June 1, 2023 Update: In response to local stakeholder feedback, the project team is revising elements of the proposed design to address concerns. The final proposal and related reports are expected to be published in mid-June, prior to reporting for approval at Toronto and East York Community Council.
The City of Toronto is inviting residents to learn more and provide feedback on a new proposed design for the streets in Kensington Market to improve safety and to make it more pedestrian-friendly. Public feedback, along with technical considerations and City policies and guidelines will be considered in decisions to be made by staff and City Council.
Improvements are recommended on the following streets within the Kensington Market area:
This project proposes modifying segments of these streets into three types of zones (see map).
Slow Street Zones
Shared Street Zones
Pedestrian-only Zones
All street types permit cycling and allow City service operations (e.g. emergency services, waste collection, and snow removal).
Text description of map:Slow street zone along Nassau street from Bellevue Avenue to Augusta Avenue; Baldwin Street from Kensington Avenue to Spadina Avenue; St. Andrew street from Kensington Avenue to Spadina Avenue; Kensington Avenue from Baldwin street to Dundas Street west; and sections of Augusta Avenue from college street to Oxford street and from Denison Square to Dundas Street westShared street zone on sections of Augusta Avenue from Oxford street to driveway access between Oxford Street and Nassau Street; from Nassau street to driveway access between Nassau street and Baldwin street; and from lane south Nassau west Augusta to Denison square; and on Baldwin street from little Hayes lane to Kensington AvenuePedestrian only zone on section of Augusta Avenue beta Nassau street and driveway access between Oxford street and Nassau street; and the area around the intersection of Augusta Avenue with Baldwin street.
After careful analysis, design and public consultation, the City is proposing the following for the streets:
All laneways, driveways, garages, boulevard parking and other parking on private property will remain accessible to motor vehicles, although it may require people driving to take a new route to and from these spaces. The proposal reduces on-street parking, while reserving an adequate local supply of parking spaces for permit holders and visitors.
See materials with imagery, drawings and details under Phase 3 Public Consultation below.
The comment period for this public consultation has now closed. Consultation was carried out from April 5, 2023 to May 23, 2023. Consultation activities included multiple stakeholder meetings, two all-day public drop-in events (attended by over 150 people), communications via email and telephone, and a survey (with over 1600 responses, including over 110 respondents who live/work/own on the affected streets.
A summary of the public consultation will be published in the coming weeks.
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While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no translation or text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require translation, alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please contact us at 416-338-2830 or email KensingtonSafeStreets@toronto.ca
A Virtual Public Event was held on Monday, July 18, 2022.
A Virtual Public Event was held on Thursday, October 28, 2021.
While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no translation or text alternative available for some of the content on this page. If you require translation, alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings or any other content, please contact us at 416-338-2830 or email KensingtonSafeStreets@toronto.ca
State-of-good-repair work, including watermain replacements, road resurfacing, and road reconstruction, are urgently needed in Kensington Market, scheduled for 2024 and 2025 along the following streets:
Specific construction schedules and temporary impacts will be published in notices to affected properties in the months and weeks prior to construction start in 2024.
This reconstruction work presents a once in a generation opportunity to redesign the streets for safety and public realm improvements for the next 50 to 100 years.
Kensington Market has long been valued as a cultural, community and commercial destination with high pedestrian traffic. During previous public consultations for this project (Fall 2021 and Spring-Summer 2022), the City heard consistent requests to increase space for pedestrians and business loading and decrease space for on-street paid parking and driving.
All laneways, driveways, garages, boulevard parking and other parking on private property will remain accessible to motor vehicles, although it may require people driving to take a new route to and from these spaces.
People driving can only stop outside of the Shared Street Zones and Pedestrian-only Zones, or on private property.
We recognize these changes will make loading less convenient at times, and may require people to walk further between where their vehicles are stopped and their buildings. This situation is similar to when the convenient parking spaces are not available.
In light of the proposed changes, dedicated loading only zones have been provided on all streets in the project area. We are also proposing increasing the permitted loading times from 7am-12noon to 24 hours. These loading locations and permitted times can be adjusted in the future to accommodate recognized needs. We welcome feedback on the timing, locations, and supply of the proposed loading areas.
May 3, 2024 Update: Based on feedback received from various businesses and residents, the City is considering the following options in the Shared Street and Pedestrian-Only zones:
Consultation on loading will continue in the future.
11 permit spaces will be removed from local permit Area 6C, leaving 260 spaces to serve the 207 regular permit users (as of February 2023).
On-street paid parking spaces will be removed on Augusta Ave between Oxford St and Denison Sq and all of Baldwin St. Visitor parking is encouraged at the Green P Carpark (Kensington Garage) where there is capacity to absorb the proposed paid parking loss.
The top priority of Kensington Safe Streets is to improve road safety without significantly changing the character of the neighbourhood. The City recognizes the uniqueness of Kensington Market and the community’s desire to preserve the welcoming and accessible character of the neighbourhood.
The streets within the project scope are not part of the City’s Cycling Network Plan 
. Implementing dedicated cycling facilities would take up more space than what is available on the road to accommodate all uses. However, safer designs of intersections, such as bump-outs and curb radii reductions, will lower vehicle speeds, increase visibility between all users and make it safer for cyclists and drivers to share the road. All proposed street types will permit cycling.
Specific construction schedules and temporary impacts will be published in notices to affected properties in the months and weeks prior to construction start in 2024.
City staff will review public feedback and consider any changes to the proposed designs before reporting to Toronto and East York Community Council for official approval in the summer of 2023. Subscribe to our email list to be notified. Subject to approval, installation is planned for 2024-25.
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Personal information is collected under the authority of the City of Toronto Act, 2006. The information is used to allow the City to send you emails about project updates and future consultation opportunities. Questions about this collection may be directed to the Manager, Public Consultation at 416-392-2990 or tracy.manolakakis@toronto.ca