Montreal seems to push out 1-2 of these street rebuild projects every year, while Toronto has been sitting on the first major street revitalization since 2007. What gives? I can't imagine Montreal having substantially better finances than Toronto (in terms of tax base). Land values are much lower there. Toronto is in budget shortfall while Montreal has many pedestrian-oriented capital projects on the go. Is the city of Toronto just wildly inefficient in spending money compared to Montreal?
While the pace of work, is, at times frustrating, Toronto actually has done several projects.
Queen's Quay had a huge overhaul, so did Bloor (the all granite sidewalks); Market Street, Wellington (east and west), many eons ago now, but St George Street etc etc.
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A quick look at some of the projects currently approved, but which have not yet gone ahead.......
Yonge - downtown
Yonge - North York
John
Bay - Waterfront to Union
UTSC - Military Trail
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Here's what we can say, I think.
1) Montreal has a public utility commission that controls all the underground stuff; this really simplifies coordination.
2) Montreal has been more aggressive w/pilot projects; Toronto did do a bit of this during Covid, which is what led to the Danforth/Bloor and Yonge midtown bike lanes; but we haven't done it much before Covid or since.
3) Toronto is more dependent on development charges than Montreal for capital improvements, these are often paid at time of issuing the first building permits for a proposal. Think of Jack Layton Ferry terminal which has commitments as part of 'The Hub' and 11 Bay, neither of which are going forward currently. The City is loathe to push a project ahead that it thinks can be paid for by charges, but if it uses the latter must wait for the money to flow.
4) Toronto is simply behind in the cycle vs Montreal on some of this stuff; and therefore faces a bit more public opposition (see Kensington)
5) Finally, I would add there really is a lot of internecine fighting in the Toronto bureaucracy. There are lots of good people, trying to do lots of good things and succeeding sometimes. But there are also a lot of obstructive forces, not just in completely different units (say Transportation, Planning, and Parks) but within those same units.
I think it would be naive to assume some of this doesn't exist in some measure in almost every bureaucracy of size. I can't speak intelligently as to how much of an issue this is in Montreal, but I can say, the issue seems out-sized to me in Toronto.
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Looking at the above by the way.......
Yonge Downtown was supposed to start this year, originally, but was pushed out as various agencies weren't ready
Yonge North York was aiming for 2026, not sure if that's still true, but it has to wait for the ring road projects to finish.
John should happen next year.
Bay is tied to the Waterfront East LRT
UTSC is tied to projects led by the University, who will be covering much of the cost of the work.