Dear <<First Name>>,
The Avenue Road Safety Coalition (ARSC) is grateful that there are finally some meaningful changes coming to Avenue Road. The advocacy efforts by individuals and organizations have shown key decision-makers the broad support for significant road and pedestrian safety improvements for the 2.1km stretch of road from Bloor to St. Clair.
But...we're not done yet
Staff's interim response regarding the next Davenport to Dupont segment will be discussed next week at the June 11 Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC) meeting. We were pleased to see that some of the key pedestrian improvements we have been advocating for over the past seven years are being recommended.
- The number of lanes will be reduced from 6 to 4 (plus a turning lane in some places), decreasing traffic speed. What’s more, the City is committing funding to implement these plans – an important milestone.
- A much-needed safe crosswalk at Ramsden Park will be implemented, although funding for this is not yet secured.
- Vehicle safety improvements to the Dupont intersection are also proposed.
We need councillors to hear that there is support for the overall plan, which will finally begin the long-awaited transformation of Avenue Road into a safer street. But you can also ask them to improve some of the plan's details.
The ARSC is disappointed that sidewalks will, for the most part, remain dangerously narrow. These sidewalks:
- Have been declared below minimum city safety standards or regulations to accommodate people with disabilities.
- Were the primary issue initiating the Avenue Road Study.
Ensuring pedestrian safety is more important than saving some parking spots.
While a few painted buffer zones and small parts of the road are blocked off as “pedestrian areas,” the primary safety improvement proposed in the Staff Report is simply to extend curb-side parking hours 24/7. This is not a sufficient solution to make these less-than-meter-wide sidewalks safe and accessible. The City’s proposal retains all 34 of the current Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) spots in this 280-meter segment. However, the City’s parking data shows that these spots are under-utilized. There is also ample parking within a 5-minute walk of the area.
The City can make do with fewer parking spots and should use that space to make sidewalks safer and more accessible. The best part is that no major construction is needed. Our revised proposal better serves community safety and the City’s stated priorities. We would like the City to:
- Prioritize Pedestrian Safety over parking! Repurpose curb lanes (freed up by reduced parking) to create a wider, safer pedestrian space using jersey barriers (similar to CafeTO).
- Create dedicated loading and short-term parking spaces to support local businesses.
- Add pedestrian protection from Roxborough to Dupont on the east side. The proposed intersection reconfiguration may limit future opportunities to address this narrow sidewalk.
- Secure funding for a necessary pedestrian crossing to Ramsden Park.
The City has also received expressions of concern about its proposals to improve vehicle safety at the Dupont intersection. These concerns need to be considered. Here’s how you can help
Please send a letter to urge members of the Toronto East York Community Council to prioritize pedestrian safety by supporting measures to make Avenue Road safer for pedestrians. The sample letter can be edited - it always helps to include some personal reasons about why this issue matters to you. Please don't forget to add your name and postal code at the bottom before submitting.
