Bring on the Bloor West Complete Street Extension!

At long last, the City of Toronto has announced two public consultations for the Bloor West complete street extension. The first one will be held on Wednesday, April 12 (6:00 to 8:00 PM) at Swansea Public School (207 Windermere Avenue) and the second on Thursday, April 13 (6:00 to 8:00 PM) at Etobicoke Collegiate Institute (86 Montgomery Road). While I encourage those who support extending the Bloor bike lanes west to Six Points to attend, those who are unable to can submit their feedback online by Thursday, April 27. Let’s review what’s included in the plan.

Rendering of Humber River Bridge - All photos are from the City of Toronto's project website

Change in Scope

Originally, Phase 1 of the Bloor West project was expected to go from Runnymede to Royal York Roads (3.0 kilometres). An additional 700 metres has been added so that it crosses Mimico Creek to Aberfoyle Crescent for a total of 3.7 kilometres; thus leaving one kilometre for Phase 2 from Aberfoyle to Resurrection Road. Both phases are covered in the presentation materials – detailed street plans for Phase 1 and preliminary designs for Phase 2 – and will go to the Infrastructure & Environment Committee (and City Council) in June. If approved, Phase 1 will be installed this summer followed by Phase 2 in 2024.

The project will include construction of a missing sidewalk between Prince Edward and Kingscourt Drives per the below image, improvements to the Bloor – South Kingsway intersection, and accessibility improvements at other intersections.

Bloor West Village

The proposed street design through Bloor West Village from Runnymede to Jane Street is almost identical to what currently exists east of Runnymede with one traffic lane per direction and parking possible on both sides. While the westbound cycle track will be straight all across, some eastbound cyclists may not be happy with the constant turns going in and out of the parking lay-bys. A full reconstruction will be needed in Bloor West Village to straighten the cycle track which I don’t expect to happen anytime soon. As with other parts of Bloor-Danforth and Midtown Yonge, parking can be converted to CaféTO patios.

Given up to 25 buses turn right onto Jane Street per hour, a bus only lane exists for a short stretch past Armadale Avenue which turns into a right turn lane. Raised platforms will be placed on both sides of Jane Street to accommodate bus loading while still providing protection for cyclists. To further improve safety, I would suggest dedicated right turn and bicycle signals as what was done at Bloor and Parkside.

South Kingsway Intersection

Given a 12-storey development expected to require construction staging until 2026, improving the South Kingsway intersection will take a phased approach and require further consultation next year. The biggest proposed change will involve closing off Mossom Road and turning it into a cul-de-sac. Dedicated right turn and bicycle signals will be added eastbound at South Kingsway, while southbound left turns will be restricted out of Riverview Gardens.

Crossing the Humber

Two traffic lanes and a centre turning lane are used from Old Mill Drive to Kingscourt Drive, while the centre lane is replaced with a painted median on the Humber River bridge and painted concrete walls are proposed from Old Mill Drive to Old Mill Trail. The inclusion of a racialized cargo bike rider for the rendering at Old Mill Terrace is a nice touch reflecting the growing diversity of our cycling community.

The Kingsway

The Kingsway has several large centre medians and parking bays on both sides. The concern of constant cycle track turns found in Bloor West Village is repeated through The Kingsway, but happens on both sides. Again, it would take full road reconstruction to reduce this impact. As with other parts of Bloor, one traffic lane per direction will be maintained.

The detailed design at Royal York Road calls for bike boxes on all four corners. Something I wished was replaced with a protected intersection, but still an improvement.

I would also suggest removing one of the four lanes of Royal York on both sides of Bloor to allow for the existing bike lanes to be extended right to the intersection per this Streetmix rendering I prepared.

Towards Six Points

The stretch from Montgomery Road to Aberfoyle Crescent calls for two traffic lanes plus a centre turning lane and parking on one side. As with the Humber River Bridge, the Mimico Creek Bridge will use a painted median instead of a centre turning lane, but with parking curbs and bollards. The Aberfoyle to Green Lanes stretch is 22 metres wide which makes it possible to accommodate parking on both sides in addition to two traffic lanes and a centre turning lane.

The design from the GO rail underpass to Resurrection Road is lopsided with two westbound traffic lanes and one eastbound lane because of the narrower eastbound roadway at six metres wide. This allows for jersey barriers to be used going eastbound and smaller parking curbs and bollards going westbound.

Bringing It Home

In addition to attending either of the two consultations and/or completing the online survey, you can show your support for the Bloor West extension by signing and sharing the petition, as well as e-mailing Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca), Councillor Gord Perks (councillor_perks@toronto.ca), and Councillor Amber Morley (councillor_morley@toronto.ca). A decision on the Bloor Street Integrated Project in Mississauga is expected this spring which will impact the design from Six Points to Mississauga, so be sure to follow Mississauga Cycling Now! to stay informed on that campaign.

Eventually, we will get the job done of bike lanes on Bloor all the way to Mississauga!