Important Update on Bloor Street West Bike Lane Extension

May 30, 2023 Michael No Comments Feedback, News

The public consultation process is complete and you can review the Public Consultation Report as well as other project information at Toronto.ca/BloorWest.

Transportation Services is seeking City Council authority to install the proposed complete street elements on Bloor Street West from Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road as well as accompanying changes to the South Kingsway intersection.  If approved, phase 1 from Runnymede Road to Aberfoyle Crescent would be installed in summer of 2023. Changes to Bloor Street West would be made with materials that can be installed quickly, such as bollards, roadway paint, planters and signage. No major road reconstruction is planned.

Highlights of the proposed design on Bloor Street West include the following:

  • Reducing the speed limit to 40km/hr between Runnymede Road and Kipling Avenue;
  • New cycle tracks with physical separation on both sides;
  • One motor vehicle lane removed in each direction between Runnymede Road and Aberfoyle Crescent;
  • One motor vehicle lane removed in the eastbound direction between Aberfoyle Crescent and Resurrection Road (due to the wider right-of-way and motor vehicle volumes, it is proposed to maintain two westbound motor vehicle lanes in this segment);
  • Centre median maintained between Kingscourt Drive and Royal York Road, and a new painted median over the Humber River and the Mimico Creek bridges;
  • Centre left-turn lane between Aberfoyle Crescent and Green Lanes;
  • Centre lane or median converted to new, centre left-turn lane from Armadale Avenue to South Kingsway; Old Mill Drive to Riverside Drive; Old Mill Trail and Kingscourt Drive; and Royal York Road and Aberfoyle Crescent;
  • Existing turn lanes at major intersections maintained between Prince Edward Drive and Aberfoyle Crescent;
  • Westbound bus lane and right-turn lane on the north side of Bloor Street West from Armadale Avenue to Jane Street;
  • On-street parking retained on both sides of the street from Runnymede Road to Armadale Avenue, and in existing parking lay-bys from Armadale Avenue to Aberfoyle Crescent (in the summer, on-street parking can become cafés beside the sidewalk as part of the CaféTO program); and
  • One painted pedestrian lane on the south side between Kingscourt Drive and Prince Edward Drive to address the existing sidewalk gap adjacent to the cemetery before a permanent sidewalk can be built.

Highlights of the proposed design at the South Kingsway intersection include the following:

  • New cycle tracks and removal of one motor vehicle lane per direction on Bloor Street West;
  • Close the eastern entrance of Mossom Road to southbound vehicles in order to improve safety and predictability of motor vehicle movements at the intersection. The majority of pedestrian collisions have occurred with drivers turning across the South Kingsway crosswalk with pedestrians having the right-of-way. Two irregular driving manoeuvers would no longer be allowed with the proposed closure to the eastern entrance. Mossom Road would be converted to two-way travel for part of its length to provide residential access. A new left-turn lane would be provided at Riverside Drive and the existing left-turn restriction from Bloor Street West would be removed;
  • Extend the length of left-turn lanes for drivers turning from Bloor Street West onto South Kingsway and Jane Street; and
  • Add more green signal time for the busiest motor vehicle movements.

As part of the approval process, staff will report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee of City Council on June 5, 2023. A copy of the staff report is available here.

Members of the public can arrange to speak or submit comments to the Committee. 

How to Participate

If you want to speak at the meeting, you must contact the Infrastructure and Environment Committee Administrator at 416-392-4666 or iec@toronto.ca by this Friday, June 2, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

You can also submit comments by emailing the Committee at iec@toronto.ca. All communications and public submissions will become part of the public record and will be listed in the legislative record of the meeting. Learn more about this process.

You may also send comments by mail:

Infrastructure and Environment Committee
Attn: Committee Administrator
Toronto City Hall, Floor 10, West Tower
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Toronto Life Magazine May Want to Hear From You Bloor West Village

May 26, 2023 Michael No Comments Feedback, Media

City magazine Toronto Life is looking for people with interesting real estate/housing stories (buying, selling, renovations, etc) or a strong point of view about a housing issue in the city that they are personally affected by who are willing to tell their stories. If you have an opinion or story to tell, please reach out to Maddy Mahoney, Digital Producer, Toronto Life at maighdlin.mahoney@stjoseph.com.

This Bill Could Change Neighbourhood Development in Bloor West Village

May 24, 2023 Michael Leave a comment News

Toronto City Planning will be hosting a virtual public Open House in advance of a Recommendations Report on an Official Plan Amendment and Municipal Code amendment to Planning and Housing Committee (Bill 109) on July 5, 2023. This includes proposed changes to multi-unit dwelling development. Please see below for meeting information.

What: Delegated Authority for Minor Zoning By-law Amendments Open House

When: Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Time: 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Location: REGISTER here

Meet Toronto’s Mayoral Candidates

April 24, 2023 Michael Leave a comment News

Candidates for Mayor will be hosted by over 60 residents’ associations in Toronto on Thursday, June 1, from 7 PM to 9 PM. FoNTRA and FoSTRA invite you to this unique event that will focus on issues of importance to the 900,000 voters under their umbrella.

Nicole Swerhun will be a third-party public moderator. All questions to the candidates come from the public, not special interest groups.

OCAD University will sponsor this important event, which takes place in their auditorium at 100 McCaul Street. A full town hall with the candidates onstage is planned, where they will be expressing their social engagement and vision for the city’s future. To accommodate a very large audience, the event will also be streamed virtually on various major platforms, including YouTube and Facebook.

Volunteer With The Toronto Nature Stewards

April 7, 2023 Michael Leave a comment Events, News

Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS) is a volunteer based organization working to restore the health and beauty of Toronto’s many ravines. Two of their sites are very close to Bloor West Village: South Kingsway (8 South Kingsway) and Magwood Park (2 Pasadena Gardens).

Their focus is the removal of invasive plants with fully trained Lead Stewards providing direction so volunteers are never on their own. Events are usually on a weekly basis, but no time commitment is required. Volunteers must be registered to participate. 

To learn more, check out torontonaturestewards.org and if you would like to give it a try, click on “Get Involved”.  

UPATE: How We’ll Move In High Park In The Future

March 23, 2023 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info, News

Our City Council has approved the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) final report and implementation plan which will continue to keep vehicle restrictions in place on Saturdays, Sunday and holiday Mondays. Long term, the goal remains getting to a car-free High Park with the City staff having been given directions to develop a implementation plan on how we can achieve this while continuing to keep the park accessible.  

The HPMS will take a phased approach to changes in the park. The first phase of implementation will involve restricting vehicle access on West Road and a portion of Colborne Lodge Drive to allow for designated spaces that are for pedestrians, cyclists and other modes of active transportation. Vehicles will be able to drive into the park Monday to Friday by entering through Parkside Drive and exiting onto Bloor Street West. Parking spaces will also be available in the park on weekdays. Private vehicle access will be restricted on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays.  

To learn more on the HPMS, click here.

So How Do You Feel About Hens in Our Backyards?

January 18, 2023 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

Building on the broad public consultations conducted in 2022, the City wants to reconnect with you to hear your opinions on making the UrbanHensTO pilot program permanent and city-wide. Take an online survey to share your thoughts and any additional comments on issues related to the program, such as nuisance, public health, food security, veterinarian care and animal welfare in Toronto. The deadline to submit comments is February 7.

Your feedback from the survey will update the City’s understanding about the program, help staff gauge the extent to which the public support making the program permanent, and inform the final staff report expected at the April 2023 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee.

Learn more at toronto.ca/UrbanHensTO.

Do These Things Or Your Pipes May Freeze

December 21, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

This time of year can often be variable: cold days, mild days, cold days… It will eventually be much colder, longer, so consider these tips to ensure your home’s plumbing is safe:

Locate your main water shut-off valve inside your home and add a tag or label to it, so it is easy to locate and turn off quickly if pipes burst in your home

Seal air leaks in your home and garage to stop cold air from getting in. Check around windows and doors, electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes

Insulate pipes in your home most prone to freezing including near outside walls, in the basement, or in a garage with an outside water supply. Use foam pipe covers available from building supply or home improvement stores

Keep the house warm even if you’re away to prevent indoor plumbing from freezing, especially in the area near the water meter

When temperatures are below -15C for a few days, you can choose to keep the water moving in your pipes by running a pencil-thin stream of cold water from a tap in the lowest point of the house e.g. a sink or tub in the basement. Ensure the drain is kept clear of debris to prevent overflowing or flooding. However, if you choose to take this step, you will be charged for the water you use. 

More tips including a video on ways to avoid frozen pipes available at toronto.ca/frozenpipes