In consultation with local community, the City is developing a Neighbourhood Streets Plan (NSP) for the Maple Leaf and Rustic area that will address four main areas of concern:

  1. Road safety for vulnerable road users (i.e. seniors, school children, and people walking or cycling)
  2. Excessive speeding
  3. Excessive motor vehicle traffic on local streets
  4. Opportunities to support active transportation

The City invites residents and community groups to learn more about the changes that are proposed as part of the Neighbourhood Streets Plan and provide feedback.

Maple Leaf & rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan: the project area is located between Jane Street to the west, the rail corridor to the east, Highway 401 to the north, and Lawrence Avenue West to the south.
Map of the project area

The project area is located between Jane Street to the west, the rail corridor to the east, Highway 401 to the north, and Lawrence Avenue West to the south.

In 2020, the Etobicoke York Community Council directed City staff to work with the Maple Leaf and Rustic communities to develop a comprehensive plan to address community concerns. City staff will use a Neighbourhood Streets Plan process to develop this plan.

What is a Neighbourhood Streets Plan?

Neighbourhood Streets Plans (NSPs) are a new service for neighbourhoods where traffic and travel patterns challenge the safety and mobility of people using the streets. Through the planning process, a team of City staff work with communities to identify local issues and opportunities, prioritize the greatest needs, and recommend changes to traffic operations and street designs.

NSPs consider the needs of all road users and emphasize the safety of vulnerable road users such as seniors, school children, and people walking and cycling.

What Types of Changes Will Be Considered?

NSPs result in short-term actions (1 to 2 years) which can be made using temporary, flexible materials like signs, paint, and bollards, and will identify longer term changes which can be accomplished alongside future programmed road work.

The outcomes of each NSP will be different based on local conditions and the needs of each neighbourhood. Generally, NSPs will recommend actions related to motor vehicle speed and volume management, and traffic safety conflicts on local streets. NSP recommendations are informed by the City’s Traffic Calming Guide, Vision Zero Action Plan, and Complete Streets Guidelines. Some examples of actions that may be considered include:

  • Speed limit reduction
  • Turn prohibitions
  • Changes to the location of street parking
  • Traffic calming measures (e.g. speed humps, curb extensions)
  • Intersection safety improvements
  • Changes to road design

The participation of local residents and stakeholders is essential to identifying appropriate actions and effective changes for the Maple Leaf and Rustic neighbourhoods. Dates are subject to change.

  • Project planning, reporting and initial data collection (Fall 2023)
  • Phase 1 Public consultation on local issues & ideas (November 2023)
  • Develop actions & changes to address issues (Spring/Summer 2024)
  • Phase 2 Public consultation on proposed actions & changes (Fall 2024)
  • Working group meetings (Winter 2024/2025)
  • Finalize plan for approval by Community Council (to be determined)
  • Implement short-term actions (2025)
  • On-going monitoring, evaluation, and updates to community on future changes

The City of Toronto is inviting local residents, businesses and organizations to learn more and provide feedback on the Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan. Public and stakeholders’ opinions, along with technical and policy considerations will be used to inform City staff recommendations and decisions to be made by City Council.

There are two phases of consultation between Fall 2023 and Fall 2024:

  • Phase 1: presented background information and consulted the community on issues commonly experienced in the neighbourhood and ideas for actions and changes
  • Phase 2: seeks feedback on proposed short-term actions (1 to 2 years) which can be made using temporary, flexible materials like signs, paint, and bollards, and identifies longer term changes which can be accomplished alongside future programmed road work.

Information, reference materials, and reports on public consultation activities are posted here.

Phase 1 Public Consultation

Phase 1 public consultation took place from November 2 to December 18, 2023. It included a public drop-in event, comment tracking, and an online survey and mapping activity. The public drop-in event was held on December 4, 2023. It included a presentation and question & answer period, as well as opportunity to speak with project staff and view display panels. View the display panels and consultation report below.

Consultation Materials

Consultation Report

Phase 1 feedback centered around six main themes: road safety concerns for all road users; high motor vehicle speeds throughout the neighbourhood; concern about the impact of congestion along major corridors on neighbourhood streets; lack of desirable travel alternatives to motor vehicle travel; conflicts between parking/loading and motor vehicle flow; and concerns about the impact of development on the transportation network.

Phase 2 Public Consultation

Phase 2 public consultation took place from September 24th to October 21st, 2024. Consultation activities included three interest group meetings, a pop-up event, an in-person drop-in event, a survey and comment tracking. The public drop-in event was held on October 8, 2024. It included a presentation and question & answer period, as well as opportunity to speak with project staff and view display panels. View the display panels, meeting summary notes and consultation report below.

Consultation Materials

Phase 2 consultation participants were divided over their support for proposed changes and, overall, were overwhelmed by the high number of changes proposed. Feedback from residents around speed management measures, road safety improvements, construction of new sidewalks in the area and parking management was split between those respondents who are supportive and others who are unsupportive. Feedback around proposed volume management (particularly directional changes to local streets) and new bikeways was generally unsupportive.

Feedback gathered through this consultation will inform future proposals developed by City staff, along with input from additional engagement with area residents through a Local Advisory Committee.

Residents have raised concerns about motor vehicle speeds in the neighbourhood. The City has already made some improvements:

  • Regulatory speed limits have been reduced to 30 km/h on local roads and 40 km/h on collector roads
  • Speed humps have been installed on various streets including on two collector roads: Rustic Road and Maple Leaf Drive from Culford Road to Keele Street. 
  • Automated Speed Enforcement cameras have been temporarily installed in designated Community Safety Zones along Maple Leaf Drive and Culford Road 

Proposed changes to reduce motor vehicle speeds include speed humps, speed cushions, in-road flexible speed signs, and designation of Community Safety Zones.

  • Speed Humps are a very effective traffic calming measure to reduce motor vehicle speeds and volumes. They have minimal impact for people cycling and City services such as snow clearing, waste removal and Fire & Paramedic services
  • Speed Cushions are an effective traffic calming measure. They are similar to speed humps except the design provides gaps to accommodate the wheelbase of TTC vehicles. They are proposed where there is a regular TTC route.
  • In-Road Flexible Speed Signs act as a visual reminder of the posted speed limit and to slow down and encourage compliance with the posted speed limit in high-priority areas, like near schools, community centres, libraries or other areas often travelled by pedestrians or people cycling. 
  • Automated Speed Enforcement cameras are used to encourage compliance with the posted speed limit by monitoring for speeding and implementing fines. They are only permitted in designated Community Safety Zones and are installed temporarily for 6-month periods based on priority locations across the ward.

The Plan proposes adding speed humps as a calming measure to the following streets (listed alphabetically):

  • Bryn Road from Gracefield Avenue to Wyndale Drive
  • Burr Avenue from Liscombe Road to Culford Road
  • Cornelius Parkway from Rustic Road to Maple Leaf Drive
  • Culford Road from Falstaff Avenue to Maple Leaf Drive
  • Dante Road from Gracefield Avenue to Culford Road
  • Del Marco Boulevard from Dante Road to Lawrence Avenue West
  • Del Ria Drive from Valencia Crescent to Gracefield Avenue
  • Dorsey Drive from Brome Road to Erie Street
  • Duval Drive from North Park Drive to Lawrence Avenue West
  • Erie Street from Falstaff Avenue to Maple Leaf Drive
  • Falstaff Avenue from Jane Street to Culford Road
  • Grovedale Avenue from Blue Spring Road to Erie Street
  • Lawnside Drive from Maidstone Street to Raven Road
  • Liscombe Road from Rustic Road to Maple Leaf Drive
  • Maidstone Street from Rustic Road to Falstaff Avenue
  • North Park Drive from Keele Street to Treelawn Parkway
  • Queens Drive from Culford Road to Gracefield Avenue
  • Quinan Drive from Keele Street to Duval Drive
  • Rustic Road from Maidstone Street to Hysel Road
  • Rustic Road from Keele Street to Connie Street
  • Sparta Road from North Park Drive to Quinan Drive
  • Stella Street from Rustic Road to Maple Leaf Drive
  • Treelawn Parkway from North Park Drive to north terminus

Where speed humps are not possible due to road widths or TTC bus routes, the Plan proposes speed cushions, in-road speeds signs and designating a Community Safety Zone (which would allow temporary Automated Speed Enforcement).

  • Speed Cushions: Culford Road from Maple Leaf Drive to Lawrence Avenue
  • Speed Cushions: Maple Leaf Drive from Stella Street to Culford Road
  • In-road speed signs and Community Safety Zone: Maple Leaf Drive from Jane Street to Stella Street
Proposed Speed Management Measures for the Maple Leaf & rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan.
Map of proposed changes: Speed Management

Residents have raised concerns about road user safety, particularly vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and people cycling. The City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan is a comprehensive action plan focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets.

The City has already made some improvements, including:  

  • Designating School Safety Zones and Community Safety Zones around schools
  • Pedestrian ‘head start’ signals along Keele Street
  • High visibility ‘zebra’ crosswalks at major intersections and near schools

Major corridor studies for Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West will also provide an opportunity for future road safety improvements.

Proposed Changes

The Plan proposes to improve safety through:  

  • Changes to pedestrian crossings, such new crossings, accessible pedestrian signals including pedestrian “head start” and ramps with tactile walking surface 
  • Changes to intersection design such as curb extensions to shorten crossing distance, reducing curb radii to slow turning motor vehicles, and intersection realignment 
  • Turn and through-travel restrictions to limit pedestrian conflicts
  • Designated space to walk or bike (discussed in separate section, Proposed Changes – Transportation Options)

The Plan proposes changes at specific locations, listed below:  

  • Maple Leaf Drive at mid-block bus stop between Jane Street and Stella Street near the driveway to 290-300 Queens Drive: Mid-block pedestrian crossing  
  • Intersection of Queens Drive and Arkwright Street: Curb extensions and/or all-way stop signs or pedestrian crossing 
  • Intersection of Keele Street and Wyndale Drive / Quinan Drive: left-turn and east-west through travel restrictions

Road safety improvements are currently underway at the following locations:  

  • Intersections of Maple Leaf Drive, Cornelius Parkway and Romeo Street: These improvements will realign the intersections using curb extensions and pavement markings. These improvements were designed and moved forward in response to Phase 1 public feedback as well as earlier resident concerns. Installation is planned for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 using temporary (quick-build) materials. Long-term improvements using permanent materials will later be installed to replace the quick-build project. The design for the future permanent installation may differ from this design based on impacts to traffic operations and safety.

The Plan also proposes minor intersection improvements along collector roads and near schools and other local destinations. These improvements generally include:

  • Repainting stop bars and centre lines
  • Installing crosswalks markings at stop signs where sidewalks and curb ramps exists
  • Upgrading crosswalks to high visibility zebra crosswalks near schools senior communities and other areas where there is a safety concern or higher levels of pedestrian activity

Along Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue West, the Plan does not propose specific changes. Subject to the findings of studies along these major corridors, future road safety improvements will be proposed. Previous feedback as part of Phase 1 consultation about the safety concerns at these locations has been recorded and may be used to inform those studies.

Proposed Road Safety Measures for the Maple Leaf & rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan.
Map of proposed changes: Road Safety

Residents have raised concerns about motor vehicle volumes in the neighbourhood:

The City has already made some improvemnts including:

  • Turn restrictions at the intersections of Keele Street and Falstaff Avenue, Keele Street and North Park Drive, and Keele Street and Quinan Drive

Proposed changes to reduce motor vehicle volumes include one-way street conversions and directional closures:  

  • One-way street conversions change the direction of an existing one-way street to discourage short-cutting traffic in a neighbourhood.
  • Turn restrictions and directional closures block the movement of traffic in one direction by adding physical barriers.

Proposed Changes

The Plan proposes changes in four areas of the neighbourhood:   

Area 1 – Falstaff Avenue 

  • Falstaff Avenue from Culford Road to Blue Springs Road: convert to one-way westbound
Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Changes for Falstaff Avenue
Map of Area 1 proposed directional changes

Area 2 – Rustic Road, Stella Street, Liscombe Road, Maidstone Street 

  • Rustic Road from Stella Street to Hysel Road: convert to one-way westbound
  • Maidstone Road from Raven Road to Beckett Avenue: convert to one-way northbound
  • Stella Street from Rustic Road to Maple Leaf Drive: convert to one-way southbound
  • Liscombe Road from Rustic Road to Maple Leaf Drive: convert to one-way northbound
Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Changes for Rustic Road, Stella Street, Liscombe Road, Maidstone Street
Map of Area 2 proposed directional changes

Area 3 – Queens Drive, Gracefield Avenue and Bluebell Gate 

  • Queens Drive from Venice Drive to Bluebell Gate: convert to one-way westbound
  • Gracefield Drive from Arkwright Street to Bluebell Gate: convert to one-way eastbound
  • Bluebell Gate from Queens Drive to Gracefield Avenue: convert to one-way northbound
Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Changes for Queens Drive, Gracefield Avenue and Bluebell Gate
Map of Area 3 proposed directional changes

Area 4 – North Park Drive, Duval Drive, Quinan Drive and Sparta Road 

  • North Park Drive from Keele Street to Sparta Road: convert to one-way eastbound
  • North Park Drive from Sparta Road to Duval Drive: convert to one-way westbound
  • Duval Drive from Quinan Drive to North Park Drive: convert to one-way northbound
  • Quinan Drive from Sparta Road to Duval Drive: convert to one-way eastbound
  • Sparta Road from North Park Drive to Quinan Drive: convert to one-way southbound
  • Intersection of Keele Street and Wyndale Drive / Quinan Drive: add turn restrictions and directional closures (curb extensions or vertical barriers) No left turns to Keele Street and no east-west through travel (only right turns in and out)
Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Changes for North Park Drive, Duval Drive, Quinan Drive and Sparta Road
Map of Area 4 proposed directional changes

Parking management measures are proposed to address concerns about safety while balancing growing demand for parking. Proposed parking management changes include:  

  • Restricting on-street parking at locations where on-street parking is affecting sight lines and motor vehicle flow
  • Allowing on-street parking near parks, trail entrances, and local retail destinations to address growing demand for parking near those locations

In some cases, introducing on-street parking would require removing existing parking restrictions.

These changes were developed based on background analysis and Phase 1 public feedback.

Proposed Changes

The Plan proposes to restrict on-street parking in some locations where visibility and motor vehicle flow is a concern:  

  • Cornelius Parkway from Maple Leaf Drive to Romeo Street
  • Culford Road from Falstaff Avenue to Rustic Road
  • Grovedale Avenue from Erie Street to 15m west of Erie Street
  • Mangrove Road , from 30m west of the Maple Leaf Park Trail entrance to 30m east of the entrance

At the same time, the Plan proposes to allow on-street parking on the following nearby streets with lower motor vehicle volumes to accommodate growing demand for parking. This may involve removing existing on-street parking restrictions.

  • Arrowdale Avenue from the north terminus to Mangrove Road
  • Blue Springs Road from Falstaff Avenue to Rustic Road
  • Cornelius Parkway south of Maple Leaf Drive
  • Grovedale Avenue from Blue Spring Road to Bannerman Road
  • Mangrove Road from 30m south of the Maple Leaf Park Trail entrance to the south end
  • Mayo Drive
  • Rustic Road from Hysel Road to 15m west of Culford Road
  • Upwood Avenue from Queens Drive to the west end
Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Changes to Parking
Map of proposed changes to parking

Residents have raised concerns about limited transportation options in the neighbourhood.

Diverse transportation and travel options can help reduce reliance on private motor vehicles.

Sidewalks

The City’s Missing Sidewalks Program aims to provide accessible sidewalks on all streets over the long-term, in line with the City’s Vision Zero 2.0 Road Safety Plan.

The Maple Leaf & Rustic Streets Plan proposes adding new sidewalks at specific locations in the near-term, listed below in alphabetical order:  

  • Burr Avenue from Liscombe Road to Culford Drive
  • Del Ria Drive from Culford Road to 85m south of Gracefield Avenue
  • Falstaff Avenue from Springview Avenue to Culford Road
  • Rustic Road from Cornelius Parkway to Jocada Road
  • Veerland Drive from Berryton Avenue to 60m east of Azrock Road
  • Wyndale Drive from Culford Road to Bryn Road

Further resident engagement and notification will be conducted prior to sidewalk installation.

Over the long term, the Plan proposes to add new sidewalks on at least one side of the road for all roads and both sides of the road on all collector roads.

Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Sidewalks
Map of proposed and existing sidewalks

Bikeways

The City Council-Approved Cycling Network Plan (CNP) serves as a comprehensive roadmap and work plan for the cycling network. The 2025-2027 CNP highlighted potential routes in the Maple Leaf and Rustic neighbourhoods in support of the CNP’s mandate to grow the cycling network into new parts of the city.

The Maple Leaf & Rustic Streets Plan proposes new bikeways along these routes, subject to further design consultation:

  • Route 1 – Maple Leaf Drive Connection (Maple Leaf Drive, Queens Drive, Gracefield Avenue)
  • Route 2 – Liscombe Connection (Liscombe Street, Stella Street, Maidstone Street, Falstaff Avenue)
  • Route 3 – Rustic Road Connection 
  • Route 4 – Culford Road Connection 
  • Route 5 – North Park Drive Connection (Keele Street, North Park Drive, Duval Drive, Quinan Drive, Sparta Road)
  • Route 6 –Cornelius Drive Connection (Donofree Road, Maple Leaf Drive, Cornelius Parkway)

This Neighbourhood Streets Plan will confirm the recommended bikeway routes. Further public consultation will be conducted at a later date on proposed design options for any recommended routes. Following future public consultation, a report with the bikeway routes and designs will be submitted to City Council for approval prior to installation.

Maple Leaf and Rustic Neighbourhood Streets Plan - Proposed Bikeways
Map of proposed and existing bikeway routes

Stay Informed

Please contact Rachel Yanchyshyn at MapleLeafRusticStreets@toronto.ca to be added to the project list to receive updates by email, including information about upcoming public events and an online survey.