[urbanflight]

Plans underway to redesign Toronto streets and public spaces

Toronto streets and public spaces could see major transformation fast with COVID-19 clearing the way. Mark McAllister reports on big plans in the works around Yonge and University and what it means for the city of the future.

 

[urbanflight]

Rebirth of the promenade: A proposal for “Canada’s street” shows what is possible in a post-pandemic world

Post-pandemic cities will need more open space. Landscape architects PUBLIC WORK say we can find it by remaking streets – starting with Toronto’s University Avenue

In Toronto, University Avenue could get an overhaul on a grand scale. The landscape architects PUBLIC WORK, the Michael Young Family Foundation and the non-profit Evergreen have a vision they call “University Park.” Their plan would convert 9.5 acres of asphalt into green space, creating a larger network that could be Toronto’s equivalent of La Rambla in Barcelona.

THE PROPOSED PLAN

PUBLIC WORK’s proposal would stretch from Queen’s Park to City Hall, creating nine acres of park space that would connect to a larger 90-acre network.

This would deliver huge benefits: green space to serve thousands of hospital workers and patients from neighbouring institutions; cycling infrastructure; and a place of great symbolic power. “Public space is more important than it’s ever been,” Adam Nicklin, a partner in the firm PUBLIC WORK, said. “And this is Ontario’s street. It’s Canada’s street. It could be the heart of the city.”

The proposal would create a strip of green all the way from Queen’s Park Crescent at Bloor Street, past the University of Toronto’s downtown campus and the provincial legislature, to City Hall. “With those nine acres,” said Nicklin, “it would knit together a continuous system of 90 acres."

How? By turning back the clock. In the 1940s and 1950s, University was reshaped to accommodate subways and a river of car traffic. Vehicle lanes were added; mature trees were destroyed. The University Park proposal – based on an idea PUBLIC WORK developed while working on the city’s 2018 downtown TOCore plan– basically reverses those changes.

It would keep the same traffic flow that exists now, following the installation of bike lanes earlier this year: four lanes of car traffic and two bike lanes. But all vehicles would end up on the west side in a two-way street. The other half of the avenue, which Nicklin calls “an underperforming civic asset," would become largely green space with bike lanes. The impact on vehicle traffic, according to a traffic study commissioned by the Young foundation, would be near zero. But the effect on the city could be enormous.

 

[urbanflight]

Toronto's top doctor in favour of Yonge Street bike lanes

A controversial plan to transform a section of Yonge Street is getting positive reviews from Toronto’s top doctor.

The plan would see a stretch of Yonge in North York reduced from six lanes to four to make way for new bike lanes. The separated lanes would be installed on both side of a three kilometre stretch of the thoroughfare from Sheppard Avenue to Finch Avenue.

The $60 million ‘Tranform Yonge’ plan would also make the stretch more pedestrian-friendly. The plan could see an addition of safer pedestrian crossings, as well as a widening of sidewalks along the stretch.

The staff report will be before next weeks infrastructure and environment committee and as part of the report, a glowing endorsement from Dr. Eileen de Villa. The city’s chief medical officer says the plan will result in more social interaction and encourage active living.

Other items on the council agenda today include a request to look into possibly changing the ratio of full-time to part-time paramedics.

In a report going before council, it says by changing the ratio, more paramedics would have paid sick days to decrease the likelihood of them working in other positions, potentially exposing them to greater risk.

This comes as the union representing Toronto paramedics came out yesterday saying its members are exhausted. overwhelmed, and at a breaking point due to the workload of the COVID-19 pandemic.

City council will also debate a motion to call on the province to withdraw its amendment to the municipal elections act as it relates to ranked ballot elections.

Toronto had recently voted to go ahead with consultations to look into the use of ranked ballots for the 2026 municipal election.

 

[Northern Light]

A list of some of what's underway, proposed or being quietly considered:

1) Downtown Yonge
2) North York Yonge
3) Midtown Yonge (BIA is supportive of bike lanes)
4) University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent
5) Avenue Road (cycle tracks/sidewalk widening under consideration)
6) John Street Revitalization
7) Narrowing Front Street East in favour of wider sidewalks (staff reviewing)

 

[reteequa]

Can also add Ryerson campus realm project. Main part is finished but over the years they want to expand sidewalks and make more flex streets around campus. On church, bond, mutual.

 

[reteequa]

A list of some of what's underway, proposed or being quietly considered:

1) Downtown Yonge
2) North York Yonge
3) Midtown Yonge (BIA is supportive of bike lanes)
4) University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent
5) Avenue Road (cycle tracks/sidewalk widening under consideration)
6) John Street Revitalization
7) Narrowing Front Street East in favour of wider sidewalks (staff reviewing)

How much of front street east? Do you have a link for that one? Have always though sidewalks across from Berczy were ridiculously tight

 

[Northern Light]

Took me awhile to find it!

I first referenced in this post below: (in the 1 Front Street thread) back on Sept 1st.

One Front | 170.86m | 49s | Larco | a—A

If it's anything like Gringotts - then yes they should ;)

urbantoronto.ca

In which its mentioned in this report: (albeit briefly)

https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2020/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-156073.pdf

The relevant quote pulled from said report:

It is noted the City is undergoing an internal streetscape design review to modify the curb line along the Front Street corridor, which include the section of Front Street West that abuts the subject site. Further design of the Front Street West frontage will be explored through the site plan review process.

 

[Northern Light]

Can also add Ryerson campus realm project. Main part is finished but over the years they want to expand sidewalks and make more flex streets around campus. On church, bond, mutual.

Church Street needs attention; Mutual could be better. But Dalhousie from Gould to Dundas suffers due that unfortunate building on the east side, squat but manages to deaden the street and limit sunshine.

Knock that sucker down, start over.

Bring back Calatrava!

Rye ends affair with world-class architect - The Eyeopener

By Eyeopener Staff Santiago Calatrava’s contract termination leaves bold building plan in ruins; forces university back to square one.Plans to construct a multi-million dollar building at Ryerson suffered a major ...

theeyeopener.com

Then get some sunlight onto this road, and a row of trees, no parking and max. the sidewalks.

 

[Undead]

A list of some of what's underway, proposed or being quietly considered:

1) Downtown Yonge
2) North York Yonge
3) Midtown Yonge (BIA is supportive of bike lanes)
4) University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent
5) Avenue Road (cycle tracks/sidewalk widening under consideration)
6) John Street Revitalization
7) Narrowing Front Street East in favour of wider sidewalks (staff reviewing)

Is midtown the proposed Yonge-St. Clair improvements?

Could Eglinton Connects also be part of this? I know it's not funded, but you mentioned proposed so it makes the cut

 

[Northern Light]

Is midtown the proposed Yonge-St. Clair improvements?

Could Eglinton Connects also be part of this? I know it's not funded, but you mentioned proposed so it makes the cut

Spot on!

 

[Undead]

Also Six Points

 

[TossYourJacket]

The relevant quote pulled from said report:

It is noted the City is undergoing an internal streetscape design review to modify the curb line along the Front Street corridor, which include the section of Front Street West that abuts the subject site. Further design of the Front Street West frontage will be explored through the site plan review process.

I was down on Front St for a walk earlier today and I noticed the city has painted over some areas of the street and installed planters to alter where the curbs of the road would be. Most notably, they've completely redesigned the intersection at Church; the dedicated left-turn lane has been painted out, and they've substantially expanded the turn radius around the end of the flatiron building. There was also some changes to turn radius on the east side of the intersection. So far this is just paint and planters, but I'd expect this is probably what they're considering as permanent changes for that area at least.

 

[Northern Light]

I was down on Front St for a walk earlier today and I noticed the city has painted over some areas of the street and installed planters to alter where the curbs of the road would be. Most notably, they've completely redesigned the intersection at Church; the dedicated left-turn lane has been painted out, and they've substantially expanded the turn radius around the end of the flatiron building. There was also some changes to turn radius on the east side of the intersection. So far this is just paint and planters, but I'd expect this is probably what they're considering as permanent changes for that area at least.

They have noted they are looking at the section in front of the Dominion Building (1 Front W) and in the corridor.

I would hope, and expect, this would include the south sidewalk generally between Scott and Market, and eliminating the parking/curb lane to permanently support patios/better conditions for trees/wider sidewalks.

There are also some sections further east, George to Sherbourne, south side; and both the north and south sides from Sherbourne to Parliament which are equally narrow.

 

[W. K. Lis]

From link.

People are building a map that helps pedestrians in Toronto navigate No Exit streets

Toronto's 'No Exit' signs are not to be trusted—not if you're a pedestrian, anyway.
Meant specifically for cars, these yellow traffic signs scattered across the city might mislead some travelling by foot to think that cul-de-sacs and dead ends are all that wait beyond.
But there are accessible alleyways and sidewalks on the other side waiting to be explored, you just have to know where to look.

Walk Toronto's map (by @Sean_YYZ) of "No Exit" streets that actually have walking exits is coming along - thank you for all the input! Over 60 locations so far, and more to come. Let us know of any we don't have yet. #NoExitTO #walkTO #bikeTO https://t.co/N5qzltGzdS
— Walk Toronto (@Walk_TO) January 28, 2021

Toronto's pedestrian advocacy group is helping walkers and, in some cases, cyclists, dodge those tricky 'No Exit' signs with a new crowdsourced map.
So far, there are more than 60 non-dead ends identified on Walk Toronto's map, and the number is growing.
Blue icons mark where pedestrians can exit, and green means that cyclists can too. Exits with stairs have their own markers, to warn about accessibility challenges. Users can submit by tweeting or e-mailing the group.
According to Walk Toronto, the prevalence of these misleading 'No Exit' signs exposes Toronto's "car-centric transportation planning."
"Everyone's walking around their neighbourhood a lot more now. We're seeing things more detailed than we used to and realizing all the incongruities," says Dylan Reid of Walk Toronto.

When our city is so car-centric that they assume that signs will only be read by drivers, that hurts us all. Yes, it's a little thing, but it's the little things that make up a big city.

Why not "Pedestrian exit only", or "No exit for motor vehicles"? The drivers would 11/
— Vex: the very model of a modern major gender role! (@The_Terroirist) September 13, 2020

Walk Toronto's map was inspired by a Toronto resident's encounter with a misleading 'No Exit' sign this past fall that led to discovering an entirely new part of their neighbourhood.
The solution is simple, says the group: new signs saying 'Pedestrians Excepted" or 'No Exit for Motor Vehicles' signs could easily replace the generic 'No Exit' sign. Walk Toronto says it's just the first step in a larger campaign for more inclusive signage citywide.
"The next step will be to talk to a councillor, Paul Fletcher has been supportive, and hopefully move from there," says Reid. "We need to change the city so that its not just about cars and drivers."

Go to link.

 

[JasonParis]

"People" includes a mod of this very forum!