ActiveTO delivers 65 kilometres of Quiet Streets, closes more roads this weekend
TORONTO, ON., June 10, 2020 — Toronto Mayor John Tory announced today that the City of Toronto, through ActiveTO, has now delivered 65 kilometres of Quiet Streets along 32 neighbourhood routes across Toronto.
Quiet Streets are shared space to allow residents to maintain physical distancing, while getting around on neighbourhood streets. Signage and a temporary, sometimes steel barricade will be placed at intersections to encourage slow, local vehicle access only so the roadway can be a shared space that welcomes people who walk, run or bike as an alternative to riding transit. Parking and drop off areas are not impacted and City services, such as waste collection and emergency access, continue as normal. Quiet Street locations were prioritized based on several factors including population density, equity and access, access to greenspace, nearby attractions, traffic volumes and other considerations.
Locations are based on neighbourhood use, and City staff have been returning to locations to address on-street issues as they arise. This may include work such as adjusting the size and placement of temporary barriers and reviewing the types of barriers to support safety as well as space for on-street parking. A survey for people who use Quiet Streets is planned to help the City evaluate the effectiveness of existing locations.
“The Quiet Streets program has provided an enormous amount of space for people to respect physical distancing and help us stop virus spread,” said Mayor John Tory. “The ActiveTO programs are being installed in record time and the feedback I’ve heard from many people who are using the spaces has been tremendously positive. Staff will continue to work to address any issues and improve these installations.”
The Quiet Streets program was officially launched on May 14 and was initially anticipated that approximately 57 kilometres would be installed. In just over three weeks, all planned and approved locations are now in place and, thanks to feedback from councillors and the public, an additional eight kilometres of Quiet Streets were added.
ActiveTO Major Road Closures this weekend:
More than 10 kilometres of ActiveTO Major Roads will again be closed this weekend, from Saturday, June 13 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, June 14 at 11 p.m.:
- Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road. As a result, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed.
- Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only) from Leslie Street to just south of Woodbine Avenue (Kew Beach Avenue)
- Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue.
Vehicle access on these sections of major roads will not be permitted to allow for walking, running and biking. The City will actively manage traffic during these closures through signal timing adjustments on adjacent routes and roadway signage to alert drivers. Motorists who normally travel these roads on weekends should plan alternate routes. Those expecting to use the major road closures to cycle, run or walk should access them by bike or as a pedestrian, since nearby parking is limited and site parking is not provided.
Major road closures are installed adjacent to City trails to make space for people, alleviate weekend and holiday crowding, and ensure there is room to be physically active and support physical distancing. These closures continue to happen on a trial basis and staff are actively monitoring nearby routes and adjusting the closures as necessary.
ActiveTO Cycling Network update:
Toronto City Council has also approved the ActiveTO cycling network plan. It’s part of the largest expansion of Toronto’s on-street bike network ever in one year and will include a total of about 40 kilometres of new cycling routes for 2020.
The cycling network is being expanded quickly through temporary installations by repurposing curb lanes along several key corridors. The first kilometre of new, safe temporary bikeway was installed last week along Dundas Street East, between Sackville Street and Broadview Avenue. The next locations that staff are immediately planning for are along University Avenue/Queen’s Park Crescent, between Adelaide Street West and Bloor Street West, on Bayview Avenue between River Street and Rosedale Valley Road, and on Bloor Street, between Avenue Road and Sherbourne Street.
The ActiveTO program was developed by Toronto Public Health and Transportation Services to provide more space for people to be physically active and improve physical distancing as part of the City’s restart and recovery in the wake of COVID-19. All ActiveTO initiatives have been created to be adaptable, flexible and temporary.
More information on ActiveTO, including an online map of all locations, is available at toronto.ca/activeTO.
CurbTO update:
The CurbTO program continues to immediately address locations where there is sidewalk crowding and temporary parking concerns around businesses. To date, 82 pedestrian curb lane zones have been installed, 61 temporary parking pick-up zones, and five locations have had sidewalks widened into the curb lane.
Details about CurbTO, including a new map and links to the business application are at toronto.ca/curbTO.
SOURCE City of Toronto
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