A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is a study that examines infrastructure needs within a geographic area and provides a framework for the implementation of projects over a period of time.
The Park Lawn Lake Shore Transportation Master Plan Study follows Schedule B (Phases 1 and 2) of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) process, which is an approved planning process under the Environmental Assessment (EA) Act.
Once the TMP is complete, a report will be issued identifying recommendations. If City Council adopts the report recommendations, a Notice of Study Completion is issued to all stakeholders and the project mailing list and a copy of the Transportation Master Plan document is made available on this website and in select local libraries for a 30-day review period. During the 30-day review period, a person can contact the City to resolve any outstanding concerns regarding the project.
Some of the projects which may be recommended in the TMP that have a higher cost and environmental impact will require further study and completion of Phases 3 and 4 of the Municipal Class EA process at a later date.
Public consultation on the Christie’s Planning Study is taking place concurrently with the TMP. Consultation activities are being coordinated to meet both project schedules where feasible.
The Christie’s Planning Study will guide the future development of the former Mr. Christie’s factory site at 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West focusing on the following themes: mobility, built form and land use, parks and open spaces, community services and facilities and infrastructure, energy and the environment. This work will result in a Secondary Plan and site-specific Zoning By-law which will guide development on the site.
Public consultation is an important component of the study. We invite you to join us in helping shape the future of transportation options in the Park Lawn Lake Shore community. Learn more about public consultation events and past activities on the Have Your Say page of the project website.
In advance of public events, City staff meet with potentially impacted property owners and convene local stakeholder groups including residents associations, community organizations, and businesses, to share information and obtain feedback.
The first step in the TMP is to develop a long-list of potential improvements for all modes of travel through consideration of the:
The long-list of potential improvements is considered against screening criteria to determine what viable options that can be short-listed in Alternative Solutions.
Evaluation criteria will be applied to each of the Alternative Solutions to identify the preferred TMP approach.
While the TMP process aims to minimize impacts to private property, some of the recommended projects may require property acquisition.
The TMP will perform an initial assessment of where property may be required to achieve the required public infrastructure to allow for the approved plan to be implemented.
Specific property requirements would be confirmed during further phases of the Municipal Class EA process and/or detailed design activities following completion of the TMP. The City will consult with affected property owners to mitigate property impacts and negotiate property acquisition prior to final decisions being made. Some property requirements may be achieved through the development approval process
Natural heritage features of the study area are:
The Study Area features 20 built heritage resources, including two designated heritage properties and four listed heritage properties.
A Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment has been completed for the Park Lawn/Lake Shore TMP to determine whether there is potential for archaeological sites to be present, and to inform the evaluation of alternatives.
As part of the Environmental Assessment process the City shares information about the study with aboriginal groups, and invites opportunity to provide comment.
A proposed Park Lawn GO station is in the early planning stage. The Initial Business Case was completed in February 2018, showing the location has positive benefits.
Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario are using The Transit Oriented Communities Development Program to deliver new GO stations. This means third parties will fund new GO stations as part of broader, higher density, mixed use development that is connected, next to or within a short walk of the station. Transit oriented communities increase transit ridership, reduce traffic, increase housing supply and jobs with easy access to rapid transit. The program also allows for the Province to maximize transit investment while reducing tax payer burden.
Service at Mimico station will continue to improve as the GO Expansion Program is delivered to provide all-day two-way service every 15 minutes, or better, along the Lakeshore West Corridor.
The Park Lawn Lake Shore TMP is coordinating improvements with the Waterfront Transit Reset, which includes a comprehensive assessment of needs and options for transit improvements for the waterfront area.
On January 31, 2018, City Council endorsed the overall Waterfront Transit Network Plan, and directed staff to proceed with more detailed follow-up planning and design studies according to priority.
West of the Humber River, it was recommended that a new LRT right-of-way connect to a proposed transit Hub at Park Lawn Road, and that streetcar operations be improved connecting to the Long Branch GO station.
The proposed development of the Christie’s site shows a new TTC streetcar loop within the site. The streetcars would loop into the site from Lake Shore Boulevard and provide a connection to the proposed Park Lawn GO station.
It is proposed that the TTC would extend more streetcar service to a new Park Lawn Loop in conjunction with the development of the proposed Park Lawn GO station.
The existing turn-back functions for streetcars at Humber Loop would move to the new Park Lawn Loop. Humber Loop would remain in-place to provide customers on the streetcar with connections to other bus services and for operational flexibility to accommodate any future streetcar service changes. Improvements to the state of good repair on the streetcar tracks and pedestrian access through the tunnel to the loop were made in recent years – the TTC will continue to work with the City to improve this important connections for the community.
The TMP accounts for future 2041 population projections. Traffic Analysis accounts for vehicle movement in the following corridors:
Traffic modeling includes interactions of all modes of transportation, including vehicles on local roads, highways, and on/off ramps; streetcars and buses, pedestrians, cyclists, and trucks. The traffic model will assess both existing and future transportation network and operations.
Street network changes recommended in the TMP could include improvements to:
Improvements to Park Lawn Road & The Queensway being considered:
Improvements to Lake Shore Boulevard being considered:
Improvements to the Gardiner Expressway being considered:
Different alternatives will be explored for:
There are private roads and laneways in the study area (i.e.: spaces between or behind buildings) that were created in association with development. Changes to private roads and laneways are not being considered in the TMP.
The proposed Legion Road Extension is part of the Bonar Creek/Legion Road (BCLR) project. Key components of this project include:
The environmental assessment for this project was approved by the Ministry of Environment in 2010. The project is currently in the early stages of detailed design. The project team is coordinating with Metrolinx to confirm design parameters and potential construction methods for the grade separation. The traffic capacity improvements intended to be achieved by this road connection is being studied within the Park Lawn TMP to ensure that the connection is meeting project objectives in the current and future conditions. The outcome of this analysis will be used by the City to help inform next steps and timing for the proposed Legion Road Extension.
Toronto’s Cycling Network Plan serves as a comprehensive work plan, outlining the City’s planned investments in cycling infrastructure over 2019 to 2021 and beyond. It is primarily based on broad goals of: Connect gaps in the cycling network, Grow the cycling network, and Renew existing cycling routes.
Cycling improvements developed in the TMP could include:
The TMP will follow the City’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and Complete Streets Guidelines.
Vision Zero is a comprehensive five year (2017-2021) action plan focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets, using a data-driven and targeted approach, focusing on the locations where improvements are most needed. The Plan addresses safety for the most vulnerable users of our transportation system—pedestrians, school children, older adults and cyclists.
Complete Streets are streets that are designed to be safe for all users: people who walk, bicycle, take transit or drive and people of varying ages and levels of ability. They also consider other uses like sidewalk cafés, street furniture, street trees, utilities and stormwater management. The Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines should be considered in all City street design projects.
Pedestrian improvements could include adding missing sidewalks, widening too-narrow sidewalks, improving intersections and pedestrian crossings, enhancing accessibility, improving signals, wayfinding, and adding other amenities such as trees and street furniture to improve pedestrian comfort.
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) was enacted by the provincial government in 2005 to help make Ontario accessible to people with disabilities. This act lays the framework for the development of province-wide mandatory standards on accessibility in all areas of daily life.
Conceptual and functional designs for new or upgraded infrastructure (e.g. sidewalks) that are developed as part of this project will be AODA compliant. All new or upgraded infrastructure components (e.g. pedestrian signals / push buttons, signage, etc.) that will be implemented by the City of Toronto must comply with AODA standards.