Infrastructure

New street furniture

THE City of Toronto is ushering in a new era in the beautification of the city with the introduction of the City’s co-ordinated street furniture program. Street furniture includes transit shelters, litter/recycling receptacles, benches, postering and information kiosks, publication box structures, public washrooms and bicycle parking units. The matching street furniture will reduce visual clutter and change the look and feel of Toronto’s streetscapes.

Installation began in June 2008 with the successful rollout of more than 275 new style transit shelters. New benches, postering boards and litter receptacles are now being installed. The furniture is high quality in both design and materials, and for the first time, Toronto will have street furniture elements that have been designed to work together. By following the “Vibrant Streets” placement guidelines, the street furniture is being installed on the city’s sidewalks and boulevards in a manner that respects the needs of pedestrians and users of all types.

Astral Media Inc. was awarded the contract to build and maintain the equipment. Over the next 20 years, it is expected that nearly 26,000 street furniture elements will be provided during the term of this program. Prior to awarding the contract, the City engaged in an extensive public consultation process, (including the design community, potential bidders, and public space and accessibility advocates) where the public indicated that design and functionality were most important in the development of the program.

toronto.ca/streetfurniture

< Previous article   Vol. 2 · Issue 1 · Spring 2009   Next article >