Horner Avenue Road Safety Improvements

Project Area

Public consultation and installation for the Horner Avenue Road Safety Improvements will take place over two phases described below. The project is currently in Phase 1.

• Phase 1 (2026): Horner Avenue between Westhead Road and Brown’s Line, and Foch Avenue between Horner Avenue and Edgeware Drive
• Phase 2 (2027+): Horner Avenue and Judson Street, from Brown’s Line to Royal York Road.
• Installation for both phases: 2028+

Public consultation for Phase 2 is anticipated as early as 2027, at which time further details about proposed design changes, reporting and implementation schedule will be available.

Response to Feedback

The City reviewed all the feedback submitted during public consultation, and a copy of the Public Consultation Report is now available.

Below is a summary of the concerns participants raised and how the City is responding, including any changes that will be made to the proposed design based on public input and technical and policy considerations. 

1. Safety of narrower vehicle travel lanes on Horner Ave
   1. Design is amended to 3.3 metres for the motor vehicle travel lanes (instead of 3 metres), supported by the City’s design guidelines
   2. Both 3 and 3.3 metre lane widths can accommodate large vehicles and emergency vehicles but 3.3 metres is more comfortable while still encouraging lower speeds of travel
2. Impact and effectiveness of speed humps
   1. Traffic calming is recommended to reduce speeds on both Horner Avenue and Foch Avenue to improve safety for children and pedestrians and people cycling
   2. Speed humps are designed in a way that people driving at 30 km/h or slower will not experience discomfort
   3. The standard height of a speed hump is 75 millimeters. This height was established following consideration of the expressed concerns of Emergency Services who stated that speed humps taller than 75 millimeters would cause significant delays in their response time
3. Removal of unsigned on-street parking along Horner Avenue
   1. Data collection and consultation with leaders of organizations along Horner Avenue confirmed low utilization of Horner Avenue for parking
   2. Designs were adjusted to accommodate two on-street parking spots on the north side of Horner Avenue between Orianna Drive and Brown’s Line (the location in highest demand) while maintaining the painted bike lane
4. Safety along Foch Avenue
   1. Curb extension added on Foch Avenue at Horner Avenue to further slow traffic and provide more space for pedestrians near this important crosswalk location
   2. Pavement markings and signage added on Foch Avenue to designate no parking within 9 metres of side streets to improve sight lines for vehicles and safety
5. Safety at the Etobicoke Creek Trail entrance at Westhead Road and Horner Avenue
   1. One speed hump added on Westhead Road on the approach to the stop sign near the trail entrance to help enforce slow speeds and stopping
   2. Additional consultation is being conducted by the Councillor’s office about whether the community would like more speed humps along Westhead Road
   3. Impressed (stamped) asphalt treatment added at the intersection of Westhead Road, Horner Avenue, and the trail entrance to further slow traffic and draw attention to this unique intersection with many pedestrian and cycling movements
6. Safety improvements at Horner Avenue and Brown’s Line
   1. Requests can be explored as part of Phase 2 of work which will cover Horner Avenue east of Brown’s Line
7. Requests for further speed humps or stop signs
   1. Requests require additional traffic studies in the spring and can be revisited in Phase 2
8. Install a roundabout or traffic circle at Foch Avenue and Horner Avenue
   1. Staff conducted initial feasibility review and determined both options would not be feasible without property impacts and significant reconstruction, and would have a negative effect on the safety of pedestrians crossing at this intersection.
   2. Review this feasibility summary for more information, and contact the project team for questions or additional details.
9. Requests to not proceed with bike lane and shared lane markings
   1. Staff recommend proceeding with bike lanes and shared lane markings to improve safety and provide an important connection to future planned bikeways along Brown’s Line east of Horner Avenue, to the Etobicoke Creek Trail and to the Long Branch GO Station. This is in alignment with the City’s Vision Zero policy.
   2. The lack of lane removal and low parking utilization along Horner Avenue presents minimal impacts to traffic operations.

Phase 1A Proposed Changes: Horner Avenue from Westhead Road to Brown’s Line

• Install painted bike lanes and wayfinding signage on both sides of the street
• Narrow travel lanes to meet the City’s standard lane widths
• Reduce speed limit to 30 km/h
• Install speed humps
• Prohibit parking on both sides of the street at all times (observed parking demand is low)*
• No change to the number of motor vehicle lanes
• No change to City maintenance and operations
• Maintain driveway access to properties
• Maintain left turn lane at Brown’s Line

*Observed parking demand could be accommodated in existing parking lots and side streets.

Phase 1B Proposed Changes: Foch Avenue from Horner Avenue to Edgeware Drive

• Install shared lane markings (sharrows) and wayfinding signage on both sides of the street
• Install speed humps
• No change to parking
• No change to the number of motor vehicle lanes
• No change to City maintenance and operations
• Maintain driveway access to properties

There would be no bike lanes, change to motor vehicle lanes or change to the existing parking rules. A potential Bike Share Station and bicycle lockers at Edgeware Drive by GO Station are under review. 

Public Consultation

The comment period for this consultation has closed. The Public Consultation Report summarizes feedback received.

Public feedback, along with technical and policy considerations, will be used to inform staff recommendations and decisions made by City Council. 

Public Drop-In Event

The Public Drop-In Event took place on February 2 at Alderwood Community Centre. It provided an opportunity to view the project information panels and speak with members of the project team one-on-one. 

Feedback

A feedback survey on this project was conducted from January 19 to February 13. 

Consultation Materials

• Public Event Information Panels

Background

The City Council-approved Cycling Network Plan is a comprehensive roadmap and work plan that outlines the City’s planned investment in our cycling network. It includes a Long-Term Cycling Network Vision, the planned Major City-Wide Cycling Network Routes, and a three-year rolling Near-Term Implementation Program. 

The aim of the Cycling Network Plan is to connect gaps in Toronto’s current cycling network, grow the network into new parts of the city, and upgrade existing cycling routes to improve safety and comfort for all road users.

Horner Avenue is identified as a proposed cycling route in the Plan for study and design in the near-term.