Submitted by Andrea Garcia on 5 January, 2012 - 10:36

Toronto Cyclists Union Reveals Cost of Gravy Lane

City Staff cost out price tag to re-install the fifth reversible lane on Jarvis Street

At its July 2011 meeting, City Council voted to remove the bicycle lanes on Jarvis Street and reinstall the reversible fifth lane, despite the fact that there was no consultation with the public or the local Councillor. In July city staff estimated the cost of this project at $200,000. Through a request to City transportation staff, the Toronto Cyclists Union (bike union), can now confirm the cost of reconfiguring Jarvis Street at $272,000. The increased cost is due to the installation of new overhead wiring and hardware to comply with current electrical safety standards.

Below is a breakdown of the costs of the Jarvis Street project:

Bike Lane Installation (July 2010): $86,000
- removal of overhead wiring and signal hardware -  $21,000
- removal of all pavement markings and remark as 4 lanes plus bike lanes -  $65,000

Jarvis Reconfiguration (scheduled for summer/fall 2012): $272,000
- installation of overhead wiring and signal hardware - approx. $200,000.00
- removal of all pavement markings and remark as 5-lane road, including signage - approx. $72,000

“Although city staff have released data showing that Jarvis Street works for all road users, Mayor Ford and his administration are prepared to throw away over a quarter million dollars of taxpayers’ money,” said Andrea Garcia, Director of Advocacy for the bike union, “This unnecessary cost reveals this project as a Gravy Lane.”

Since the installation of the bike lane, the number of cyclists on Jarvis Street has more than tripled. Despite the popularity of the bike lane, an overwhelming show of support for leaving Jarvis Street as is at the July Council meeting and no public consultation to gauge support for any changes, the City will continue to move ahead with Mayor Ford’s $272,000 Gravy Lane.