Mayoral Candidate's Plan will Expand Network with 62km of Rapid Transit in Separated Lanes.
FastLane - Our Transit Plan to Move Toronto
Toronto – Mayoral candidate Gil Penalosa released his FastLane Transit plan today, which will build out Toronto’s rapid transit network adding 62km of separated, high-speed bus lanes and another 30km of bus-only lanes.
“If we want people to get out of their cars, we need to provide them with connected, fast and frequent service that doesn’t take decades to build,” said Penalosa. “FastLane is the quickest way to deliver rapid transit to Torontonians who are stuck in traffic.”
The FastLane system is built on similar innovative, proven rapid transit systems around the world, including those in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Bogota and Seoul. Penalosa’s plan will get Torontonians moving with modern electric vehicles that make stops at covered stations as frequently as subway service. The total estimated cost of the entire city-wide plan is $3.2 billion – more than $700 million less than the proposed Eglinton East LRT project alone.
FastLane works hand in glove with Gil’s Homes for Everyone plan, as it will support the new neighbours Toronto will welcome over the coming years on higher-density arterial roads.
The City’s 50% capital share for FastLane will be funded by investing $1 billion from the Scarborough subway levey, the City Building Fund and a portion of the $500 million saved from cancelling the Gardiner East project. The remaining funds to be paid by senior levels of government, as is typical of large transit projects.
Details of Gil’s FastLane rapid transit plan include:
Routes
FastLane consists of dedicated, separated transit corridors with level boarding.
FastLane Eglinton East (15km) – Kennedy Station to Malvern, connecting to the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Bloor Subway Line and FastLane Finch.
FastLane Finch (23km) – Finch West Station to Malvern, connecting to the University Spadina Subway Line, the Yonge Subway Line and the Eglinton East FastLane Line.
Fastlane Jane (12km) – Jane Station on Finch West LRT to Jane Station on the Bloor Line, connecting to the Finch West LRT, Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Bloor Subway Line.
FastLane Sheppard West (4.4km) – Sheppard West Station to Sheppard Station, connecting to University Spadina Subway Line, Sheppard Subway Line and Yonge Subway Line.
FastLane Sheppard East (7.4 km) – Don Mills Station to Sheppard Station on the Scarborough Subway Extension, connecting to Sheppard Subway and Scarborough Subway Extension.
Due to road-width restrictions, FastLane also consists of routes with curbside transit corridors separated by bollards and marked with paint.
FastLane Dufferin (18km) – Steeles to the Exhibition Grounds, connecting to FastLane Finch, University Spadina Line, Eglinton Crosstown and Bloor Line. (Mixed traffic for the Allen Road portion of the route.)
FastLane Bathurst (15km) – Steeles to Bathurst Station, connecting to FastLane Sheppard West, Eglinton Crosstown and Bloor Line.
*Assumption: The provincial PC $28 billion transit plan will be built.
Cost Methodology
The closest comparator for FastLane costs is the York Viva Rapidway.
YORK Viva Rapidway – $1.4 billion (2009) total cost/35.8km = $39,106,000 per km (2009)
Bank of Canada inflation calculator $39,106,000 per km (2009) = $52,027,000 per km (2022)
FastLane Eglinton East (15km) - $780 million
FastLane Finch (23km) - $1.196 billion
FastLane Jane (12km) - $624 million
FastLane Sheppard West (4.4km) - $229 million
FastLane Sheppard East (7.4km) - $384.8 million
Total cost = $52M * 62km = $3.2 billion (2022 CAD)