Electrify
Senior Member
Okay, by writing it up by tonight it seems I meant 12 days later... -_-
Anyways, here it is:
https://www.facebook.com/YRTBN
Anyways, here it is:
So a big complaint about the proposed busway along Centre St is that it will hurt the numerous businesses along this stretch. Specifically it will mean that left turns will be more restricted due to signalling and the lack of a centre turning lane.
The reality is that such a complaint has absolutely no merit whatsoever! There are COUNTLESS places along arterials where turns are restricted because of centre medians, yet businesses continue to thrive. And from a driver's perspective, that is exactly what these lanes will be: centre medians.
That said, turns will be somewhat more restrictive than they are now, but such a setup will be unlikely to discourage a driver from visiting a business along this corridor. Like centre medians, there are plenty of businesses which have entrances regulated by a left turn only signal, and they do just fine. Not to mention when traffic is bad enough, many drivers cannot turn until the yellow anyways. Hell, when I have needed to make a left on Yonge at an unregulated intersection, specifically between 16th/Carville and Highway 7, I have either gone around the block or made a U-turn because it is so difficult and congested!
Finally, this is ignoring the increased exposure these businesses will receive from having an attractive bus rapid transit line running through their front yards. With the Spadina subway opening soon along with the increased growth planned along this corridor, many more people will be taking this route between destinations.
Admittedly, public transit in York Region is currently second fiddle to the car. Currently YRT mostly brings in choice riders when they are trying to beat congestion at GO stations or avoid paying for parking at York University or the subway. However with increasing gas prices and population density and growth, this is quickly changing. And York Region is preparing for these changes by giving public transit an advantage over driving and congestion wherever possible. Businesses along this stretch should not be fearing these busways, but embracing them as this corridor is soon to transform into a major economic avenue for south-central York Region!
https://www.facebook.com/YRTBN