ActiveTO pilot has elevated automobile journey instances on Yonge Road: metropolis information

In case you are driving north on Yonge Road, you’ll have observed that travelling between Bloor Road and Davisville Avenue is now taking longer.

That stretch of highway is at present a part of the town’s ActiveTO Midtown Complete Street Pilot, and new information released on Friday present how automobile journey instances have slowed for the reason that program started.

In accordance with the information, automobile journey instances in September had been 70 seconds longer for northbound visitors through the weekday afternoon peak interval in comparison with pre-pandemic journey instances within the fall of 2019.

In consequence, the typical time to drive north on Yonge Road between Bloor Road and Davisville Avenue is now 9.8 minutes.

On the noon weekend interval, journey instances on the northbound lanes had been 78 seconds longer and 11 seconds longer on the southbound lanes in comparison with pre-pandemic ranges.

Town mentioned it didn’t see any spillover journey time impacts on the parallel corridors of Avenue and Mount Nice Roads.

In August, automobile volumes alongside Yonge Road ranged from 7,200 at Bloor Road to 17,200 at Davisville Avenue.

“The noticed modifications have occurred in opposition to a backdrop of steadily rising congestion ranges city-wide from interval of COVID-19 restrictions within the winter and Spring of 2021 to the gradual re-opening of companies, companies and gatherings by way of the summer season and Fall of 2021 and past,” the town mentioned.

The pilot, which was accepted by metropolis council in April 2021, noticed the set up of CafeTO patios, devoted bike lanes and different streetscape enhancements as a part of its pandemic mobility restoration technique.

Whereas automobile journey instances have slowed, the realm has seen robust progress in pedestrians and cyclists for the reason that pilot started.

In accordance with the information, day by day biking volumes in August (adjusted for climate and seasonality) had been between 45 and 162 per cent larger in August in comparison with pre-pilot in Might 2021.

Each day pedestrian volumes had been 34 to 142 per cent larger in August in comparison with earlier than this system. Town mentioned the quantity could possibly be attributed to the loosening of COVID restrictions.

“Employees will proceed to observe journey instances for automobiles through the pilot, and can determine and implement alternatives for the place doable,” the town mentioned.

Employees are anticipated to report again to the infrastructure and atmosphere committee in January 2023 with further information, analysis and proposals.