The transformation of Royal York Road started in the 1920s with the development of The Kingsway, an affluent residential area, and continued in the 1930s with the growth of Humber Valley Village.

By the 1950s, as more surrounding areas were developed, the entire length of Royal York Road was fully paved, creating a more accessible and connected thoroughfare.

In recent years, Royal York Road has undergone several infrastructure projects to improve its functionality.

However, these lanes have faced criticism for being too narrow, not meeting the 1.5-meter minimum standard recommended by the [1]Transportation Association of Canada, which the City of Toronto follows.

Royal York subway station on the Bloor-Danforth line is the major transit terminal that these services feed into.