New and improved Roncesvalles.
This image illustrates what the new streetcars will look like with the new loading platform and cyclist path, which are elements of the new design concept for Roncesvalles Avenue. The streetscape improvements are scheduled to piggyback the current watermain and sewer construction that's taking place along Roncesvalles. Local residents provided their input at an open house hosted by the city Monday, Sept. 21.
Courtesy image
The City of Toronto gave local residents a glimpse of what their street would look like once the Roncesvalles Avenue Reconstruction project is completed next year at an open house, Monday, Sept. 21 at High Park Baptist Church. Community members were invited to provide their input for the proposed streetscape elements, said Parkdale-High Park Councillor Gord Perks.
"We're looking at the fine details for the Roncesvalles redesign," said the Councillor, "details that city staff might not know of because they don't live here, the details that make the difference between a fine little street and just a street."
During the community consultation, city staff was on hand to discuss people's ideas and suggestions for the redesign concept, which received Environmental Assessment approval by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee and was adopted by city council in May.
The concept, one of three that were initially proposed, includes bump-outs on street corners, level boarding platforms for the TTC, parking on both sides of the street, increased sidewalk and boulevard width with reduced street crossing width and transit. It also includes a wider shared lane for cyclists and vehicles, a concept never before seen in Toronto, according to Robert Mays, project officer, in the public realm section of transportation services.
"I think it's important to have the appropriate streetscape to create a vibrant community," said Roncesvalles Village resident Colleen Ditner. "Anything is better than what's there now, even before the construction started."
Maintaining the flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic is a priority for Ditner, she said.
John Coffman, who just moved to the Fern Avenue and Roncesvalles Avenue area from North Bay, said he was curious to see what the new street design entailed. Cycling is a priority for Coffman, who admitted that he has yet to ride his bike in Toronto.
"I'm afraid to bike here. In North Bay, I'd ride my bike all the time," he said.
John Heins, a Pearson Avenue resident, said he'd like to see "a proper set of bike lanes" instead of a shared lane.
"Cyclists need to be protected in this city," he said.
And, parking should be eliminated on one side of the street as far as he is concerned.
"To have everyone parked in front of all the shops and restaurants is ugly," said Heins.
Although the redesign will provide parking on both sides of the street, parking spaces will be reduced from the current 236 spots to 225, according to Stephen Brown, the traffic engineer and planner for the south district, west.
At a public consultation meeting in March of this year, some community members took issue with the bump-outs, wondering if they would pose a problem for cyclists. Mays, however, assured that there would be proper signage to indicate when cyclists must stop for waiting TTC passengers.
"Cars can't drive up onto the platform either," he said.
In addition to new sidewalks, the redesign will double the number of trees along Roncesvalles Avenue.