Rivertowne Road Changes

Since the redevelopment of Don Mount Court into Rivertowne, local residents have worked with the local Councillor and City staff to address ongoing road safety concerns and make the street safer for vulnerable road users.

The City is making additional changes to improve safety, enhance the public realm and create predictable travel behaviour. Changes include pedestrian crossing improvements and sidewalk widening on Kintyre Avenue. In addition, the City is redesigning Thompson Street between Carroll Street and the Lane East of Carroll Street that is now closed to motor vehicles to create a more seamless connection to Joel Weeks Park.

The project is focused on neighbourhood streets and intersections. The boundary roads (Dundas Street East, Broadview Avenue, Queen Street East and the Don Valley Parkway) are not within the scope of the study.

Since Don Mount Court was redeveloped into Rivertowne, local residents have worked with the local Councillor and City staff to address concerns about road safety. The key issues raised are:

  • Pedestrian access to Joel Weeks Park and local destinations
  • Narrow sidewalks, especially on routes to school
  • Vulnerable road user safety at intersections, especially along arterial roads
  • Traffic volumes on local roads in Rivertowne, especially routes adjacent to Joel Weeks Park
  • Non-local traffic using neighbourhood roads to avoid traffic congestion at the intersections of Broadview Avenue & Dundas Street East and at Broadview Avenue & Queen Street East
  • Drivers not complying with road regulations (e.g. driving the wrong way on one-way streets, not stopping at stop signs)
  • Speeding and aggressive and distracted driving

In recent years the following changes have been implemented:

Changes Implemented in 2020

In spring 2020, the City made changes (Item History – 2019.TE8.41) to improve road user safety and decrease motor vehicle volumes and motor vehicle speeds, especially near Joel Weeks Park. The changes included:

  • Closing a segment of Thompson Street to motor vehicles, and maintaining pedestrian and cycling access
  • Converting sections of Matilda Street and Kintyre Avenue to permit one-way traffic

Changes Implemented in 2022

In spring 2022, Toronto and East York Community Council (Item History – 2022.TE34.108) approved the permanent closure of Thompson Street between Carroll Street and the first lane east of Carroll Street to motor vehicles. Kintyre Avenue, between Broadview Avenue and Munro Street, was designated as a one-way street for westbound traffic only. Experimental changes were made to the direction of motor vehicle movements on Carroll Street and Matilda Street.

Thompson Street will be redesigned to reflect the permanent closure to motor vehicles. The proposed changes include:

  • New street trees and low plantings
  • New landscape design to create a seamless connection to Joel Weeks Park
  • Maintained east-west access for pedestrians and people biking
  • No impact to on-street parking

Existing Condition

Photograph of Thompson Street at Carroll Street, looking east

Planned Park Extension

Artist rendering of planned design for Thompson Street at Carroll Street, looking east

Thompson Street Plan View

Detailed design drawing of the planned changes at the Munro Street and Thompson Street intersection

Changes are planned at two intersections to improve conditions for vulnerable road users in support of the Council approved Vision Zero Road Safety Plan:

  • Matilda Street, Kintyre Avenue and Munro Street
  • Munro Street and Thompson Street

The planned changes will reduce crossing distances for pedestrians, improve visibility and encourage slower vehicle speeds.

Matilda Street, Kintyre Avenue and Munro Street

The changes at the Matilda Street, Kintyre Street and Munro Street intersection will include:

  • All street crossings at sidewalk level where possible
  • Reduced crossing distances on south and east segment
  • Curb radius reductions on all corners

Aerial image of the planned raised intersection at Matilda Street, Kintyre Street and Munro Street, showing the direction of traffic.

Munro Street and Thompson Street Intersection

Planned intersection changes to improve pedestrian connections to Joel Weeks Park and create a seamless connection to the Thompson Street closure. The changes include:

  • Reduced pedestrian crossing distances on north and west sides of the intersection
  • Curb extension on the north and west corners

Access to the laneway east of Carroll Street, south of Thompson Street, will be maintained.

Detailed design drawing of the planned changes at the Munro Street and Thompson Street intersection

      The sidewalk on Kintyre Avenue will be widened to improve accessibility and the pedestrian experience.

      • Sidewalks widths on the north side would be widened from 1.3 metres to a minimum of 2.0 metres between Broadview Avenue and Hamilton Street
      • Pedestrian crossing distances would be reduced at intersections with Broadview Avenue and Hamilton Street

      These changes will not impact on-street parking.

      Existing Conditions

      Photo of Kintyre Avenue at Broadview Avenue, looking west

      Planned Sidewalk Improvements

      Artist rendering of widened sidewalks on Kintyre Avenue at Broadview Avenue, looking west

        In 2020, Toronto and East York Community Council authorized a road configuration converting sections of Matilda Street and Kintyre Avenue to permit one-way traffic. In 2022, Toronto and East York Community Council approved an experimental change to the direction of motor vehicle movements on Carroll Street and Matilda Street.

        Over the past few years, traffic patterns in the neighbourhood have been studied, and feedback from community members has been gathered. The City continues to collect data and study traffic patterns in the neighbourhood.