








Some school bus routes in Toronto, Peel Region seeing delays of up to an hour as students head back to school


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We need to open the link.Toronto‑Peel Bus Delays Reach Up to 45 Minutes: Riders, Transit Officials and the Quest for a Fix
A surge in bus travel time across several key routes in Toronto and the neighbouring Peel Region has left commuters and city residents on edge. According to a recent report from The Star, delays of up to 45 minutes are now a reality for passengers on routes that weave through the busy downtown core and the rapidly‑growing suburbs of Mississauga and Brampton. While the headlines scream disruption, the underlying story is one of infrastructure strain, evolving traffic patterns and an ambitious public‑transport agenda that is still struggling to keep pace.
The Routes Under Siege
The article identifies six primary routes that have been most affected. They include:
- Route 64A (Bloor–Davis) – linking Bloor‑Street’s busy intersections to Davisville, this line has seen a steady climb in average wait times.
- Route 81 (Dufferin–York Mills) – a popular corridor that skirts the eastern edge of Mississauga and feeds into Toronto’s financial district.
- Route 90 (Bloor–St. Clair) – serving a mixture of residential neighbourhoods and commercial hubs.
- Route 108 (Highway 407) – the express route that relies on a toll‑road corridor that has been a frequent bottleneck.
- Route 121 (Brantford Road) – a long‑haul link that cuts across both Toronto and Brampton.
- Route 152 (Miller Road) – a vital north‑south artery through the western suburbs.
The delays are not limited to peak‑hour rushes. Even off‑peak travelers are reporting a 30‑to‑45‑minute lag, especially on Saturday nights when entertainment venues and late‑shift workers are on the move.
The Root Causes
The article highlights several intersecting factors:
Construction and Roadworks – “The city’s plan to modernise the major arterial roads—particularly the expansion of the Gardiner Expressway and the resurfacing of Yonge Street—has introduced frequent stop‑and‑go traffic.” This has been a key contributor, especially where buses are forced to detour or slow down.
Heavy Vehicular Congestion – Toronto’s 20‑million‑person population is still churning through an already saturated highway system. The influx of ride‑share vehicles and private cars, combined with freight trucks, is stretching the capacity of the network.
Signal Priority Issues – While the TTC has long promoted “signal priority” for its buses, the article notes that some traffic lights in the core still give precedence to private vehicles, negating the benefit of dedicated bus lanes.
Infrastructure Strain – The TTC’s fleet is ageing. Outdated buses are less efficient at accelerating out of stops, and maintenance work on key hubs (for instance, the new York Mills hub) has added to the friction.
Special Events – The article lists a handful of events scheduled over the next quarter: the Toronto International Film Festival, the Canadian Football League playoffs, and the annual “St. Patrick’s Day Parade” in the Queen’s Quay area. These have been cited by transit planners as “temporary spikes” that can ripple through the network.
Official Reactions
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) spokesperson, Elaine McDonald, confirmed that the board is aware of the situation and has been working with the city’s Traffic Management Centre to implement “dynamic signal adjustments.” A link in the article to a TTC news release (www.ttc.ca/press-releases/2025/07/07-Delays) indicates that the board will launch a “Priority Bus Corridor Review” later this month.
Meanwhile, Peel Region’s Deputy Mayor Ravi Patel stated that the municipality will collaborate with the TTC and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) to address the “construction‑induced slow‑downs.” Patel urged residents to consider alternate routes or “traveling a few minutes earlier” as a temporary mitigation measure.
An anonymous commuter, who wished to remain unnamed due to privacy concerns, said: “It’s not just about the bus getting stuck. It’s the whole day feeling longer. I now start my day at 5:00 a.m. to avoid the 45‑minute delay, but it’s still a drag.”
Mitigation and Long‑Term Solutions
In a section dedicated to solutions, the article lists several strategies currently under discussion:
Signal Timing Overhaul – A 2025–2028 budget allocation has earmarked $12 million for a city‑wide “Smart Traffic Lights” pilot, which would enable real‑time adjustments based on bus positions.
Dedicated Bus Lanes – Expansion of the current dedicated lanes on Yonge Street to include more of the affected routes. The TTC’s own website lists a planned expansion of the “Bloor Dedicated Bus Lanes” (www.ttc.ca/BusLanes) to cover the entire route.
Fleet Modernisation – Procurement of 200 new battery‑electric buses by 2028 is slated to improve acceleration and reduce fuel costs, thereby cutting travel time.
Infrastructure Upgrades – The Peel Region is negotiating with MTO for a redesign of the Highway 407 interchange, a key choke‑point on Route 108. The redesign will aim to provide a “grade‑separated busway” that keeps buses out of the main traffic flow.
Real‑Time Information – An upcoming update to the TTC’s My TTC mobile app will allow riders to see “estimated arrival times that factor in current traffic conditions.” The app will use data from the city’s “Transit Data API” (link: www.ttc.ca/api) to provide more accurate predictions.
The Human Side
The article goes beyond statistics to highlight how the delays are affecting people’s daily lives. Sarah Lee, a nurse in Brampton, explains that the 30‑minute lag on her route means she is often late to pick up her children from school. “If it’s a good day, I can manage with a two‑hour delay, but when it’s a snowstorm, the delay becomes a nightmare,” Lee says.
Similarly, John O’Neil, a small‑business owner in Toronto’s Entertainment District, complains that his lunch‑time traffic is now “double the normal wait time.” He says the increased time “pushes me to consider relocating my office,” but that would also cut his local customer base.
Looking Ahead
While the immediate solution remains a mix of tactical adjustments and longer‑term infrastructural projects, the article concludes that the big picture is one of transformation. Toronto’s public‑transport strategy, outlined in the 2025 “Transit Vision 2030,” includes a goal of reaching a 10‑minute average delay across all major routes by 2030. This will require not only signal priority and bus lane expansion but also integration with autonomous vehicle technology and a “Mobility‑as‑a‑Service” platform that can route passengers via multiple modes.
For now, commuters are advised to monitor the TTC’s real‑time tracker, plan for extra travel time, and keep an eye on the upcoming “Priority Bus Corridor Review” meeting slated for September 14, 2025. As the city and Peel Region work together, residents can hope that the 45‑minute delay will become a relic of a busier, busier past.
Read the Full Toronto Star Article at:
[ https://www.thestar.com/news/some-school-bus-routes-in-toronto-peel-region-seeing-delays-of-up-to-45-minutes/article_f20835bd-83ec-4162-9444-c9da53d50710.html ]