GO Transit can now take the better way.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, the transit body’s commuter buses are able to bypass slow traffic on the Don Valley Parkway by travelling in the shoulder lanes in both directions between York Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue, in the neighbourhood of Parkwoods-Donalda.
“Our initial studies show that we can save about ten minutes of travel time on a bus trip by using this DVP bus bypass lane during the rush hour,” explained Robin Alam, a GO spokesperson. “This all helps make GO a more attractive trip for commuters and helps take more people out of their cars and into public transit.”
When traffic slows to under 60 km/h, the buses can use the lanes though they can’t travel more than 20 km/h over the speed of regular traffic.
GO says the initiative, approved by city council in June, will help improve travel times for its buses coming from the north and east of the GTA, including Scarborough.
“We estimate that approximately 212 GO buses are able to use this DVP bus bypass lane each weekday, travelling both north and south,” stated Alam.
GO already operates buses on the shoulder lanes of Highway 403 in Mississauga, thanks to an agreement with the provincial ministry of transportation. It initiated the idea for the DVP bus bypass lanes a decade ago, said Alam.
The transit body paid approximately $120,000 to prepare the DVP’s shoulder lanes for travel including installing signage and pavement markings.
“Those who choose to drive the Don Valley Parkway will have exactly the same number of lanes as they have now,” stated Mayor David Miller in a press release. “But it is our hope that with improvements to the speed of GO bus service, more people will get out of their cars and opt for public transit thereby reducing congestion, gridlock and pollution.”
Police, emergency and winter maintenance vehicles will continue to use the shoulder lanes when necessary.
GO and the city are considering other locations along the DVP where bus bypass lanes could be implemented.