Still dreaming of (or fearing) rapid transit in north London? You can likely stop now

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Londoners still dreaming, or fearing, that city hall may revive the cancelled north leg of its rapid transit system can probably stop now, one observer says.

During a recent debate, Mayor Josh Morgan and Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis pushed to downgrade the designation of three roads – Clarence Street, Richmond Street and Western Road – as rapid transit corridors while also axing a proposed “transit village” at the Richmond-Oxford streets intersection, moves that suggest politicians are burying any future BRT link between downtown and Masonville mall.

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Both changes are part of a sweeping overhaul to London’s official planning document, which includes boosting height limits across the city, and allowing more four-storey stacked townhouses in neighbourhoods.

Morgan justified the BRT moves, saying that compared to other existing or planned rapid transit arteries such as Oxford Street West, or Wellington Road, interest in density along the corridor through Old North has been muted.

The north BRT route would have travelled along Richmond Row and past St. Joe’s hospital before turning west on University and Lambton drives, and continuing north on Western Road and again Richmond Street to Masonville mall. It was killed by the previous council under Mayor Ed Holder amid resistance from Richmond Row merchants and Old North residents.

Morgan noted that “the structure of the roadway along Richmond Street” made the BRT plan complicated to begin with. But he said he’d be “fully engaged” with any staff recommendation about future rapid transit routes, even on that old path.

Spiking the rapid transit designation – which would have allowed for taller and denser developments – brings the streets more in line with development reality, Morgan said.

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Alexander Wray is a doctoral candidate in geography at Western University and a community planner. He said the designation change, if approved by full council on Sept. 24, may signal there’s no reason to expect resurrected rapid transit plans in north London.

“The primary function of those roads will be carrying predominantly vehicular traffic,” Wray said, “and therefore the types of developments built along those roads will naturally be more automotive-oriented.”

Doug MacRae is city hall’s transportation director. In a statement to The Free Press, he said the master mobility plan will identify routes for rapid transit that citizens and politicians can discuss later this year.

The changes recommended by Morgan and Lewis will be considered in the drafting of transit routes, he said.

jmoulton@postmedia.com

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