A row of cars are parked in spaces to the left of a cycle track that is protected from traffic by curbs and bollardsThe City of Toronto implemented a road reconstruction on Shuter Street from Sherbourne Street to River Street in 2020. As part of this project, the City made changes to the configuration of the roadway on Shuter Street between Bond Street and River Street to enhance safety for people walking, cycling and driving. These changes included upgrading  bicycle lanes to cycle tracks.

The Shuter Street Bike Lanes project was approved by City Council on April 30, 2020 and completed in December, 2020.

Shuter Street and River Street Improvements

In July 2022, City Council authorized improvements to the intersection of Shuter Street and River Street between 2022 and 2023. The changes include:

  • Moving the bicycle lane between the right-turn lane and left-turn lane on Shuter Street adjacent to the sidewalk;
  • New bicycle traffic signal heads;
  • Creating a left-turn pocket on River Street for people turning left to queue and wait
    for the bicycle traffic signal to be green; and
  • Removal of the dedicated left-turn lane for motor vehicles on River Street which is
    lower volume, serving approximately 50 left-turns in the peak hour.

A copy of the staff report is available under IEC agenda item IE 31.12.

Construction Notice

Construction Notice (June 2020)

Construction Update #1 (July 2020)

Construction Update #2 (August 2020)

Next Steps

Shuter Bike Lane Upgrade Public Consultation Summary

The commenting period for this consultation is now closed.  All comments and survey responses that were received have been reviewed, and this feedback has been considered by the project team in the development of a staff report.  This report was presented to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee of City Council on March 11, 2020, for consideration.

Public Drop-In Event

On Tuesday, January 21, 2020, the City hosted a Public Drop-In Event to present information about the proposed project and provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions, speak with City staff and provide feedback on the proposed design.

To learn more about the project, view the materials that were presented at the event:

Map of Toronto downtown east showing location of planned road reconstruction from Sherbourne Street to River Street and location of proposed bike lane upgrade from Bond Street to River Street

Overview

The City planned road reconstruction on Shuter Street in 2020.  This major road work presented an opportunity to consider improvements to the design of the road that will enhance the safety of all road users. Given the current volume of vehicle traffic on Shuter Street, the City proposed changes to the configuration of the road and upgraded the existing bike lanes to separated bike lanes (‘cycle tracks’) between Bond Street and River Street. Separated bike lanes increase the safety and comfort of all road users by reducing conflicts between people driving, cycling and walking.

Road Reconstruction

In Spring 2020, the City carried out reconstruction on Shuter Street between Sherbourne Street and River Street. This work involved removing and replacing the asphalt surface and road base, and some sections of curb and sidewalk. This work was needed to bring the road into a state of good repair.

Safety Improvements

The City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan identifies road construction as an opportunity to consider road design improvements in order to enhance the safety of people walking, cycling and driving. On Shuter Street, the design improvements included:

  • Upgrading existing bike lanes to separated bike lanes (cycle tracks) from Bond Street to River Street to increase safety and comfort for people cycling, and to reduce conflicts between people driving, cycling and walking
  • Reducing the radius of curbs at some intersections in order to slow vehicle turning speed, increase the visibility of people walking and reduce the crossing distance

In addition to these changes, new asphalt and pavement markings improved the safety and comfort of all road users.

Design

The configuration of the road changed in order to accommodate the separated bike lanes (cycle tracks). On one side of the road, the bike lane was separated from vehicle traffic by a lane of parking and concrete traffic islands. A 1.0 m buffer area between the parking spaces and the bike lane allows passengers to open the car door and exit safely. On the opposite side of the road, the bike lane was separated by small concrete curb stones with bollards (posts).

Image shows the cross section of a road with one lane of traffic in each direction, a separated bike lane (cycle track) adjacent to the curb in each direction, and one lane of parking located between the vehicle lane and the cycle track on one side of the street.
Example of street configuration with separated bike lanes

To provide the necessary space in the road for separated bike lanes, parking was retained on only one side of the street from Bond Street to River Street. The preferred configuration of parking in the proposed design maximizes the amount of space for parking and minimizes impact to permit parking spaces (see Project Information Panels 13-15).

In addition to the proposed cycle track, safety improvements were completed at the curb and sidewalk at several intersections on Shuter Street. Corner radii were reduced (‘tightened’) in order to slow vehicle turning speed, increase the visibility of people who are walking and reduce crossing distances for pedestrians. Tactile plates were installed to assist people with low vision.

Selection of Shuter Street for Upgrade to Cycle Track

The reconstruction of Shuter Street, which was required due to the poor condition of the road and pavement, provided the opportunity to upgrade the existing bike lanes on Shuter Street. While Dundas Street East also has bike lanes and, unlike Shuter Street, continues west of Yonge Street, the installation of cycle tracks on Dundas Street East required the removal of travel lanes. This would also increase delay for transit users on the Dundas streetcars unless corridor-level traffic measures are undertaken (such as on King Street). Upgrading the bike lane on Shuter Street did not preclude future consideration of changes to cycling infrastructure on Dundas Street East as part of any future study.

Removal of Parking Spaces

In order to accommodate the separated bike lanes, the removal of parking on one side of Shuter Street was required. Forty-five per cent of all parking spaces on Shuter Street were retained, and the vast majority (95%) of existing permit parking spaces were retained. The parking spaces that were removed were Pay-and-Display spaces and Free (3 hour) spaces.

We recognize this was a decrease in the historical convenience for those people who travel by car. This trade-off in parking convenience was proposed in order to improve the safety of people traveling by bike and the comfort of all road users. By improving cycling infrastructure in the area, some existing car trips may also be converted to cycling trips.

Current users of Pay-and-Display spaces could utilize paid parking in various off-street lots in the vicinity. Existing Free spaces have a 3 hour time limit; people who are using these spaces for longer than three hours are violating existing by-laws and should be utilizing alternate parking arrangements.

Challenges with Parking Protected Bike Lanes

The City is aware that parked cars sometimes overhang parking-protected cycle tracks, and that this has been a problem on River Street. Because Shuter Street has a wider road width than River Street, the buffer along the parking lane on Shuter St. would be wider than the buffer on River Street. The bike lanes on Shuter Street were wider than the ones on River Street. This additional width provides more room for car doors to open and for cyclists to maneuver.

Lack of Separation in Front of Nelson Mandela Park Public School

In the design, the physical separation was dropped in front of the school to allow school buses to load and unload directly to the curb. Maintaining the separation along the bike lane would require the children who are boarding or leaving a bus to cross the cycle track, creating a conflict with people cycling. The conflict of a bus crossing the bike lane before stopping beside the curb is brief in comparison to the potential for conflict when children are boarding or leaving the bus. A similar design is used for the Wellesley Street cycle track without complaint.

Snow Clearing

The separated bike lanes have remained open year round and are cleared of snow using specialized snow removal machines, like those used on other cycle tracks in Toronto.

Vehicle Loading and Unloading

With the exception of the school bus loading zone, vehicles are permitted to stop in the cycle track for purposes of loading or unloading directly to the curb. Drivers must use available parking spaces or side streets in the area for deliveries and for picking up and dropping off passengers.

Feasibility of Protected Intersections

Protected intersections that involve two unidirectional cycle tracks, such as at Shuter Street and Sherbourne Street, are not able to fit within the 20 m x 20 m area owned by the City, even if all turn lanes are removed. Property acquisition on all four corners would be required, which would delay the project by many years. Relocation of above-ground utilities (hydro poles) and, potentially, underground utilities would be required, which would also delay the project. Implementation of protected intersection elements (e.g., setback crossings) at other intersections would also require property acquisition on corners.

Bike Lanes on Dundas Street Bridge

The existing road width on the Dundas Street bridge cannot accommodate four lanes of traffic and bike lanes. Removal of travel lanes would require all motor vehicle traffic to share a lane with streetcars, causing increased delay to transit customers, particularly eastbound, due to queuing for the left turn onto the Don Valley Parkway.

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