On October 15, 2020, Toronto and East York Community Council approved a motion by Councillors Matlow and Layton to study the feasibility of a pedestrian safety improvement pilot project. The Toronto and East York Community Council:
- Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to Toronto and East York Community Council in the fourth quarter of 2020 or as soon as possible, on the feasibility of a pedestrian safety improvement pilot project on Avenue Road between Davenport Road and St. Clair Avenue West, which would include but not be limited to:
- lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h;
- occupying curb lanes on both sides of Avenue Road and dedicating them for pedestrian use by separating them from live traffic with sturdy barriers and providing ramp access to existing sidewalks;
- regularly monitoring and adjusting the setup as needed;
- providing clear timelines and identifying any potential issues that would need to be addressed in order to go ahead with pilot implementation; and
- including findings as part of the Avenue Road Feasibility Study.
The aim of the Avenue Road Safety Coalition is to encourage the city to set up a pilot project that would widen Avenue Road sidewalks between St. Clair Avenue West and Bloor Street West. This goal is supported by the following 21 Toronto-wide organizations.
- 8 80 Cities
- ABC Residents Association
- Amica Senior Lifestyles
- Annex Residents’ Association
- Bells on Bloor
- Brentwood Towers Tenants Association
- Brown Junior Public School and Parent Council
- Church of the Redeemer
- Clark Faber Fiksel LLP
- Cottingham Junior Public School and Parent Council
- Cottingham Square Community Association
- Cycle Toronto Midtown
- De La Salle College “Oaklands”
- Deer Park Residents Group
- Friends and Families for Safe Streets
- ISKCON Toronto – Hare Krishna Temple
- Pears on the Avenue Condo Residents
- Rathnelly Area Residents Association
- Clare MultiFaith Housing Society
- Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition
- Walk Toronto
