TTC 66B Proposed Changes

The Prince Edward bus route currently serves 5,400 customer-trips on a daily basis. TTC has proposed changes that would see the 66B bus come straight down Park Lawn and onto Marine Parade Drive, rather than the current quick loop back onto eastbound Lake Shore Blvd W. 

At times of heavy congestion on eastbound Lake Shore Blvd W, the 66B bus can take up to 20 to 30 minutes to travel the short stretch to Marine Parade Drive. The thought behind this change is that it would get more people up to Old Mill Station faster. There is a mixed response from the community to this TTC proposal.

The questions to follow outline each of the alternatives listed above along with their associated pros and cons. HBSCA is asking that your review these changes with your Board (and your residents if you so choose) and decide on the alternative you support. You may also choose to support no change at this time.

HBSCA would appreciate your completion of the survey by March 30, 2018.

Thank you for your participation.

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* 1. Alternative 1 – Reverse the on-street looping to counter clockwise

Reverse looping means southbound 66B would proceed straight through the Park Lawn Road/Lake Shore Blvd intersection, along Marine Parade Drive, turn left (westbound) on to Lake Shore Blvd and then turn right (northbound) on to Park Lawn road.  TTC does not recommend this change.

Pros:
·        Eastbound congestion on Lake Shore Blvd W between Park Lawn Road and Marine Parade Drive would be avoided resulting in reduced travel time and service reliability improvement

·        Traffic congestion at the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd W and Marine Parade Drive would be eliminated by moving the bus stop away from the front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar

·        Access to this eastbound service would be improved along Marine Parade Drive with new stops being constructed

Cons:
·        Access to and from westbound service along Lake Shore Blvd W would be less convenient (hazardous) for residents who would have to cross 4 lanes of traffic on Lake Shore Blvd

·        Moving bus stop in front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar to the intersection of Waterfront Drive/Marine Parade Drive could adversely affect (Hearthstone and Waterford) residents

·        Reverse looping route requires a left turn at an intersection without traffic lights (Lake Shore Blvd W and Marine Parade Drive)

·        Reverse looping requires a right turn from Lake Shore Blvd W to northbound Park Lawn Road which would slow down traffic also turning northbound on Park Lawn Road from Lake Shore Blvd W due to the bus requiring both lanes to turn

·        10 on-street parking spots would be lost on eastbound Marine Parade Drive due to requirements to construct new bus stops (5 parking spots per bus stop)

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* 2. Alternative 2 – Two-way service along Marine Parade Drive

This recommendation would see 66B southbound on Park Lawn Road go straight through the Park Lawn Road/Lake Shore Blvd intersection, proceed along Marine Parade Drive (eastbound), turn right on to Lake Shore Blvd (eastbound), turn right on to Palace Pier Court, turn right on to Waterfront Drive, turn left back on to Marine Parade Drive (westbound) and proceed northbound on to Park Lawn Road. TTC recommends this change and actually approved it back in September of 2016.

Pros:
·        Congestion on Lake Shore Blvd W between Park Lawn Road and Marine Parade Drive would be avoided resulting in service reliability improvement

·        Traffic congestion at the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd W and Marine Parade Drive would be eliminated by moving the bus stop away from the front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar

·        Servicing more condos by incorporating Palace Pier Court and Waterfront Drive in service route

·        Access to this eastbound service would be improved along Marine Parade Drive, Palace Pier Court and Waterfront Drive with new stops being constructed

Cons:
·        Moving bus stop in front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar to the intersection of Waterfront Drive/Marine Parade Drive could adversely affect (Hearthstone and Waterford) residents

·        Addition of bus traffic to Palace Pier Court and Waterfront Drive could adversely affect residents on those two streets – traffic and noise

·        Increased traffic congestion/noise on Marine Parade Drive due to new 2-way bus traffic

·        Increased bus traffic on Marine Parade Drive may negatively impact pedestrian safety

·        Residents of condos on Lake Shore Blvd W will have a longer walk to bus stops

·        Residents using transit on Lake Shore Blvd will loose “1st come choice” of bus over streetcar

·        10 on-street parking spots would be lost on eastbound Marine Parade Drive due to requirements to construct new bus stops (5 parking spots per stop)

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* 3. Alternative 2B – Two-way service along Marine Parade Drive with bus loop

This recommendation would see 66B southbound on Park Lawn Road go straight through the Park Lawn Road/Lake Shore Blvd intersection, proceed along Marine Parade Drive (eastbound) and loop back on to Marine Parade Drive at Waterfront Drive via a newly constructed loop where the parking lot currently exists. TTC does not recommend this proposal and states the Community will be consulted as this alternative gets further study in the future.

Pros:
·        Congestion on Lake Shore Blvd W between Park Lawn Road and Marine Parade Drive would be avoided resulting in service reliability improvement

·        Traffic congestion at the intersection of Lake Shore Blvd W and Marine Parade Drive would be eliminated by moving the bus stop away from the front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar

·        Access to this eastbound service would be improved along Marine Parade Drive with new stops being constructed

Cons:
·     Moving bus stop in front of Rocco’s Restaurant & Bar to the intersection of Waterfront Drive/Marine Parade Drive or to the new loop could adversely affect (Hearthstone and Waterford) residents

·     The existing Green P parking lot on Marine Parade Drive at Waterfront Drive would be eliminated along with 15+ parking spots. This would be an unacceptable loss of parking.

·     Increased risk to pedestrian safety in a high pedestrian traffic area

·     Residents of condos on Lake Shore Blvd W will have a longer walk to bus stops

·     Potential increased congestion on Marine Parade Drive due to 2-way bus traffic

·     10 on-street parking spots would be lost on eastbound Marine Parade Drive due to requirements to construct new bus stops (5 parking spots per bus stop)  

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* 4. Please choose your position below.

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* 5. Please provide the following:

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