The City of Toronto is undertaking a Complete Street and Planning Study of Danforth Avenue, one of the most recognizable and major avenues in the City.
The full study area will span a six kilometre stretch of Danforth Avenue between Broadview Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue. Within that stretch, there will be three types of studies undertaken including:
On May 28, 2020 Council approved ActiveTO, a suite of programs that support the City of Toronto’s restart and recovery response to COVID-19, including a Complete Street pilot project along Danforth Avenue from Broadview Avenue to Dawes Road. “Destination Danforth” responds to the imminent need for: More room for physical distancing for walking and cycling, support for local businesses by improving access options and creating an environment to support expanded patios, and safe cycling infrastructure as an alternative for people who are not comfortable taking transit.
The one year pilot project was installed during the summer of 2020. Staff will be monitoring, evaluating and adjusting the pilot over the next year, and reporting back to Council with long term recommendations for the corridor at the end of 2021.
Initial vehicular travel time and multi-modal count data has shown encouraging results of the ActiveTO: Destination Danforth project:
As part of the Pilot, the City partnered with Park People and Clean Air Partnership – The Centre for Active Transportation on a public survey to complement the volume and motor vehicle travel time data collected by the City. The intercept survey was intended to provide input on safety, accessibility, and user impact of the new street installation and to assess the success of the project’s goals to support businesses and increase safe and equitable access to active modes of transportation.
The intercept survey was conducted over four days between September 24 and October 6, 2020. Over 440 surveys were conducted with the general public on Danforth Avenue using a randomized methodology to ensure a diverse cross section of respondents. Results were analyzed to find trends in perception of the diverse respondents. View the intercept survey evaluation summary and survey evaluation report.
Key findings include:
For several years, the local Councillor and constituents have identified concerns around the safety and operations of the Danforth Avenue and Royal Drive intersection.
City staff are proposing to upgrade the intersection to include cycle tracks, a signalized crossing for people cycling and a probation of right-turns-on-red movements for motor vehicles.
A staff report to Committee and then Toronto City Council is proposing this intersection upgrade be installed in 2021.
The Danforth Study is bringing together a complete street study, an economic and retail study and a planning study through a comprehensive and coordinated public engagement process. An important part of our process includes obtaining feedback from the community in order to ensure that all voices are heard and all ideas and recommendations are considered.
No upcoming community meetings have been scheduled.
Community Meeting #3B – Monday, January 11th, 2021
This virtual community meeting focused on the Planning Study work that is underway from Broadview Avenue to Coxwell Avenue and covered topics such as land use, building heights and development density, parks and public realm, and heritage.
Community Meeting #3A – Tuesday, December 1st, 2020
This virtual community meeting provided a brief update on the three study components with a focus on the Complete Streets Pilot that was implemented over the summer and the City’s plan for monitoring and evaluating this initiative.
Community Meeting #2 – Monday, January 27th, 2020
This public open house focused on community members providing input on the Complete Street Study, the Planning Study and the Economic Analysis and Retail Study. The event was held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Missed the meeting? Review the informational panels presented.
Community Meeting #1 – Thursday, November 7, 2019
This public open house included a brief presentation about the study followed by interactive group discussion. Feedback from the community helped to shape the scope of this study. Review discussion materials and the meeting summary below for full details.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee
For the Danforth Study, the City has formed a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), which is comprised of local community organizations, landowners, and businesses who provide a diversity of perspectives and will help inform the development of the Danforth Study, and ensure that it reflects the needs of the community. The SAC is comprised of approximately 30 members.
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting #1 Summary
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting #2 Summary
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting #3 Summary
Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting #4 Summary
The Complete Street Study will be undertaken within the entire study area from Broadview Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue. It will involve a detailed examination of the right-of-way and a feasibility design study to review traffic, parking, and other impacts specific to determining a complete streets design, including the potential for on-street cycling facilities along Danforth Avenue.
An economic and retail study will be undertaken to provide an understanding of the economic environment and issues faced by retailers along the Danforth, along with an origin and destination survey.
The second segment of the Planning Study will be undertaken within the area between Broadview Avenue and Coxwell Avenue in order to conduct a planning review and analysis to inform the development of the planning framework that identifies future city-building opportunities, guides new development, and enhances the public realm and quality of place.
The Danforth Study will bring together the following elements through a comprehensive and coordinated process.
This is a joint initiative between three City divisions – Transportation Services, Economic Development and Culture, and City Planning.
The study area comprises of Danforth Avenue and the properties fronting onto the street between Broadview Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue. Danforth Avenue is a key east-west thoroughfare and primarily characterized by low-rise (two to three storey) mixed-use buildings. The street passes through active commercial and mixed use areas and consists of two travel lanes on each direction. Danforth Avenue is identified as an Avenue in the Toronto Official Plan and is designated as a Major Arterial in the City of Toronto Road Classification System.
On May 28, 2020, City Council approved a list of ActiveTO cycling project installations, including Danforth Avenue, from Broadview Avenue to Dawes Road.
City Council Consideration on May 28, 2020
On April 30, 2020, City Council directed:
City Council Consideration on April 30, 2020
On October 10, 2019, City Council directed that the Terms of Reference for the Danforth Study include options to secure new affordable rental housing along Danforth Avenue.
Creating New Affordable Housing on Danforth
On July 16, 2019, City Council adopted the Cycling Network Plan Update and requested that the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to target completion of the Danforth Avenue Planning and Complete Streets Study by June 2021. Further requirements were included in the recommendations and approved by Council.
Infrastructure and Environment Committee consideration on June 27, 2019
On July 23, 2018, City Council City Council directed the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in cooperation with Economic Development and Culture, to initiate a Comprehensive Complete Street Study of the Danforth corridor in 2019 with a focus on Danforth Avenue as a “complete street” with a vibrant commercial sector, and include a consultation process that involves a broad range of stakeholders such as Business Improvement Areas, resident and cycling groups, and include any necessary resources in the Transportation Services Division 2019 budget submission for consideration in the 2019 budget process.
Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue – City-Initiated Official Plan Amendment – Final Report
On May 28, 2018, the Budget Committee referred an item to the Interim Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A and the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B for consideration as part of the 2019 Budget process.
Danforth: An Even Greater Avenue
On November 7, 2017, City Council adopted a motion to request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, initiate and undertake a study focusing on the development potential, built form, and public realm within the proximity of the Main Street TTC station and the Danforth GO station.
286-294 Main Street – Zoning Amendment Application – Preliminary Report
On February 22, 2017, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted a staff report and recommendations from City Planning staff to finalize the Terms of Reference and complete the Danforth Avenue Planning Study per the finalized Terms of Reference.
Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue – City-Initiated Official Plan Amendment – Update Report
On June 7, 2016, City Council adopted, in principle, the Ten Year Cycling Network Plan. A recommendation was approved that the General Manager, Transportation Services, evaluate Complete Street initiatives as part of the Danforth Major Corridor Study and that the needs of all users of Danforth Avenue are considered.
On May 10, 2016, Toronto and East York Community Council adopted a staff report and recommendations from City Planning staff to begin the Danforth Avenue Planning Study (Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue) and consult on the Terms of Reference.
On July 8, 2014, through item TE33.15, City Council adopted a motion to request the Chief Planner and the Executive Director, City Planning to undertake a planning study of Danforth Avenue in two segments, from the Don River to Coxwell Avenue and from Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue, and to report on the funds necessary to complete these studies. The motion was the result of Council’s review of a rezoning application at 2359 Danforth Avenue and with the intent of taking a proactive approach to managing change on Danforth Avenue.
Final Report – 2359 Danforth Avenue – Zoning Amendment Application
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