Downtown's BRT loop set to transition this spring from plan to reality

Published Oct 28, 2020 • 2 minute read

This artist rendering shows a bird's eye view of King Street in downtown London, looking east, and the proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) lane.

Shovels are expected in the ground for London’s $28.5-million downtown rapid transit loop starting on King Street this spring, the first of three construction phases to build BRT in the city’s core.

City hall released new design images and “visual tours” on Wednesday to kick off a two-week public feedback period.

“It’s important to provide accessible transit for people. It’s important that we provide a better transportation system for people to reach their work easily, their homes easily,” Ward 13 Coun. Arielle Kayabaga, who represents the downtown, said of the project.

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The downtown loop will surround Dundas Place, with curbside bus-only lanes on Queens Avenue and Ridout, King and Wellington streets. It will include five bus stops along that route.

The construction will also include the repair and replacement of sewers and other underground infrastructure — what Kayabaga describes as accomplishing two priorities with the same project.

“It’s one stone killing two birds — making sure we’re doing the sewer work and replacing it with something much better,” she said.

The downtown London bus rapid transit loop as planned by city hall.

The downtown bus rapid transit (BRT) route is expected to be finished in 2023.

“The plan is to get it done as quickly as they can, but also being mindful of the impact of construction on people who live there (and) businesses,” Kayabaga said.

“(City staff are) trying to make (downtown streets) as accessible as possible, because they know it’s disruptive.”

While King Street is under construction, public transit will be detoured onto York Street.

Londoners can weigh in on new designs and “virtual tours” and leave comments or questions. Those who would prefer to give feedback directly can request a virtual or in-person meeting by emailing the project team at downtownloop@london.ca.

City council also voted to build rapid transit routes extending east from the downtown to Fanshawe College and south to White Oaks Mall, though it dropped a city-wide network by eliminating the north and west routes.

The north route would have been the busiest, including Western University and its transit-using student population.