May 27, 2024 - Yonge4All was founded on the principle that our streets are for everyone and should be safe, regardless of how people choose to travel – whether on foot, by bike, on transit or in a personal vehicle.
We champion complete streets right across the city and we appreciate your past support in this regard. On Tuesday May 28th, the Infrastructure and Environment Committee will meet and discuss two important items (IE14.3 and IE14.4) to advance complete streets in Toronto. We hope you will join us in our call for action!
The most powerful way to show your support is to depute (speak in person or online) to the committee. If you are new to deputing, Cycle Toronto is hosting a deputation workshop on May 27th at noon to help you prepare. Prefer written communication? Email is another great way to let the committee know you’re in favour of safe and inclusive streets for everyone. Use our templates (links below) or write your own for maximum impact.
1. Staff recommends extending the Midtown Yonge Complete Street (IE14.3)
Great news! The Cycling Network Plan Update for projects to be completed in 2025 – 2027 shows the Midtown Yonge Complete Street being extended from Davisville to Eglinton. In addition, a new bikeway is planned on Davisville between Mount Pleasant and Yonge, making it easier for more people to safely connect to Yonge Street.
What’s more, City Council has approved the eglintonTOday Complete Street project. Phase 1 (Mount Pleasant to Keele) is to be implemented in coordination with the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and Phase 2 (Mount Pleasant to Brenticliffe) will be implemented in 2025. Thank you to everyone who wrote in support of this project.
Together, these developments represent a good start in bringing a robust network of complete streets to Midtown with connections right across the city. Yet, we can’t help being disappointed that:
• Yonge Street, north of Eglinton and up to Yonge Blvd, remains a parallel corridor study with Duplex/Jedburgh
• No plans to connect Yonge under the 401 and to the approved REimagining Yonge complete street from Sheppard to Finch
• Extending the complete street on Yonge south of Bloor to the approved YongeTOmorrow project (between College and Queen) is a study
• Connecting Yonge from Queen to Front is a also study
We think Toronto can, and should, do better. The time for studies is past – in 2024 Toronto should not hesitate to complete our busy streets for all mobility needs and prepare for a sustainable future.
Join us in supporting this first extension of the Midtown Yonge Complete Street and requesting the City accelerate the process of remaking all of Yonge as a complete street.
Email the Infrastructure & Environment Committee (IE14.3) here.
2. New connections and a complete street on Avenue Road (IE14.4)
Safety improvements are coming to Avenue Road from Bloor Street to Davenport this year through a complete street implementation, including a reduction in vehicle lanes and speed limits, protected bike lanes and more comfortable walking conditions. While we are pleased to see these improvements, we share the concerns of the Avenue Road Safety Coalition that not enough is being done for pedestrian safety. Specifically, dangerous conditions remain north of Davenport, where sidewalks are unacceptably narrow for anyone walking, pushing a stroller or using a mobility device. Please join our call for the City to do more, now. Read our letter to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, send an email in support and consider speaking to the committee to share your personal experience.
Support Avenue Road safety improvements and email the IEC here.
