These are the TTC bus routes in most desperate need of improvement

Toronto transit experts revealed the transit routes they believe need to be made more efficient, ahead of Ryerson University’s Hacking Surface Transit in Toronto panel later this week.

Their answers were not unanimous, indicating that our public transit needs improvements across the board.

With the success of the #KingStreetPilot, how can we rethink other transit lines in the city to make them faster and improve efficiency?

Join @RyersonCBI on July 30 for a discussion on hacking surface transit in #Toronto.https://t.co/vR4qUcGGn3 pic.twitter.com/tI2BKr2AOv

— Civic Hall Toronto (@CivicHallTO) June 28, 2019

For Barbara Gray, the general manager of the city’s Transportation Services, improving the reliability and efficiency of bus routes, specifically on Dufferin, Finch, Lawrence and Jane, is a priority.

Just saw a TTC bus, route 35 southbound @ Jane & Foxwell, around 11:20pm go right through a red light after it had been red for at least 3 secs. There was a bike & pedestrians. Seriously, what danger & bad driver. Should be fired for being wreckless. #ttc #ridetherocket #toronto

— Oscar Quintero (@OQuintero0414) July 23, 2019

There are 12 TTC bus routes that carry 30,000 people every day, according to Gray. By improving surface level transit, the entire network will be more efficient as a whole, she said.

TTC bus driver on the Dufferin South bus #9015 @ 2:20pm at Queen Street. He sped past me and swerved noticeable into the bike lane and almost hit me at full speed. I stopped and knock on the window asked 3 times if he meant to hit me.. he smiled and nodded YES!? #gethimfired pic.twitter.com/CB6vwRCZnq

— John Choi (@cinechoi) July 19, 2019

“I think we need to look at surface transit routes across the City and consider how different kinds of improvements will work in different contexts,” Gray said in the Ryerson City Building Institute newsletter.

@TTChelps After waiting more than 10 minutes for a 60 east bus at dufferin/steeles, the driver of bus 3351 decides to skip this stop entirely. Where's your 10 or less service? We're now stuck waiting for another bus that says 5 minutes, bus will really be 10-15.

— Teresa (@RessyM) July 10, 2019

Matti Siemiatycki, the associative professor and director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, agreed that travel routes from the suburbs to the downtown core, like Finch, Jane and Dufferin, need to be prioritized, since these lines carry the most people.

The Finch West TTC bus was the pick of Andrew Miller, the associate director of Sidewalk Labs, for the transit route that most needs improvement.

Got screwed by TTC bus#1149 and #1014. 41 Northbound. Got asked to get off, another was right behind. Behind bus went into Not Service. Waiting at Finch West subway #whatthehell @TTChelps

— Abhishek (@abhis1010) July 22, 2019

Since there is no other bus routes that travels east-west in northern Etobicoke and Scarborough, this route has “immense ridership,” he said.

Miller suggested introducing a bus-only lane until the Finch LRT is projected to be completed in 2023. He also wants to see a 501 Queen streetcar pilot just like the now permanent King Street Pilot.