The city and its local residents have a excellent opportunity here IMO. Though I wish their was more buy in on ideas that may not necessarily follow the norms of infrastructure we have all become acclimatized too.
Some images of a potential layout would include the following.
Both dedicated transit lanes moved to one side separated from car traffic by a center medium, ideally with greenery and a tree canopy where space allows.
The image below is closest to what I can see as a vision for the city. The modification of the below image would be two lanes of traffic, street parking/loading would be position only one the one side (where space allows). A center green medium separation, two lanes for transit completely dedicated with priority signal. Bike corridor (where space allows) for travel in two directions. Pedestrian paths and sidewalks on both sides.
Space allowing platforms can be positioned in the center of the transit corridors as needed to maximize space efficiently. This allows for one platform that’s a little wider, as opposed to two separated platforms that would be thinner, for effective space usage.
.At the two lanes of car traffic pedestrians crosswalks and sidewalks would be “built out” like this to increase visibility and local pedestrian safety. Street parking would only be on one side in this example were space allows.
The final result of the dedicated transit corridor would look something similar to this image with pigment red asphalt (not painted) and a elevated green medium. Just picture a tree canopy on the green medium-space.
And if you also want a example of where this has already been done in Toronto. Cherry Street near the Distillery District is the best and closest example. I personally believe it’s one of the best transit implementations in Toronto at the moment. I would recommend if you are ever in Toronto to walk or cycle the area.
Buses only? Dougies head is going to melt.
