With Metrolinx refusing to provide an opening date for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT until three months from that time, the much-delayed transit line won’t be opening this year. The Finch West LRT celebrated a milestone recently with all stations and stops being completed, but also lacks an opening date and has even been subject to a recent lawsuit. But where do things stand with their respective bikeways? I did a couple of site checks this week after work to find out.
A New Stretch of Eglinton Bikeway
Earlier this year, Metrolinx completed the one kilometre raised cycle track on Eglinton Avenue from Avenue Road to Holly Street pictured above. This bikeway was extended 750 metres westward last month with a quick build installation from Avenue Road to Chaplin Crescent. Here is a shot looking eastward at Chaplin Crescent.
While the sections in front of most underground stations had four traffic lanes, only traffic lane per direction is available between Chaplin and Avenue to accommodate the new bike lanes. You will notice a right turn lane at Russell Hill Road. Also note the barriers weren’t installed as of Wednesday, October 9th when I went by, though the project website indicated they were expected to be installed overnight on October 10th and 11th. May need to confirm next week to be sure.
The overhanging bus and taxi lane signs are no longer needed and ought to be removed.
The westbound bikeway at Castle Knock Road has a loading zone and a Zicla bus platform.
The raised cycle tracks pick up again shortly past Avenue Road.
The “bike lane ends” sign appears just past Holly Street.
An eastern extension to Mount Pleasant Road was approved earlier this year and is waiting for the Crosstown to open. The remaining 2.5-kilometre gap from Mount Pleasant to Brentcliffe Roads will be dealt with in a future phase. For the mean time, Metrolinx needs to stop messing around and give us an opening date!
Frogger Along Finch
On Thursday, October 10th, I checked out Finch from Keele Street to Norfinch Drive. No sooner than I started heading west from Keele did I see a couple of vehicles blocking the bike lane. Seriously?
At Romfield and a few other places, TTC stop poles were placed right in the cycle track.
Virtually every intersection has the bikeway crossing markings painted in.
A fair number of pylons were left behind even though the bike lane markings are done.
The multi-use path from Norfinch to the Finch Hydro Corridor still hasn’t been paved.
The cycle tracks are further raised to sidewalk level at bus stops such as this one at Norfinch.
Aside from this one pavement cut in the eastbound cycle track just east of Tobermory Drive which I hope gets filled soon, the bike lanes are functionally done from Keele to Norfinch. While I won’t be able to vouch for west of Highway 400 anytime soon, I will count this stretch as completed. If anyone has biked on Finch west of Highway 400, please let me know what you saw.
Ben shared a video in the “Cycling in Toronto” Facebook group showing cyclists still have to use the sidewalk to go under the CP Rail line. At this time, it’s unknown if or when the trail under the tracks will be built.
A left turn box can be found at Sentinel Road and a couple of other spots.
Here’s a close up of that left turn box. Looks like another layer of asphalt will be needed.
And some more pylons to dodge before returning to the subway.
Metrolinx and Mosaic Transit Group need to remove the obstacles from the bike lanes – as well as patch that pavement cut east of Tobermory – to make the bikeway usable. While waiting for these two transit lines to option has been painful, their respective bikeways are already starting to improve local connectivity.
I’m not surprised to see cars parked in the raised cycle track, and I think it’s going to be a chronic problem since they decided to use a roller rather than high curb
ReplyDeleteI’m glad to read that they will be installing some barriers. They need to be installed everywhere because nothing short of engineering will keep car drivers in their place.