TORONTO — Ontario’s transportation minister says he would not imagine the Metropolis of Toronto’s estimate that it’ll price $48 million to take away bike lanes on three main roads within the metropolis, however he has not offered an estimate of his personal.
TORONTO — Ontario’s transportation minister says he would not imagine the Metropolis of Toronto’s estimate that it’ll price $48 million to take away bike lanes on three main roads within the metropolis, however he has not offered an estimate of his personal.
Prabmeet Sarkaria says the province will take a look at the prices, however he believes the price of not eradicating them is “far higher.”
The Progressive Conservative authorities is fast-tracking laws that will require municipalities to ask the province for permission to put in bike lanes after they would take away a lane of auto site visitors.
It additionally plans to go one step additional and take away sections of Bloor Avenue, Yonge Avenue and College Avenue bike lanes and restore them as lanes for automobile site visitors.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow requested metropolis employees to look into what may be carried out to push again, and a employees report final week concluded that work to take away the three bike lanes would price greater than $48 million and certain result in solely minimally quicker commutes for drivers.
Sarkaria says eradicating the lanes can not price double the worth tag of set up.
A legislative committee is conducting at some point of public hearings on the laws Monday.
Among the many first presenters is the Affiliation of Municipalities of Ontario, which says that municipalities are greatest positioned to make selections on bike lanes with out provincial intervention.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 18, 2024.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
