PC: Peter Muzyka, Concrete Chronicles

We all know how important access to public transit is for a business to thrive!

Well today, our friends at DUKE Heights BIA share the latest transit updates just north of the city: 

Currently businesses seem to have to pick between either having easy access by road or easy access by transit. However, there are areas in the GTA that are currently amid several revitalization projects aimed at making transportation of goods, services and people less of a struggle. One of these areas is the DUKE Heights Business Improvement Area.

The DUKE Heights Business Improvement Area (BIA) boundaries lie from Steeles to Sheppard Avenue and from Keele to Dufferin Street. This area encompasses over 2,500 businesses and attracts over 34,000 people to the region every workday. Currently 80% of these people travel into our BIA by car via the 400, the 401 or the 407. To ensure that traffic continues to flow through the region smoothly, the City is working with DUKE Heights as well as Emery Village BIA, and others, on the North-West Toronto Goods Movement Study. This study will identify issues causing congestion and problems with the transportation of goods in the area and will result in great improvements in how trucks come in and out of the region.

While driving into the region typically has not been a problem, getting to the DUKE Heights via public transit has posed some difficulties for employees, customers and business owners alike. Recent investments in transit infrastructure by the City and the Province, will soon be making drastic changes to all of that! In December of 2017 the Toronto-York-Spadina Subway Extension will be complete and will add two new subway stations within our boarders. Currently the newly named Sheppard West Station sits just across the street from our BIA. Visitors to our area also have access to the York University GO Station and some of the most utilized bus lines in the GTA. However, our TTC access will soon become even more connected to the rest of Toronto with the connections made by the Downsview Park Station the Finch West Station and our neighboring York University and Pioneer Stations. These new subway stops will connect our business community via transit to both the downtown core and to Vaughan region. Going East-West we will also have the addition of the Finch West LRT in 2022 beginning at the Finch West Station. Once these new transit options are connected, the Finch West Station will be one of the busiest transit stops in Canada and will make DUKE Heights the most connected BIA in Toronto.

This has been great news for our current business owners and for those moving into our region. Having a business that is easily accessible from all directions and via multiple forms of transportation, means that businesses have access to a diverse pool of employees and can better attract the employees they need. A better commute to work also means that businesses will save on hiring and training costs, as this can contribute to better employee retention. For service industries, this also means that consumers have better access to your business and makes it possible to expand service hours.

When looking for a new space for your business, one of the best ways to ensure that you have easy access by transit and road without spending more than you make, is to look for an area like the DUKE Heights BIA.