Council to decide on temporary transit priority measures for King Street West construction diversion, November 2026 through May 2027

transit

Council to decide on temporary transit priority measures for King Street West construction diversion, November 2026 through May 2027

City Council is being asked to approve temporary transit priority measures (curbside restrictions and left-turn prohibitions) on Queen Street West to support the 504 King streetcar diversion during concurrent construction on King Street West. The diversion will run from November 1, 2026, to approximately May 1, 2027, affecting 60,000 daily King riders and 30,000 daily Queen riders. The measures include new and extended no-stopping restrictions during peak hours and left-turn prohibitions at multiple intersections along Queen Street West from Roncesvalles Avenue to Spadina Avenue.

not yet heardToronto City Council · Wed, Jul 29You can weigh in

Also in this item

• The diversion affects 90,000 combined daily riders on the 504 King and 501 Queen routes, making this one of the highest-impact temporary transit diversions in recent city history.

• Multiple concurrent construction projects (watermain replacement, streetcar track repairs) will suspend all streetcar service on King Street West for six months, the longest closure period stated in the report.

The journey

Wed, Jul 8 · Toronto and East York Community Council · amended

Wed, Jul 29 · Toronto City Council · not yet heard

Time to act

You can weigh in

Residents and businesses along the diversion route (Queen Street West from Roncesvalles to Spadina, and affected side streets) can depute to Council before the vote, or contact their ward councillor. The meeting date and vote timing are not stated in the item.

Why is this story here?

Big deal at city hallThe approved temporary measures will modify curbside regulations and traffic controls across a high-volume corridor for six months, affecting both transit operations (90,000 daily riders) and general traffic. The changes are hard to reverse mid-construction if they prove ineffective, and they represent a departure from standard curbside allocation. However, they are bounded to a specific geography and timeframe, and the measures are explicitly temporary. This meets the substantial threshold: wide reach and hard to reverse mid-term, but not structural.Felt nowResidents, workers, and commuters on Queen Street West from Roncesvalles to Spadina, and on King Street West, will experience these restrictions directly and immediately starting November 1, 2026. The no-stopping restrictions during peak hours will affect parking availability and traffic flow for businesses and residents in a dense, mixed-use corridor. The 504 King diversion itself (already approved or in planning) will alter commutes for 60,000 daily riders. This is a recognizable, large group feeling a direct effect in their ordinary week, once implemented.

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Official title: Transit Priority Measures to Support Transit Diversions During Construction on King Street West · meeting video