Making Transit King: An Analysis of The King Street Transit Pilot

This paper discusses the findings of quantitative and qualitative research on the initial impact of a controversial transit pilot project which involved the redesign of a 2.6 kilometre stretch of King Street in downtown Toronto. The project strictly regulated use of the area by private cars and involved a number of design initiatives to enhance the public realm for non-automobile users. Impacts on four stakeholder groups—transit riders, drivers, pedestrians, and business owners—were analyzed using quantitative data from the City of Toronto, and qualitative data obtained through more than 40 interviews with various stakeholders and professionals in Toronto’s urban planning community. This research finds that the initial impact of the King Street Transit Pilot has had a positive impact on transit riders and pedestrians. In terms of the impact on drivers and local businesses, the quantitative data shows that trends in average car travel times and consumer spending have remained consistent with trends established prior to the pilot being implemented. However, the qualitative data obtained from the interviews is less conclusive and revealed that some businesses are reporting a decline in revenue during the pilot phase. Due to a variety of external factors identified in this paper, further research is required to determine if there is a correlation between a decline in revenue reported by some businesses and the pilot project. What the data clearly shows is that overall, the King Street Transit Pilot has had a positive impact on transit riders and pedestrians, and an insignificant impact on drivers and local businesses. In sum, this research contributes to the well-established body of academic literature that addresses the complex mobility and congestion issues currently facing cities around the world.