Item - 2013.PW22.10

"Complete streets" is a relatively new term that quite simply describes streets that have been designed with all users in mind; the motorists, street car and bus riders, cyclists, pedestrians and those with disabilities.  A complete street is therefore, one where a variety of policies, bylaws and infrastructure have come together to make the public right-of-way fully multi-modal wherever possible.  While it may not be possible to accommodate every type of user on every street, the goal should be to build a city where every user group has a well-functioning network so that people can travel easily and safely.

As one can see in other Canadian cities, as near as Markham, Ontario, and as far as Whitehorse, Yukon, transportation planners and policy makers are seeing streets in a much more holistic manner.  In doing so, their communities stand to gain through reduced infrastructure costs, safety, social and environmental benefits, expanded mobility options and a more attractive and livable public realm.

This is accomplished when all stakeholders in the right-of-way are involved in the planning and decision making in order to create a transportation system that works for everyone. Instead of pitting one against another, this approach can lead to greater cooperation amongst the many different users and stakeholders.  It can also lead to improvements that don't have to benefit one user at the expense of another, which is all too often the case in the city today.

The City of Toronto does have a variety of strategies, polices and guidelines such as the Walking Strategy, the Bike Plan and Urban Design Guidelines, to name a few.  Considered individually, each has the goal and capacity to improve the public realm, move people better and improve the livability of our city.  What's missing is a Complete Streets Policy; one that integrates them all and can be applied when there is an opportunity to improve the street from building line to building line, and accommodate all users.