29 Dufferin route gets new queue jump lane at Lawrence Avenue W.

A painted red lane may have led some long-suffering riders of the 29 Dufferin bus to think they were finally getting a designated lane.

However, the newly-painted lane at Dufferin and Lawrence Avenue W. is in fact a "queue-jump lane," which will let buses bypass traffic at the intersection, the citysays. The 260-metre path is located on Dufferin Street near Lawrence Avenue West to the south side of Apex Road.

August Puranauth, an organizer with transit advocacy group TTCriders, told CBC Toronto that they're happy to see the lane changes but that more work needs to be done to improve bus travel times.

"Bus lanes and other improvements are long overdue. We actually expected to see full lanes on Dufferin Street this year We really want to see the rapid put back into RapidTO."

According to theTTCriders, bus lanes could shave about 10 minutes off people's commute each day, based on existing data on the lanes onEglinton Avenue E., Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue.

Images of the lane were shared on Twitter and Reddit this week, with some users speculating that it might be the start of a bus lane.

In February, city council passed itsnew plan dubbed RapidTO, which includes giving transit (the Dufferin bus, in this case) priority from Dufferin Gate to Wilson Avenue.

The month before that, TTCriders awarded the Dufferin bus a mock "gold medal" for being Toronto's slowest route, with a peak travel time of 10.6 km/h.

In a statement to CBC Toronto, the city clarified that a designated bus lane is currently being reviewed and designed but it wouldn't be ready until 2026.

Transit rider Sherdon Lindsay said she avoids the Dufferin bus because of the congestion on the route.

"The government needs to do better, way better," said Lindsay, adding that the 260-metre lane isn't enough relief.

In a statement to CBC Toronto, the city wrote that more queue jump lanes are also planned for Wilson Avenue, Steeles Avenue E. and St. Clair Avenue E., under the TTC's 5-year service plan.

Other riders told CBC Toronto that they believe the lane will help their commute times, including Juan Simonut, who rides the 29 up to six times a week.

"Hopefully it'll be better to take the bus in the morning. With the traffic, this intersection can get pretty busy," he said, standing at the corner of Lawrence and Dufferin.

Designated bus lanes to be complete for FIFA games

On July 24, city council approved a motion to accelerate reviews and designs for better bus lanes on Dufferin Street and Bathurst Street, south of Eglinton, to support reliable transit service during the FIFA World Cup, which will kick off in Toronto on June 12, 2026

The city said both routes are anticipated to be ready beforethe start of the competitions.

Puranauth stressed that while more improvements are always welcome, the city is behind on delivering on previous transit commitments.

"We were promised bus lanes on Jane Street in 2021. We were promised bus lanes on Finch and Steeles in 2023. Those haven't happened yet It shouldn't have to take a World Cup to shame city council into speeding up bus lanes in the city."