CEO Rick Leary says as of week of July 4, ridership is back to 26 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Bus is at 40 per cent of normal, streetcar at 26 per cent, and subway at 22 per cent.
Board moves on from CEO's report with no mention of dramatic decline in streetcar reliability it details. Distance the cars went without a significant contractual failure dropped by more than half in May. Train and cab control systems and doors were the main culprits.
Deputant Tonya Richardson is now speaking to bus lane plan. She asks board to implement lanes on Jane immediately. Current plan is to put one on Eglinton East corridor this fall, Jane next year, and Steeles, Finch, and Dufferin after that.
TTC board meeting having some technical issues today. Speakers cutting in and out.
Deputant and grade 10 student William Pham also urges TTC to speed up implementation of all five bus lanes, saying they are urgently needed during pandemic. "How can my family and community feel safe when buses are packed?"
Deputant Emma Swarney says that bus lanes shouldn't be used to reduce spending on affected routes. TTC report says that because buses would operate more efficiently in dedicated lanes, agency could reduce service on Eglinton corridor by 500 hours per week.
Deputant Austin Jaffrey urges TTC to implement bus lanes on Lawrence, saying 54 route is a "COVID sardine can" and Scarborough needs better service. "If you claim to care about equity, I want to see action, and I want to see action now."
A separate report on Eglinton bus lanes is headed to the mayor's executive next week. It has a few details on the lanes' design: red pavement, signs, line markings, pavement text, diamond symbols. Physical separation "will be considered." toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2… 
I'm not tweeting every speech, but plenty of deputants have signed up to tell the TTC to move forward more quickly with bus priority lanes on busy routes. They're disappointed with plans to only go ahead with Eglinton East corridor this year.
City staff giving a presentation on bus lane plan. Here's what they could look like on Eglinton. Will be interested to see what compliance is like.
Commissioner Denzil Minnan-Wong says he has an awkward question for staff. "For COVID 19, isn’t the safest way to travel in a car?"
Transportation general manager Barbara Gray says there are lots of people in the city for whom driving is not an option, so city's approach has been to provide as many options as possible so people can choose what works for them.
Not sure if Minnan-Wong is aware of TTC's own data that shows those who have continued to ride the bus during the pandemic are workers in essential sectors and residents in poorer neighbourhoods thestar.com/news/gta/2020/…
Asked about speeding up the bus lane plans, Gray says that's difficult beause many transportation dept staff are tied up with pandemic response programs ActiveTO, CafeTO, and CurbTO. (Looks like we have a StaffShortageTO.)
Gray says it's important to note that bus lanes may seem simple to implement but it requires a lot of work to determine their impacts on the road network, local conditions, etc. "We’re moving as quickly as we can, I believe."
Well this is surprising. Gray says that the city doesn't have the ability to do much "lining" work (painting lines on the road) on its own, and instead has to hire contractors. She says that's one of the reasons Toronto can't get projects done as quickly as New York or Boston.
Cllr McKelvie moves a motion to look into having young people from neighbourhood improvement areas in Scarborough paint the Eglinton bus lanes, and asking the TTC to advocate for provincial and federal funding to speed up the bus lane plan.
Cllr Bradford moves a motion asking the TTC to target the implementation of bus lanes on Jane, Steeles, Finch, and Dufferin for 2021. All but Jane are currently slated for 2022 or later, with Eglinton going in this fall.
2022 or later for those lanes is "not good enough," Bradford says. "We need to ask more of ourselves as a commission."
Minnan-Wong says he has "some concerns with regard to the expansion of the busways...You’re significantly changing traffic patters in the suburban areas by taking out a lane." Warns congestion will get worse.
Report going to executive net week says bus lanes on Eglinton would have "minimal impact on traffic flow."
Minnan-Wong says he can't support accelerating busway plan because city should do consultation and make sure that it's not worsening traffic. "You get it right... if that takes a little bit more time, you do that."
McKelvie's motion on Scarborough youth painting bus lanes and asking for federal/provincial funding passes.
Bradford's non-binding motion asking the TTC to speed up bus lane plan also passes.
TTC board approves bus lane plan with a request to speed it up but without significant changes. Still has to go to executive committee and then council.
