Making Bloor Street a Complete Street

Friends,

The Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension between Runnymede Road and Resurrection Road aims to make travel on the street safer, more inviting, and attractive for everyone. 

I am pleased to share that the public consultation is complete and that Transportation Services will be recommending installation of complete street elements on Bloor Street West from Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road as well as accompanying changes to the South Kingsway intersection. 

If approved, phase 1 from Runnymede Road to Aberfoyle Crescent will be installed in summer of 2023.

This is great news for all road users.

Proposed changes to the street include road safety improvements, cycle tracks, and public realm upgrades to meet Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and Climate Change Action Plan goals.

Changes to Bloor Street West will be made with materials that can be installed quickly, such as bollards, roadway paint, planters and signage. No major road reconstruction is planned.

In Ward 4, Highlights of the proposed design on Bloor Street West include the following:

• Reducing the speed limit to 40km/hr between Runnymede Road and Kipling Avenue;
• New cycle tracks with physical separation on both sides;
• One motor vehicle lane removed in each direction between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent;
• Centre lane or median converted to new, centre left-turn lane from Armadale Avenue to South Kingsway; Old Mill Drive to Riverside Drive
• Westbound bus lane and right-turn lane on the north side of Bloor Street West from Armadale Avenue to Jane Street;
• On-street parking retained on both sides of the street from Runnymede Road to Armadale Avenue, and in existing parking lay-bys from Armadale Avenue to Aberfoyle Crescent (in the summer, on-street parking can become cafés beside the sidewalk as part of the CaféTO program);

Highlights of the proposed design at the South Kingsway intersection include the following:

• New cycle tracks and removal of one motor vehicle lane per direction on Bloor Street West;

• Close the eastern entrance of Mossom Road to southbound vehicles in order to improve safety and predictability of motor vehicle movements at the intersection. The majority of pedestrian collisions have occurred with drivers turning across the South Kingsway crosswalk with pedestrians having the right-of-way. Two irregular driving manoeuvers would no longer be allowed with the proposed closure to the eastern entrance. Mossom Road would be converted to two-way travel for part of its length to provide residential access. A new left-turn lane would be provided at Riverside Drive and the existing left-turn restriction from Bloor Street West would be removed;
• Extend the length of left-turn lanes for drivers turning from Bloor Street West onto South Kingsway and Jane Street; and
• Add more green signal time for the busiest motor vehicle movements.
• More details on the proposed changes are available here: ca/BloorWest

As part of the approval process, staff will report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on June 5, 2023. You can see the staff report here: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.IE4.3

If you wish to register to speak to this item in person or virtual at Infrastructure and Environment Committee or if you wish to submit written comment, please email [email protected]. Registered speakers will be provided with instructions on connecting to the meeting.

IEC will also be streamed live online at www.youtube.com/TorontoCityCouncilLive

You can also contact my office by email at [email protected] or by phone at 416-392-7919 to share your feedback.

I look forward to continuing to work with you to make our streets and neighbourhoods safer.

 

Best,

Gord

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In this week's newsletter

• New Public Space at the Dowling Avenue Bridge
• 1229 Queen Street West Pre-Application Open House
• Reminder: 1728 Bloor St. West Community Consultation Meeting
• -Parkdale Community Recreation Centre's (CRC) CampTO Explore program  - Registration Now Open
• Toronto Police Services Board Seeks Input from the Public for its Four-year Strategic Plan

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New Public Space at the Dowling Avenue Bridge

The City of Toronto is conducting a Bridge Replacement Feasibility Study for the Dunn Avenue and Dowling Avenue bridges. The study will identify a preferred type of bridge and alignment for these important connections to the city’s waterfront and consider how the bridge replacements can provide a high-quality pedestrian and cycling experience.

As part of the Feasibility Study, the City is also proposing a new public space at the end of Dowling Avenue (north landing of the Dowling Avenue bridge).

There is an opportunity to learn more about the new public space and provide feedback to inform the next stage of its design.

More information on this project can be found here: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-consultations/infrastructure-projects/dunn-dowling-bridge-replacement-study/

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1229 Queen Street West Pre-Application Open House

Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre is proposing to build affordable, supportive housing on site of the Parkdale Health Centre, 1229 Queen St West.

An open house information session to share plans for proposed housing at 1229 Queen St West and to hear feedback on the initial concept plans will take place on:

Wednesday, June 7th, 2023

6:30pm – 8:00pm (drop by anytime!)

Location: 1229 Queen Street West (Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre)

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff will be in attendance.

More information please visit Housing | Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre (pqwchc.org)

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Reminder: 1728 Bloor St. West Community Consultation Meeting

A Re-zoning application has been submitted for 1728 Bloor Street West. (Current site of Tim Horton's at N/E corner of Bloor St west and Indian Grove)

The application proposes a 19-storey mixed-use tower with ground floor retail and 99 dwelling units. Access to a three-storey underground parking system would be provided from Indian Grove.

Information submitted to the City by the applicant is available for your review under 'supporting Documents' on the City's Application Information Centre at:

https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-information-centre/ .

To allow you to learn more about the application, ask questions, and gather feedback, City Planning will be holding a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, June 6^th, 2023, from 6 - 7:30 PM.

Register to attend the virtual community meeting at: http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations

I will chair the meeting, which includes presentations from both City Planning staff and the applicant, followed by a Q&A period to allow for discussion.

To register for the meeting, visit the City Planning Engagement Website at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-consultations/city-planning-consultations/ 

More information is also available below.

I look forward to seeing you online.

 

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Parkdale Community Recreation Centre's (CRC) CampTO Explore program  - Registration Now Open

The Parkdale CRC's CampTO Explore program is a fun and creative full-day experience for participants 6 – 12 years of age. Participants will enjoy games, arts and crafts, sports and more while making new friends. Water play or Swim days will also be enjoyed. A trip or on-site special experience will be included, such as themed-events, clinics, or workshops to further enhance the camp program.

For more information on how to register please visit the City's website here: CampTO – City of Toronto or call the Parkdale Community Recreation Centre: 416-392- 6696

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Toronto Police Services Board Seeks Input from the Public for its Four-year Strategic Plan

The Toronto Police Services Board (the Board) invites the public to contribute to the development of its four-year strategic plan, which sets out the key policing priorities for our communities. 

The Board is now seeking input from the broader public in determining the key priorities that should guide the Toronto Police Service (the Service) over the next four years. 

Members of the public are invited to suggest up to three priorities on which the Service should focus over the next four years. Submissions can be made anonymously until July 31, 2023, through the following form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Feedback-from-Community-Members

All submissions will be reviewed and considered as part of the development of the strategic plan. The Board aims to review the plan in early 2024.

For more information please visit their website at: Toronto Police Services Board - Toronto Police Services Board Seeks Input from the Public for Its Four-Year Strategic Plan (tpsb.ca)