Every morning, I spend about 15 minutes idling my car in Little Jamaica. The traffic train stretches 500 meters from my starting point at Oakwood Avenue to Allen Road. It’s always been this way. But I heard that’s about to change.
It’s hard to say which side of Eglinton is worse: Fairbank in the west, or Forest Hill in the east. I drive on both sides of the Allen. Both are a nightmare – especially if you’re in a hurry. If it’s a hot day and you happen to have an older car like mine, you’re stuck baking in your lane.
This past Saturday, my mission was simple: get my wife to her yoga class on time. We were already cutting it close, and her class was on Eglinton near Avenue Road. Seeing thick, unmoving traffic at the corner of Oakwood and Eglinton, I took a shortcut through Reggae Lane.
The shortcut worked, but back on Eglinton a TTC bus completely blocked the only lane that goes east of the Allen. As the minutes ticked closer to the start of class, we sat there completely immobilized. Only when the bus finally moved into the left lane toward Cedarvale Station did we start moving again.
But east of the Allen, cars started jutting blindly into Eglinton from side streets, most notably at Westover Hill Road. That street features two lanes of traffic, including one that feels as though it was specially designed by the City to block eastbound drivers as oncoming cars cross over to reach the highway.
After dodging this kind of traffic, we made it on time for my wife’s yoga class. But going back home was worse.
Traffic just stopped at the intersection of Bathurst and Eglinton. I could see the entire line of cars, vans, and trucks stretching all the way to the Allen. The traffic lights ahead were bright green, yet absolutely nobody was moving. At a distance, cars crossing Eglinton from the south side had completely choked the road, creating a total standstill.
To make matters more frustrating, the City has painted aggressive solid yellow lines at intersections like Rostrevor Road, legally preventing anyone from crossing over. The result? A choked right lane full of desperate drivers, while an entire open lane sits vacant, waiting for non-existent cars to turn left.
They say they want to fix this problem. But let’s be realistic about the fundamental problem: Allen Road is the only major expressway connecting Midtown Toronto to the 401. Squeezing thousands of drivers down to two northbound lanes will always turn Eglinton into a sticky mess.
Taking the LRT is the best option for people travelling within the grid. My wife usually takes it, except when she’s almost late for class. But if you’re trying to get out to the 905, there’s no LRT. A car is the only option.
So, unless those City plans are really innovative, we’ll keep idling our engines, staring at the green lights, and slowly baking in the sun.
