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About the Streetscape Manual |
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Streets are a vital part of Toronto's public open space system. They function as movement corridors for pedestrians, cyclists, transit and vehicles, as well as support many social and business activities. Much of the quality of the Toronto's public realm comes from the appearance and character of its streets.
The Streetscape Manual is an urban design reference tool for the improvement of the City's arterial street network - the Main Streets and Green Streets that define and connect neighbourhoods. The Manual focuses on design quality in the public right-of-way, with an emphasis on coherence, beauty, durability, accessibility, pedestrian amenity and tree canopy.
Following a hierarchy of streetscape types, the Manual assigns a set of standard or specialized design treatments to each arterial road. Although the Manual does not typically include collector roads, local roads or laneways, design quality and tree canopy on these streets is also very important.
The design treatments specified in the Manual centre on five streetscape elements - paving, street trees, medians, lighting and street furniture. When applied over time, these design treatments will enhance the appearance, health and enjoyment of the urban landscape.
Streetscape Types
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| Main Street |
The Streetscape Manual categorizes all Major and Minor Arterial Roads identified by Transportation Services Road Classification System as Main Streets or Green Streets depending on the street use, built form pattern, type of public or business activities, transportation priorities and natural features.
Main Streets and Green Streets are sub-divided into a hierarchy of streetscape types. The hierarchy helps assign appropriate streetscape treatments to reflect the character and significance of an arterial street within Toronto. Streetscape treatments remain generally consistent on streets of the same type across the city.
The hierarchy of streetscape types includes:
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| Green Street |
Streetscape type is determined by:
- national, provincial or civic importance
- historical significance
- type, intensity and pattern of land use
- primary user groups and intensity of use
- scale and relationship of built form
- views and length of view corridors
Since many streets cross long distances and a range of areas in the city, it is possible that the streetscape type may change several times from beginning to end.
| Illustration of Changing Streetscape Type |
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Eglinton Av W
Scenic Street |
Eglinton Av near Yonge St
Existing Main Street |
Eglinton Av E
Emerging Main Street |
Special Areas
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| St. George Street |
Although the Streetscape Manual deals mainly with streets in the City’s arterial road network, it does include recommendations for some local and collector roads.
The Manual identifies these neighbourhood streets with a “Special Area” designation to indicate that special planning circumstances exist, e.g. the street is located within a historically significant area, a Centre, a special district, business improvement area, educational campus, etc.
Special Area streetscapes may be main streets or green streets and include enhanced paving, lighting, or other design features that reinforce the history or character of the surrounding area.
Business Improvement Areas
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| Junction Gardens BIA |
A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is an association of commercial property owners and tenants within a defined area, who work in partnership with the City to create thriving, competitive, and safe business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses.
The Streetscape Manual includes many streets that are part of a BIA. Streetscape designs within the boundaries of a BIA are frequently customized to enhance or create a local identity. Where applicable, the Manual identifies streets within BIAs and a link is provided to the City of Toronto's BIA website for further information. When planning a streetscape project within one of Toronto's BIAs, please contact City BIA staff.
Streetscape Elements
Toronto's streets are the most extensively used public spaces in the city. Decorative paving, street trees, medians, pedestrian and vehicular lighting, and street furnishings such as bicycle rings, bollards, garbage/recycling receptacles are all important contributors to a vibrant and cohesive public realm. The appropriate combination and placement of these elements is necessary to create high quality streetscapes with distinct character.
The design treatments specified in the Manual cover five streetscape elements:
Streetscape Zones
Most streets can be divided into two parts: the sidewalk and the roadway. Pedestrian activity occurs within the sidewalk zone. The roadway portion is divided into vehicular lanes, cycle lanes, and parking lanes, and is used by cyclists, motor vehicles and public transit. On some roadways, traffic is divided by a central median or a transit priority right-of-way.
While the Manual does provide some direction for streetscape elements found within the roadway (e.g. medians), the majority of design treatments focus on the sidewalk zone.
Sidewalk Zone
One of the first decisions to make when designing a streetscape is to determine the appropriate width and organization of the sidewalk zone.
Main Streets - Sidewalk Zones
Green Streets - Sidewalk Zones
The sidewalk must be designed to provide safe, efficient and accessible pedestrian movement, as well as balance the many competing demands for limited space (e.g. tree planting, furniture placement, utilities, signage, business activity, etc.).
The Manual organizes sidewalk space into four functional zones:
Street Furniture Placement within the Sidewalk Zone
The proper placement of Street Furniture in the public right-of-way is important to ensure that the streetscape is organized, functional for all users, and aesthetically pleasing. The Pedestrian Clearway must be kept free of obstructions, yet have easy access to furnishings for safety, comfort and amenity. Furniture elements must also be placed at least 460mm away from the curb face to limit conflicts with roadway activities. Refer to the "Vibrant Streets" placement guidelines for more placement details. For Coordinated Street Furniture elements, contact program staff for procurement and placement assistance.
Public Utilities in the Street Allowance
Public utilities such as natural gas, electricity, telephone, cable, water and sewer, and even streetcar service lines are located within the street right-of-way. Utility congestion, both above and below ground is a major problem throughout the city and poses a particular challenge to tree planting and the quality of the sidewalk zone.
The location of utilities in new development areas are planned in accordance with the principles established by the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Utilities Coordinating Committee (TPUCC). Each utility is assigned an "ideal" location horizontally, and a specific depth below the surface. These utilities are mapped by, and are available from the TPUCC. Shallow utilities are located under or near the sidewalks and deeper utilities under the roadway.
New types of utilities, such as telecommunication wires, compete for space under the sidewalk with the ever-expanding network of existing utilities. Trees are difficult to locate within this dense network of utilities, but they are nevertheless a major streetscape element and should be considered to have the same status as other public utilities, if not a higher one.
Given the frequency of disruption to pedestrian surfaces due to emergency and demand-driven utility work, many of the streetscape details in the Manual are designed to facilitate easy access and repair. Each utility requires intermittent maintenance, which usually requires cut repairs if the problem cannot be fixed at an access hole or vault. With dry-laid construction, unit pavers can be removed, excavation and repairs carried out, and the original pavers relayed on a new base, thereby not compromising the functional and aesthetic appearance of the initial installation.
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