The TTC has decided to look at whether adding more express buses would help cut crowding on some of the city’s busiest routes.

The TTC board approved a study on Wednesday after Josh Colle, a councillor who sits on the board, suggested adding express service might be a helpful and inexpensive option while Toronto awaits more subways and LRTs.

“We have incessant, non-stop transit debates that all require massive amounts of capital to advance them. We have buses — we have new articulated buses,” said Colle (Ward 17, Eglinton-Lawrence).

He’s not suggesting the TTC cut any regular routes. An express bus on a route such as Dufferin or Bathurst could travel along the same corridor, but with fewer stops, to take riders to key destinations.

It would be similar to the GO train express service: Lakeshore West riders, for example, can take an express train from Union Station directly to Oakville, or they can take a regular train that stops several times before Oakville.

“This is simply on busy routes where we have large numbers in those peak hours. … What a great way to move people quicker,” Colle said.

The TTC already runs 11 rush-hour-only express buses, mostly in the east and west ends, away from the downtown core. It also has six all-day “rocket” buses and five downtown express routes that run in the peak hours only and charge a double fare for the service.

All of the express services run Monday to Friday.

TTC staff would also report back on the potential of introducing queue jump lanes, priority signaling and dedicated bus lanes.

It would study, as well, whether express service makes sense on routes that connect major destinations, like the Airport Rocket that connects the Kipling subway with Pearson.

No date was set for TTC staff to report back on the express bus idea.

Colle said the costs would be limited to adding more buses and operators, something the TTC is going to need anyway. It’s possible that if an express bus proved to be a faster, more convenient option, riders would be willing to pay more. But it’s also possible express service would work within the existing fare structure, he said.

Colle recently suggested that the TTC’s overnight buses and streetcars should be free to ride during extreme cold weather alerts.