[txlseries4]

Kensington is such a straightforward pedestrianized area that it's mind-numbing that it isn't already.

The only thing that gives me hope it will be pedestrianized in a couple years following the road reconstruction is the growing demand among the public for these areas. Anyone else who tuned into the TEYCC meeting in June 2023 about the pilot knows how questionable some of the takes were.

One that's stuck with me was a guy who started with praising how amazing Paris' pedestrian zones on Sundays are and how much he hates cars, but then said the proposal would make the area a "disneyland foodcourt", that it already has pedestrian Sundays, and that it would be better to "do big stuff to fix the car problem in all of Toronto, not just do something performative, let's change the city we live in for the better and join the ranks of great cities around the world". Fast forward and the Pedestrian Sunday in May is cancelled because the BIA is concerned about unauthorized vendors lol

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Kensington is such a straightforward pedestrianized area that it's mind-numbing that it isn't already.

Originally, the shoppers of Kensington Market would have lived in the surrounding neighbourhood. They would have walked to and from the shops with their goods.

At one time, the shop owners would have lived on the second or third floor of the premises. These days, the shop owners moved out to the Forest Hill mansions or further out beyond the steppes of Toronto. They would be the ones who drive down to Kensington, and ideally would like to park in front of their shops.

 

[Northern Light]

Originally, the shoppers of Kensington Market would have lived in the surrounding neighbourhood. They would have walked to and from the shops with their goods.

At one time, the shop owners would have lived on the second or third floor of the premises. These days, the shop owners moved out to the Forest Hill mansions or further out beyond the steppes of Toronto. They would be the ones who drive down to Kensington, and ideally would like to park in front of their shops.

Walter, no matter how many times you morph IDs, you still fall into old posting habits. Try not to do that please.

 

[Andy_in_Toronto]

Mike Layton suddenly was opposing the pedestrianization of Kensington market. I was chatting live with him during community consultations.

The reason behind the opposition is not vendors or Disneyland. That is obviously laughable.

Just walk down the street to see how buildings are meant to be redeveloped. Most buildings have one owner. He thinks street car access is vital for the new buildings to come. Follow the money.

Sad the path Mike Layton took here.

 

[Northern Light]

Mike Layton suddenly was opposing the pedestrianization of Kensington market. I was chatting live with him during community consultations.

The reason behind the opposition is not vendors or Disneyland. That is obviously laughable.

Just walk down the street to see how buildings are meant to be redeveloped. Most buildings have one owner. He thinks street car access is vital for the new buildings to come. Follow the money.

Sad the path Mike Layton took here.

Ok......first off.............everyone please note that Kengsington is about pedestrianization............NOT cycling. This is the cycling thread.

Kensington has been discussed elsewhere and doesn't really belong here. Tangents happen...........but lets move this discussion to the right spot.

This project has generally been discussed in the Vision Zero thread, here: https://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads/road-safety-vision-zero-plan.26636/post-2127121

****

That said. I don't agree with the take you ascribe to Councillor Layton............

But I do think its important to realize what City Councillors do............they answer to people who vote.

Lots of loud business/property owners, and some residents in Kensington opposed this initiative. I think they were wrong, and take particular issue with some who publicly stated misinformation that they knew was such
in service of that cause.

But those people did send in emails and phone calls and did lobby, and they do vote (business owners and property owners in the City have a vote, even if they are not residents). Councillors are generally of the view they
would like to keep their job after the next election..........or at least keep that option open. Former Councillors may wish to hold open a future return.

While I think the right thing here was to champion this project and work through any kinks.........I understand what happened here. Merely dumping on the (former) Councillor doesn't really help.

Also.....Andy.......... yes many vendors were opposed, I watched them depute.......... Peter Sanagan of Sanagan's butcher was among them.

 

[Cambry Ardship]

Well, the Marlee bike lanes have been paused. Colle's staff has said this is intended to be short pause to better coordinate on other initiatives in the area like Eglinton TOday, the Glencairn/Marlee area study, etc. I hope that that is so, but my gut is saying this is a consequential misjudgement. But this also means that further advocacy is important. The area is very underserved and I thought the detailed design was pretty well thought out and would have made a real positive difference to the neighbourhood.

 

[bearcat]

From the slide deck for the Managing Neighbourhood Traffic Issues Eglinton / Allen Intersection & Neighbourhood Streets virtual public meeting: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/u...gltinon-allen-public-meeting-slides-may13.pdf

 

[chrisw]

From the Apr 23, Vaughan Council Meeting. (Agenda Link)

2024 Transportation Planning Update. It has been 5 years since the 2020 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The Plan identified 250km of routes to be in place by 2030. In the last 5 years, 24% of the network was successfully constructed, and 10% is currently under construction. 11% is under detailed design and 6% under the functional design phase. That's 51% of the priority network either complete or actively being developed.

The Jane Street Uptown Link is quite significant with 8km of cycle tracks between Highway 7 to Teston Rd.

 

[robmausser]

From the Apr 23, Vaughan Council Meeting. (Agenda Link)

2024 Transportation Planning Update. It has been 5 years since the 2020 Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. The Plan identified 250km of routes to be in place by 2030. In the last 5 years, 24% of the network was successfully constructed, and 10% is currently under construction. 11% is under detailed design and 6% under the functional design phase. That's 51% of the priority network either complete or actively being developed.

The Jane Street Uptown Link is quite significant with 8km of cycle tracks between Highway 7 to Teston Rd.





View attachment 653218

Anytime they use concrete for bike paths, or even mixed use trails, they need to like paint them green or put bike chevrons on them. I've been yelled at by pedestrians to not bike on the sidewalk when it was actually a cycle track because it was concrete.

Unofficially concrete= sidewalk, asphalt= cycletrack.

Although that never seems to stop pedestrians from walking in them either.

 

[DSCToronto]

Just cycled on Bayview and looked at the Lower Don Trail. - No sign of much/any work over the winter but there is some equipment there. The latest project update says:

• "May 2023: Construction starts from Pottery Road to Bala Underpass at Corktown Common
  • March to October 2023: Site preparation work (staging, removals, excavations etc.)
  • Late 2023: Poor soil conditions discovered
  • May 2023 to June 2025: Metrolinx fence and gate replacement
  • November 2023 to July 2024: Foundation installation for structures (sloped path/pedestrian ramp and Dundas Staircase)
  • June to September 2024: New swale construction (landscaping for stormwater management)
  • November 2024 to June 2025: Sloped path/pedestrian ramp and Dundas Staircase installation
  • February to May 2025: Asphalt pavement replacement and pedestrian railing installation
• July 2025: Construction complete from Pottery Road to Bala Underpass at Corktown Common
• Spring to Summer 2025: Wayfinding/sign improvements to the trail

The timeline is subject to change." (So I confidently expect yet more slippage!)

FROM: https://www.toronto.ca/city-governm...ents-expansion-redevelopment/lower-don-trail/

As far as I could tell from Bayview the other day, work is proceeding (slowly) and I have emailed the Project Manager to see if she will make the July opening. It will be good to have the Lower Don trail back again, but I am really not hopeful for a July opening - though they have certainly done quite a bit of paving and they were working on the fencing last week. I imagine the links to Dundas and Riverdale Park will be the parts that will be the last to be done and I could see little progress on them but maybe they are all pre-fabricated and they will suddenly appear overnight! If/when I get an answer I will post it here.

 

[bearcat]

These bike boxes already have the green paint deteriorating significantly on Dan Leckie Way. Only installed about half a year ago. Looks like whatever they're using for the green paint, they need to do better.

 

[DSCToronto]

View attachment 653746View attachment 653747View attachment 653748

These bike boxes already have the green paint deteriorating significantly on Dan Leckie Way. Only installed about half a year ago. Looks like whatever they're using for the green paint, they need to do better.

The green painting looks better in most places I have seen, maybe they painted when road was still wet or too cold?

 

[PL1]

The green painting looks better in most places I have seen, maybe they painted when road was still wet or too cold?

I wonder if snow plows have helped remove some of the paint

 

[Undead]

The Centre Street lanes are in Vaughan/Thornhill are being extended east from Bathurst to Atkinson Ave. Today:

 

[WillTo]

As far as I could tell from Bayview the other day, work is proceeding (slowly) and I have emailed the Project Manager to see if she will make the July opening. It will be good to have the Lower Don trail back again, but I am really not hopeful for a July opening - though they have certainly done quite a bit of paving and they were working on the fencing last week. I imagine the links to Dundas and Riverdale Park will be the parts that will be the last to be done and I could see little progress on them but maybe they are all pre-fabricated and they will suddenly appear overnight! If/when I get an answer I will post it here.

This past Sunday