Feeling frustrated with slow commutes on the Finch West LRT? You're not alone! Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is taking action to speed things up, aiming for a much faster ride by early next year. But how exactly will she do it? And what about the long-delayed Eglinton Crosstown? Let's dive in.
Mayor Chow announced she'll be presenting a motion to the city council next week. The goal? To give the Finch West LRT stronger transit signal priority. This means the trains will get the green light ahead of turning cars, a crucial change to improve travel times. She acknowledges the complaints about the current slow speeds on Line 6 and is optimistic that the service will be noticeably faster by January or February if the motion passes.
During its opening week, the Finch West LRT faced criticism for its sluggish pace, delays, and operational hiccups. Mayor Chow herself experienced the slow travel times firsthand. She's aiming to fix the issue and is pushing for these changes to be implemented as soon as possible.
"When the train gets to a traffic signal, they should have priority," she stated, highlighting the current system's inefficiency. "There's no reason" for trains carrying dozens of passengers to be delayed by a few turning cars. The plan involves collaboration between Metrolinx and the TTC, with adjustments to traffic signals and bylaws to prioritize train movement.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Eglinton Crosstown LRT, a project that has been under construction since 2011 and was originally slated to open in 2020, is still not ready. Despite the completion of the final Revenue Service Demonstration (RSD) earlier this month, which revealed the LRT is running over 20 minutes slower than expected, the mayor emphasizes safety as the top priority.
Chow referenced the issues faced by Ottawa's Confederation Line, which experienced power outages, operational problems, and derailments after its rushed launch in 2019. She stresses the importance of ensuring the Crosstown is "foolproof" before opening to the public. The mayor is actively monitoring the situation and promises an update soon.
What do you think? Are signal priorities the right move to speed up the Finch West LRT? Do you agree with the mayor's cautious approach to the Eglinton Crosstown, or do you feel the delays are excessive? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
