Toronto is slashing ActiveTO closures on Lake Shore Boulevard West this summer as it aims to limit attack and access problems for businesses along the coastline.
On Wednesday, the city council accepted the recommendation of city staff to limit the number of ActiveTO closures on the main road.
Instead of recurring weekend closures, they will be “limited special events,” the city said.
Future ActiveTO closures on Lake Shore Boulevard West will be based on a number of factors, including the number and location of scheduled street events in the city over a given weekend.
“Staff will also consider coordinating with other event organizers, as has been done this year with the Heart and Stroke Foundation,” the city added.
ActiveTO was implemented in 2020 and closes selected roads on certain weekends in order to give more space for pedestrians and cyclists to distance themselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have made great progress in reopening Toronto, and that progress will continue. Mayor John Tory in a statement. .
“ActiveTO was a big pandemic program and city staff will work to make sure the program continues where and when possible.”
In a report released Wednesday, Toronto Transportation Services says it has reviewed new traffic data and recommends not closing periodic weekend closures on Lake Shore Boulevard West.
Staff say ActiveTO should only continue on the street in moderation and should be “planned and advertised well” in advance.
“When identifying dates for future ActiveTO closures at LSBW, staff will consider the number and location of scheduled street events this weekend, the impacts of construction on the parallel corridors , Access to Adjacent Sites and Impacts on Traffic “, Barbara Gray, Transportation Services. general manager, wrote in the report.
There are 10 street events planned on Lake Shore Boulevard West this year, compared to zero in 2020 and one in 2021.
The report added that staff considered lane condensation on Lake Shore Boulevard West to accommodate ActiveTO road closures this year, but said existing pedestrian volumes “do not require the implementation of temporary design changes. “.
Many residents have argued the value of ActiveTO road closures given the relatively small number of people taking advantage of car-free roads.
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro has also called for the closure of Lake Shore to be ruled out, sending an open letter to City Hall arguing that it is impossible for baseball fans to get to the Rogers Center for home games. weekend.
However, Toronto Catholic District Board of Trustees, Norm Di Pasquale, sent a letter to Shapiro in response to his comments, saying he was “surprised” that the team did not support the program that promotes outdoor exercise.
“Here we have what is essentially an athletic organization that advocates against the health and well-being of Toronto people who use ActiveTO and use it in large quantities,” he told CP24 on Wednesday.
“You can advocate for better public transportation, but don’t advocate for the physical and mental health of families in downtown Toronto.”
Today’s report details new data collected from the only two ActiveTO closures on Lake Shore West Boulevard so far this year on May 23 and 29.
On May 23, staff said more than four times the number of cyclists and 25 percent more pedestrians were observed on the road, Martin Goodman Trail and the nearby boardwalk compared to the average number observed on both days. earlier that long weekend.
The report also noted the concerns raised by companies about the impact that customers may have on accessing their services during the most recent ActiveTO closures.
Affected businesses identified in the report include Sunnyside Paddling Club, Sunnyside Park, Ontario Place, Exhibition Place and Hotel X.
“After the closure of LSBW on May 29, and for the first time since the program began in 2020, staff received hundreds of complaints calling for an end to the cuts and the reopening of the road to motor vehicles. , alleging frustration with traffic delays and lack of access to these locations, “the report said.
Speaking to CP24 on Wednesday morning before the report was released, Mayor Tory said the city’s goal is to strike a balance between providing road space for summer events and avoiding an excessive amount of clutter.
“We are striking the balance as we can, among those who have to move, which we understand, the neighborhoods that are concerned about traffic in their areas when we close some of these streets and, on the other hand, have a of livable and fun city where people can live the experience of riding down the street, walking or walking, ”he said.
Tory has said earlier that the program will probably not be removed altogether.
Toronto attorney and cycling advocate David Shellnut argues that ActiveTO should stay along Lake Shore Boulevard West to allow residents to enjoy the city’s boardwalk.
“In 2020, we know that every weekend tens, tens of thousands of cyclists and pedestrians were down there using this space. It is right next to our beautiful boardwalk, with lots of business. It’s the kind of area that should be promoted for active public use, rather than as a four- to eight-lane road, “he told CP24.
Shellnut added that roadblocks provide a safe space for cyclists who he says have faced growing collisions on city streets.
“We (cyclists) are getting a lot of people out there. It’s discouraging people from cycling. It’s causing a lot of costs in our health and police systems. We have to really address that.”
The city said ActiveTO closures on Bayview Avenue and The Meadoway will continue throughout the summer.