As noted here a while ago, the City has had no plans to continue the improvements to Lake Shore Blvd East from Carlaw (where the current WT project ends) to Leslie - including finishing the removal of the Harbour Lead Line rails from the median. I have drawn this to Councillor Fletcher' attention for several months and am happy to report that she got this amendment approved at Council yesterday. "6. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Executive Director, Development Review to report to the Toronto East York Community Council in the first quarter of 2026 on the status of implementation of public realm improvement plans along Lake Shore Boulevard East, between Carlaw Avenue and Leslie Street, including the status of the Transportation Services public messaging sign on Lake Shore Boulevard East, east of Carlaw."
The City Staff have now responded, interestingly (!!) they say that the City cannot do much on Lake Shore East from the Don to Carlaw because the Harbour Lead rail line might be reinstituted, one day. SEE:
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-285191.pdf
"Lake Shore Boulevard East – between Carlaw Avenue and Leslie Street In response to City Council's direction on November 12 and 13, 2025, the following provides an update on public realm conditions and future improvement opportunities along Lake Shore Boulevard East, between Carlaw Avenue and Leslie Street. This segment of Lake Shore Boulevard East was previously reconstructed as part of the reconfiguration of the east end of the Gardiner Expressway and removal of the Leslie Street ramps, completed in approximately 2002. Accordingly, this segment of Lake Shore Boulevard East was not included within the scope of the Lake Shore Boulevard East Public Realm Plan, with the Gardiner East EA recommending that "a boulevard design will be constructed for Lake Shore Boulevard. The design of the boulevard will generally mirror the design of Lake Shore Boulevard east of Carlaw Avenue. "This segment of Lake Shore Boulevard East is largely consistent with the existing conditions to the east and newly constructed conditions to the west, characterized by six lanes of traffic separated by a planted median, with a generous north boulevard incorporating the Lake Shore Boulevard East Trail, a sidewalk, plantings, and several piers retained from the former alignment of the Gardiner Expressway. However, the segment between Carlaw Avenue and Leslie Street will be the last remaining segment of Lake Shore Boulevard East between the Don River and Ashbridges Bay Park without multi-use trails on both sides, with a trail provided only along the north side and sidewalks provided on both sides. Due to limited right-of-way space, it may not be possible to provide a multi-use trail within the south boulevard, or it may require removal of trees planted between the existing sidewalk and roadway.
In addition, the Harbour Lead Line runs within the median for approximately 500 metres east of Carlaw Avenue, whereas it has been removed from the north boulevard between the Don River Bridge and Carlaw Avenue (though the rail corridor has not been formally decommissioned and it remains physically possible to reinstate the Harbour Lead Line should industrial demand in the Port Lands grow and a strong business case be made).As noted above, this segment of Lake Shore Boulevard East was reconstructed in 2002,and no further road work is currently programmed within the 2026-2035 Transportation Services capital plan. Opportunities for public realm improvements can be explored as part of future resurfacing (expected to be required 35-40 years after reconstruction) or as opportunities emerge to bundle with other necessary road work, such as utilities."
Of course, the reinstatement is virtually impossible as Metrolinx said that the line could no longer be connected to their lines (at the Don Yard) and the bridge over the Don that was used by the rails was removed during the work there. This simply means that the City are not prepared to do any 'beautification' of the median where the rails (which have been removed) used to be!
