Item - 2015.TE7.64

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the initiation of a Functional Street Design Study for Yonge Street from Queen Street to Gerrard Street by Transportation Services in consultation with City Planning and with input from other appropriate City Divisions (as described in Downtown Yonge Street Studies - Information Report, dated December 10, 2012) and community stakeholders.

2.  City Council receive for information, the report (December 10, 2012) from the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, entitled “Downtown Yonge Street Studies - Information Report”.

3.  City Council receive for information, the report (June 11, 2013) from the Acting Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, entitled “Celebrate Yonge - Post Event Review”.

This report recommends that Council authorize staff to initiate a study of Yonge Street from Queen Street to Gerrard Street, to explore design options for streetscaping and public realm improvements that would increase pedestrian space and have regard for cyclists through the narrowing of the roadway, including the potential reduction of traffic lanes. This study would be undertaken as a Functional Street Design Study.

This initiative would inform considerations for potential improvements to the broader Yonge Street corridor outside this segment that serves the Downtown, from Davenport Road to the Waterfront. This broader Yonge Street corridor is being considered as part of the TOcore project, the City's planning and infrastructure study currently underway for the Downtown. The TOcore team will be undertaking a Parks and Public Realm Strategic Master Plan, and will include considerations for public realm improvements along the length of Yonge Street within the Downtown.  

This report recommends the Functional Street Design Study be managed by Transportation Services, in consultation with City Planning, and with input from other appropriate City Divisions.  This study will commence in 2016 and will be funded from Transportation Services' 2016 capital budget.