Kevin Rupasinghe

I wanted to compare what I saw on Seattle's Line 1 LRT with Toronto's Finch LRT.

In Seattle, you can see left turning cars waiting while fast-moving transit gets priority.

Increasing the average speed of this at-grade LRT from 11.2 km/h is so vital, both for Finch LRT riders (or would-be riders) and to maximize the billions of dollars invested into other at-grade LRTs in the pipeline (Eglinton Crosstown, Hurontario, Hamilton, Eglinton East).

Imagine if Lines 1, 2, or 4 (RIP Line 3 Scarborough RT) operated at 11.2 km/h:
- 26 min, Kennedy to Victoria Park
- 1 hour, Bloor to North York Centre
- 30 min, High Park to St George
- 2 hours (!) Union to Vaughan

Transit wouldn't be as useful nor as well-used.

Back to Seattle & Finch. My clips were from Othello station, at a comparable intersection to many along Finch. The built forms aren't identical, but they're not that far off.

Transit priority is possible. Toronto can do this. Help make it happen in Toronto: ttcriders.ca/greenlight

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