April 28, 2024 - Can you believe it has been a year since we gathered in Ramsden Park to celebrate making the Midtown Yonge Complete Street permanent? From Bloor to Davisville, more people are out on the street for a stroll or with a destination in mind, more people are taking advantage of a protected and connected cycling route to get around and, with the weather warming up, we can expect to see renewed plantings and greenery as well as bustling patios and on-street cafes for everyone to enjoy.
The momentum is building for safer and complete streets in Midtown but we need our positive voices to keep up the pressure and get it done! Here’s how you can help….
Email the Infrastructure and Environment Committee today to show your support for the eglintonTOday Complete Street
Back in 2014, City Council approved Eglinton Connects that set out a new vision for a complete street on Eglinton Ave from Mt. Dennis in the west to Kennedy in the east.
With the eglintonTOday Complete Street project coming to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on May 2nd, we are one step closer to realizing Council’s vision.
Similar to Bloor, Danforth and Midtown Yonge, the eglintonTOday Complete Street project will use a quick build approach to connect the cycling infrastructure installed around the Eglinton LRT stations by Metrolinx, upgrading to a permanent complete street through other road work and development.
Phase 1 of the project is from Keele Street to Mt. Pleasant and is recommended for implementation in 2024, Phase 11 of the project is from Mt. Pleasant to Brentcliffe and consultations are recommended to start this year for a 2025 implementation.
From Brentcliffe to Kennedy, protections are to be added to the on-street bike lanes by the City when Metrolinx completes their work. In the end, we will have a 19 km transportation corridor running through the middle of Toronto that supports all modes of transportation, including the lower carbon alternatives of mass transit, cycling and walking.
Email the Infrastructure and Environment Committee today to register your support for the eglintonTOday Complete Street and ask that the Midtown Yonge Complete Street be extended north to Eglinton as soon as possible.
Email IEC now here.
Learn more about the eglintonTOday Complete Street Project here.
Stay tuned: 2025-2027 Near-term Cycling Network Plan at IEC on May 28th
Fingers crossed that an extension of the Midtown Yonge Complete Street will be in this plan.
We will be in touch regardless to bring the voices of Yonge4All to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee to advocate for an extension. In the meantime, you can support Cycle Toronto’s campaign to:
Complete all major routes (including Yonge Street) by 2030
Close the gaps and build connections by building 50 k of bike lanes per year
Construct complete streets by default and always build back better
Learn more and to sign the petition here.
Improvements in the works to the Midtown Yonge Complete Street
In 2023 Yonge4All conducted a detailed audit of the Midtown Yonge Complete Street, from Bloor to Davisville; a report of the findings was created and shared with the local Councillors (Matlow and Saxe) and some of the easy fixes were also called in to 311. Below we have provided some updates we’ve received from the City along with potential timing.
• As of the spring of 2024, the City has responded to many of the 311 issues, including installing missing or broken bollards at Alcorn Avenue, Farnham Avenue and Jackes Avenue. This will help to limit vehicles who park illegally on sidewalks, block crosswalks, and interrupt bike lanes.
• All wayfinding signage will be updated by the City for downtown in 2024 and for midtown in 2025.
• The City will be improving the section of Yonge Street between Shaftsbury Street and the LCBO driveway with plantings, seating, permanent patio space, and poured-in-place concrete barrier to improve cycling safety.
• The City is considering installing a mid-block crossing with a centre median refuge area near the entrance to Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
• ZICLA transit platform ramps have been upgraded from metal to plastic at MacPherson Avenue on Yonge Street.
• Transportation Services will release an updated dashboard in June of this year, and to include motor vehicle travel times and multi-modal count volumes. See existing dashboards.
The City’s Transportation Services and Planning departments are working to update the City’s Streetscape Manual, which will result in new developments incorporating permanent improvements to the cycling and pedestrian realm along Yonge Street. The manual is anticipated to be adopted and posted this year.
Reminder: If you see a missing bollard, broken pavement or faded paint, submit maintenance requests to 311.
Join our Jane’s Walk on May 4th
Grab your walking shoes and join Walk Toronto and Yonge4All to explore life on the sidewalk! How do sidewalks impact our daily journeys in the city? They are the life-lines that connect us to our workplaces, schools, shops, leisure activities and each other. But do they improve our journey or make it less enjoyable?
Join us for a walk on the newly installed Yonge Complete Street to consider how elements of sidewalk design can improve or possibly hinder pedestrian movement and urban life and what can be done to make the journey better.
Learn more about Yonge4All here.
