Improving Davisville Avenue: Designing a Safer & More Beautiful Street Together

Project Area

The project area is Davisville Avenue from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposed Changes at Intersection of Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue

The intersection of Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue has very high pedestrian volumes, sometimes exceeding the number of people driving, which can create conflicts with vehicles turning right and left on Yonge Street.

Changes are needed to improve safety and accessibility by reducing conflicts through improved signal timing and turn management so people walking, driving and taking transit can move through the intersection more safely and efficiently.

Proposed changes include:

• Add a separate signal for vehicles turning right to go south on Yonge Street to improve safety and reduce conflicts. Drivers turning right onto Yonge Street to go south would turn on a green arrow only, without conflicting with 6000+ daily crossing pedestrians on the south crossing 
• Prohibiting left-turns onto Yonge Street that are infrequently made to improve traffic and transit operations and reduce conflicts. These left turns are only 3-9% of eastbound and westbound traffic but cause significant delay due to queuing vehicles. TTC vehicles will still be permitted to turn.
• Minimize delays for all road users by optimizing the timing of traffic lights

Proposed Changes to Pedestrian Crossovers

Improving safety at mid-block pedestrian crossovers is a key part of this project. The City is proposing safety improvements to make existing crossovers safer through designs that encourage slower vehicle speeds and by making it easier for drivers to see people crossing.

The proposed design at pedestrian crossovers aims to reduce speeding and improve comfort. When people driving go slower, it is easier for them to see and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Proposed changes include:

• Discourage speeding by narrowing travel lanes to meet City standards
• Improve visibility of crossing pedestrians by removing parked vehicles on the south side and keeping one lane in each direction
• Add a median to discourage speeding
• Additional signage and pavement markings to alert drivers to the crossing
• Remove existing curb extensions which are in poor condition

The pedestrian crossover at 50 Davisville Avenue (in front of Davisville Junior PS) could be improved as part of a future development, which would shift south side driveways and allow a full median without blocking left turns.

The project does not propose adding full traffic signals at pedestrian crossovers on Davisville Avenue. A technical warrant was conducted for the pedestrian crossover at Davisville Junior Public School. Based on analysis of traffic volumes, pedestrian delay and collision history, a signal was not warranted at this location. Full signals also result in longer wait times for pedestrians and increased congestion and negative impacts to TTC operations. Instead, improving existing crossovers aims to improve safety while allowing people to cross when they arrive and keep all road users moving.

Proposed Changes: Yonge Street to Davisville Junior Public School Street

In this section of Davisville Avenue, the proposed design would:

• Discourage speeding by narrowing travel lanes to meet City standards ​
• Improve pedestrian crossovers by increasing sightlines and adding speed reduction measures including a raised median​
• Add one-way cycle tracks on the north and south side of the street separated by concrete low-wall barriers with gaps at driveways​
• Remove time-of-day parking spots on the south side of Davisville Avenue​
• Add new on-street commercial loading zone by Hasty Market

Proposed Changes: Davisville Junior Public School to Pailton Crescent

In this section of Davisville Avenue, the proposed design would:

• Discourage speeding by narrowing travel lanes to meet City standards ​
• Improve pedestrian crossovers by increasing sightlines and adding speed reduction measures including a raised median​
• Add one-way cycle tracks on the north and south side of the street separated by concrete low-wall barriers with gaps at driveways​
• Remove time-of-day parking spots on the south side of Davisville Avenue​
• Add a curb extension at Pailton Crescent to reduce pedestrian crossing distance and encourage slower turns for motor vehicles

Proposed Changes to Side Streets: Acacia Road & Pailton Crescent

The City is proposing side street improvements at Acacia Road and Pailton Crescent. Curb extensions are proposed at Acacia Road and at Pailton Crescent to reduce crossing distance, encourage slower turning speeds and improve pedestrian visibility. Curb extensions provide an opportunity for streetscaping and greening improvements such as artistic road paint, trees and seating or a Bike Share Station.​ Access to Acacia Road and Pailton Crescent will remain.

Proposed changes include:

• Seating
• Artistic paint on the roadway
• Greenery (eg. trees, plantings, bioswale)
• Bike Share station
• Acacia Road, parking* is proposed to be shifted from the west to east side for safer access to June Rowlands Park. A parklet with seating and greenery is proposed. To implement this, 3 of 12 existing parking spots would be removed.

Proposed Changes: Pailton Crescent to Mount Pleasant Road

In this section of Davisville Avenue, proposed changes include:

• Discourage speeding by narrowing travel lanes to meet City standards ​
• Improve pedestrian crossover by increasing sightlines and adding speed reduction measures including a mountable median to retain the ability for people to turn left out of their driveways​
• Add one-way cycle tracks on the north and south side of the street separated by concrete low-wall barriers with gaps at driveways​
• Remove time-of-day parking spots on the south side of Davisville Avenue​
• Add a curb extension at Pailton Crescent to reduce pedestrian crossing distance and encourage slower turns for motor vehicles​

Proposed Changes at Intersection of Mount Pleasant Road and Davisville Avenue

The intersection of Davisville Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road is at the corner of two schools, a park and a senior’s home. This intersection has had three pedestrian collisions in the past 5 years, one resulting in a pedestrian fatality (2023). Changes are proposed to improve road safety and accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.

The proposed changes include:

• Add speed reduction measures such as left-turn calming and corner radii reductions to reduce risk and severity of left-turn and right-turn collisions
• Optimize traffic signal timing to minimize delays for all road users

The City is in discussions with Greenwood College School to explore prohibiting left turns from the laneway next to Mount Pleasant Parkette. Left turns at this location have poor visibility and create safety concerns for turning vehicles and crossing school children and other people walking. Prohibiting left turns would allow space for a curb extension with features such as planters, seating and artistic road paint. 

Public Consultation

Phase 2 Consultation

Phase 2 public and interest group consultation for Improving Davisville Avenue will take place between April 1 and May 3, 2026.

Public Drop-In Event

The Public Drop-In Event will provide an opportunity to view the project information panels and speak with members of the project team one-on-one.

Date: April 16, 2026

Time: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location: Greenwood College School, 443 Mount Pleasant Road, Main Floor

Access to the meeting/event location is wheelchair/mobility aid accessible. If you require other disability-related accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact us one week before the event.

Feedback

Complete the online survey before May 3, 2026. Contact us to request a printed copy of the survey.

The survey is available in English.

Consultation Materials

• Information Panels
• Project Notice

Phase 1 Public consultation on this project took place in 2024. The report below provides a detailed summary of all consultation activities and feedback received.

• Public Consultation Report

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require alternate formats or need assistance, please contact us at 416-396-5785 or email jayne.armstrong@toronto.ca

Background

The City of Toronto is proposing changes as part of the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. The Plan’s goal is to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by making our roads safer for everyone, especially for seniors, school children, pedestrians and people cycling. This project is coordinated with ongoing studies for crossing and safety improvements along Davisville Avenue.

The City Council-approved 2025-2027 Cycling Network Plan Near-Term Implementation Program identifies Davisville Avenue from Yonge Street to Mount Pleasant Road for cycling improvements to connect people to destinations and existing cycling routes. The Cycling Network Plan is a comprehensive roadmap that outlines the City’s planned investment in the cycling network. It aims to connect gaps in the current cycling network and create safer and more comfortable cycling options.

Midtown in Focus (Yonge Eglinton Secondary Plan Study) was an inter-divisional study led by City Planning. The Ready, Set, Midtown: Public Realm Implementation Strategy identifies a long-term vision for Davisville Avenue as a generous pedestrian promenade with cycling lanes and large planting areas with wide-canopied trees and ample space for street furniture and other landscape elements.