The purpose of the Dundas BRT project is to evaluate the proposed transit corridor along a 48 kilometre stretch of Dundas Street from Highway 6 in the City of Hamilton through to the Kipling Transit Hub in the City of Toronto, linking Etobicoke and Mississauga City Centres. More than 20 kilometres, of the 48 kilometre BRT, will operate in bus lanes or in a dedicated right-of-way, separate from other traffic, allowing faster and more reliable transit connections.
Dundas BRT Alignment
Identified in Metrolinx’s 2041 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the BRT aims to improve the overall transportation network in one of Canada’s fastest growing regions. While COVID-19 has temporarily slowed growth and halted our typical every-day routines (e.g., commuting to work or school), we are working to proactively plan for our future. Metrolinx’s Dundas BRT Initial Business Case, released in 2020, indicates prior to COVID-19, the population of the GTHA is forecasted to grow to approximately 10 million by 2041. The BRT is part of a suite of public transportation alternatives that will address potential future constraints and contribute to the overall livability and economic development of the region.
Benefits
Typically, the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area welcomes about 110,000 new residents every year and is anticipated to hit a population of over 10 million people by 2041. Growth in our communities means that a reliable transportation system is needed to support the convenient and reliable movement of people as they travel from their homes for work and recreation.
Problem and Opportunity
Dundas is a major east-west corridor, formerly provincial Highway 5, that connects hundreds of thousands of people through major urban centres in one of the country’s most densely populated areas. Dundas BRT aims to solve a series of problems, including those identified below:
Provide faster, more reliable public transit
East-west transit service expansion on Dundas would allow for more frequent and reliable services between key existing and planned centres and reduce travel times. This would improve transit’s role as an alternative to automobile trips along the corridor and alleviate congestion.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Dundas BRT will encourage sustainable travel behaviour change by increasing access to reliable and convenient public transit and making it a viable competitor to the personal vehicle. Less vehicles sitting in congestion also means less harmful pollutants in our atmosphere.
Improve connectivity
Trips made within municipal borders represent 84% of the daily travel demand along the corridor. Low inter-municipal travel demand suggests that there is an opportunity to phase the development of an improved transit service along the corridor linking several urban centres and key destinations and developing a rapid transit network.
Align investment to support growth
Dundas BRT will facilitate transit oriented communities (TOC) around the Dundas Corridor to accommodate projected growth in population and employment. Improved transit services along the corridor have the potential to support growth plans, local businesses and the development of mobility hubs.
Courtesy of Metrolinx