June Update: Etobicoke York Community Council (EYCC) approved staff recommendations. A copy of the staff report is available at EY14.8.

 

The Mimico Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP) will identify, prioritize and recommend short and long-term improvements to traffic operations and road design to support road safety for all modes of transportation including vulnerable road users (e.g. seniors, school children, people walking and cycling) in the Mimico study area.

The following areas of concern will be addressed:

  • traffic fatalities
  • cut-through traffic and excessive vehicular volume on local roads
  • excessive speeding on local roads
  • non-compliance with traffic regulations and signage
  • road and intersection designs that raise safety concerns

The Mimico Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP) project area is located between Royal York Road to the west, Manchester Street/Burlington Street/Victoria Street to the north, Louisa Street to the east, and Lake Shore Boulevard West to the south. The area also includes Judson Street/Royal York Road intersection and the Newcastle Street /Royal York Road intersection, and will take into account dynamics from a broader context area.

The project area is located between: Newcastle Street and rail corridor to the north, Mimico Creek to the east, Lakeshore Blvd. W. to the south, and Royal York Rd. to the west.

Council Decisions

 Project Description

To date, there have been requests for traffic calming service requests, stop signs, roundabouts, speed reductions and safety assessments. Automated Speed Enforcement results also show high rate of violations.

As part of the evaluation, the City has retained a consultant to conduct an In-Service Road Safety Review (ISSR) of the study area. Using site visits, collision history, traffic counts and other data, this review will identify and prioritize safety issues across the neighbourhoods and options to address them.

What is a Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP)?

In 2018 Etobicoke York Community Council directed City staff to work with the community to develop a comprehensive plan to address community concerns. City staff will use a holistic approach to assess and manage traffic issues within the neighbourhood. The NMP will consider all modes of transportation, with an emphasis on improving conditions for vulnerable road users.

Historically, traffic management issues have been addressed by making changes only to a particular street or intersection. Instead of making one isolated change, a NMP employs a broader, neighbourhood perspective to develop integrated solutions that, together, support local objectives for mobility. Through an NMP approach, the City works with local communities and neighbourhoods to identify short-term improvements that can be implemented in one to five years, as well as a longer-term vision for projects over five years into the future.

Study Process

The participation of local residents and stakeholders is essential to identifying appropriate and effective traffic, speeding and road safety improvements for the neighbourhood.

Following the first Virtual Public Meeting, the NMP process will continue, which involves identifying and implementing ‘quick win’ improvements supported by the community. Long-term improvements will be proposed at a second public meeting for feedback. Once completed, a final Mimico Mobility Plan (two to ten year implementation) will be shared on this project web page.

Etobicoke York Community Council

Many factors are considered when providing recommendations to Council including public opinion, technical considerations, policy considerations, costs and timelines.

As part of the approval process, staff reported to the Etobicoke York Community Council (EYCC) on June 3, 2024.

EYCC approved the plan recommendations and staff will begin planning for implementation.

  • View the staff report at EY14.8

    News and Updates

    Highlights of the plan and specific recommendations that required Community Council approval include the following:

    • Traffic calming (speed humps and speed cushions) on 16 streets across the neighbourhood
    • Speed limit reductions from 40 km/h to 30 km/h on streets currently signed at 40 km/h where speed humps or speed cushions are recommended
    • An all-way stop at the intersection of Albert Avenue and Stanley Avenue
    • An all-way stop at the intersection of Stanley Avenue and Victor Avenue
    • Further feasibility work to be done related to on-street permit parking
    • Pedestrian crossing improvements (e.g., curb extensions and high visibility crosswalks) at eight intersections in the neighbourhood
    • Further investigation of a pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Mimico Avenue and Station Road, the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Louisa Street, and the intersection of Stanley Avenue and Elizabeth Street

    Directional changes previously proposed on Cavell Avenue and Mimico Avenue are not being recommended.

    EYCC also requested staff to:

    • Investigate opportunities for on-street permit parking in the Mimico neighbourhood and investigate expanding on-street permit parking time within a 500 metre radius of Royal York Road and Judson Street GO station entrance within the study area to 12 a.m. – 10 a.m.
    • Review pedestrian crossing options at the intersections of Stanley Avenue and Elizabeth Street, and Mimico Avenue and Station Road once the construction at St. Leo Catholic School located at 165 Stanley Avenue has been completed.
    • Investigate opportunities for designated pick-up/drop-off areas near schools in the Mimico neighbourhood south of the rail line, east of Royal York Road, north of Lake Shore Boulevard West and west of Louisa Street and Manchester Park.

    Public Drop-in Meeting 2

    The City hosted a drop-in event on December 11, 2023 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Members of the public were able to view project information panels and speak with staff one-on-one.  The meeting was attended by over 100 participants. Public consultation was also conducted with an online survey, by phone and by mail. A meeting summary will be provided on this web page.

    Meeting Materials

    Consultation Report

    Virtual Public Meeting 1

    The City hosted a virtual public meeting on June 14, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Members of the public were invited to provide feedback and ask questions. Public consultation was conducted online, by phone and by mail. The meeting was attended by 39 participants. A meeting summary will be provided on this web page.

    Meeting Materials

    • Presentation (Excessive Speeding Slide 18 revised June 14, 2022)

    Mapping Comments

    • Feedback received from online mapping tool (closed for comment June 28, 2022).

    Consultation Report

    Stakeholder Interviews

    Individual one-on-one meetings with local stakeholders like schools, businesses and other local organizations will help confirm local issues and discuss the specific opportunities and challenges (e.g. school drop off and pickup, nearby intersections, parking, etc.).

    A range of options are proposed and planned to improve traffic operations and road design to support road safety for all modes of transportation. An overview of the actions proposed are summarized below.

    Map showing recommendations for the Mimico Neighbourhood Mobility Plan including intersection improvements & new pedestrian crossings; speed humps to address excessive speeding & make local routes less attractive for through trips; directional changes to discourage through trips on local streets; proposed bikeway improvements on Royal York Road; and implementation of bikeway improvements on Superior Avenue.

    Background: Planned Cycling Facilities

    Due to the condition of the street and sewers, Superior Avenue has a programmed road resurfacing and sewer upgrade commencing in March 2024. The Superior Avenue bikeways are bundled with the planned work. Council approval was sought earlier in the process so the work could begin. The design has been approved by City Council for implementation in 2024 Agenda Item History – 2023.IE4.3 (toronto.ca). This means that the plan for Superior Avenue does not require further approvals.

    Designs for Superior Avenue were developed in advanced of the Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP) and then modified based on the feedback received. Originally, the City was planning to replace the existing shared lane markings and install uni-directional cycle tracks (one westbound track and one eastbound track) and safety enhancements on Superior Avenue from Stanley Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard West. In response to consultations with residents, the design has been revised (see Planned Changes below).

    These changes aim to address excessive speeding, aggressive driving, and may also discourage non-local traffic on local streets. These were key concerns identified by the community in the first phase of engagement for the Mimico NMP. For Superior Avenue residents, community feedback is critical and has informed the final design.

    Planned Changes

    On April 17, 2024, City Council approved item IE12.8 to update design elements to support reducing motor vehicle speeds with the addition of on-street parking for Superior Avenue and include:

    • Buffered bike lanes on both sides of the street to replace original design of cycle tracks, placed curbs, and bollards
    • Retention of on-street parking on the north side of the street
    • After a standard review period, before and after motor vehicle speed data will be reviewed to implement safety adjustments to the project, if necessary, in consultation with the local Councillor

    Proposed Parking Management Measures

    Proposed change:

    • Residential on-street permits which entitle permit holders to park their car on the street within a specified area exclusively during permit parking hours, including overnight
    • Can be implemented with Community Council approval and positive local resident polling

    Impacts

    • Addresses concerns around potential reduced on-street parking on Superior Avenue, Mimico Avenue
    • Addresses concerns around on-street parking on Cavell Ave. related to Mimico GO
    • Reduces speeding on local streets

    Subscribe for Updates

    Please email Maogosha Pyjor at MimicoStreets@toronto.ca to be added to the project list and to stay informed.