Item - 2013.HL23.6

In April 2012, the Board of Health adopted the Road to Health: Improving Walking and Cycling in Toronto (http://www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/pdf/roadtohealth.pdf), a report which identified the health benefits of active transportation and actions to enable increased and safer walking and cycling in Toronto. In response, the Board of Health requested the Medical Officer of Health and the General Manager of Transportation Services to report back on a pilot program to implement measures such as reduced speed limits, traffic calming and safer intersections. This report, prepared in collaboration with the Transportation Services division, provides an update on the development of the Active Transportation Demonstration Projects, the selection of demonstration areas, and the progress in community engagement and partnership building to date.

Four Active Transportation Demonstration Projects have been identified. These projects represent different types of social and geographic communities across the city. Each community has unique built form, health status, patterns of walking and cycling, and potential needs for active transportation. Community engagement facilitators will work with Transportation Services, Toronto Public Health (TPH), and community members to help share knowledge about the health and safety benefits of active transportation, the range of feasible design options, and community needs and preferences. The project partners will report back on one or more preferred infrastructure changes for active transportation in each area. The project partners will also consider barriers to implementation and ways to overcome these barriers