Mayor John Tory says he will support a staff recommendation to make the King Street Pilot permanent, likening it to a “surface subway” that was created “in the span of a weekend” at little cost to taxpayers.
The King Street Pilot, which gives streetcars priority use of King Street between Bathurst and Jarvis streets, was launched in November, 2017 as an innovative way to speed up public transit in the area.
The data also suggests that streetcar travel times have improved in every time period with the exception of late Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Since its launch, numerous restaurants in the city’s theatre district have complained about a decline in business that they say is the result of their establishments being more difficult to access.
“For businesses on the strip we recognize that for some this was a tremendous success and for others that success wasn’t felt as equally and we hear you,” Coun. Joe Cressy, who represents the area, said on Tuesday morning. “Our commitment is to continue to transform King into a true 21st century destination street with permanent patios, with enhanced street lighting and with an improved public realm.
“Things were very challenging in the early days of the pilot with cold weather, dark theatres and changed circumstances but the same data indicated some rebound and stabilization,” he said.Tory minimized any impact on businesses during Tuesday’s news conference; however in a statement the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association pointed out that 17 restaurants have closed since the pilot began.
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