Development of the Road Classification System - Historical Background
City Council, at its meeting of June 7, 8 and 9, 2000, adopted a new road classification system to consolidate and replace the various road classification systems inherited from Toronto's seven former municipalities. Transportation Services Division, in consultation with internal staff, Councillors and the public developed the Road Classification System which is described in the document titled “City of Toronto’s Road Classification System”.
Download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader.

The above document also describes the transportation, traffic operation and road operation policies in conjunction with Road Classification System and makes recommendations regarding the respective roles of Community Councils and standing committees in dealing with these policies.

Two tables are included in the document. Table 1 - Road Classification Criteria is a summary of the characteristics of the different road classes and has been developed to guide the classification of roads. Table 2 - Road and Traffic Operations Decision Routing identifies the mechanism for City Council to consider various traffic issues in the context of road classification. The policies, decision routing and individual road classifications which comprise the road classification system came into effect with the 2001 City Council.

Other supporting and historical documentation can be found in the following appendices:

• Appendix 1: Relevant Committee Decisions, includes both Works Committee and Community Council decisions;
• Appendix 2: Road Classification Reviews, contains all street sections for which City councillors, Community Councils and other have requested reviews of classifications;
• Appendix 3: report to Works Committee, dated January 26, 2000, titled Road Classification – Review of Outstanding Issues and Proposed Classifications (All Wards) that reviews a number of policy issues and review of proposed road classification on particular streets throughout the City of Toronto;
• Appendix 4: Classification of City Streets – June 2000, a listing of all City-owned streets which are classified as expressway, major and minor arterial and collector; and
• Appendix 5: report to Works Committee, dated May 10, 2000 , titled Review of Specific Road Classifications that reviews a number of outstanding road classifications resulting from City Council's decision on this matter.