University Avenue & Queen’s Park Upgrades

Sections of University Avenue and Queens Park Crescent East are scheduled for watermain replacement and road resurfacing/restoration between 2023 and 2026, including:

  • University Avenue (west side) from College Street to 120 metres north of Queen Street West (complete);
  • University Avenue (east side) from College Street to Armoury Street; and
  • Queens Park Crescent East from College Street to approximately 150 metres south of Charles Street West.

Transportation Services evaluated these sections of University Avenue and Queens Park Crescent East to identify opportunities for integrating safety and cycling improvements as part of the roadway construction and to align with the Council-approved Vision Zero Road Safety Plan. These features continue to provide safety for pedestrians and people cycling and driving on University Avenue and Queens Park Crescent East, while also improving accessibility, durability, and neighbourhood beautification.

September 2024

Beginning in September 2024, the City will replace the watermain and the City-owned portion of substandard water services on Queens Park Crescent East from College Street to Queen’s Park. As part of roadway restoration, permanent concrete curbs will be added between the existing cycle track and motor vehicle lanes for enhanced separation. To prevent buses from having to enter the cycling area, the existing cycle track will be raised to sidewalk level at transit stops, with a platform built for pedestrians to cross the cycling facility and board or disembark from the bus.

During construction, the northbound cycle track on Queens Park Crescent East will be closed and the roadway reduced to a single travel lane. Road users should expect delays and increased traffic on nearby streets. When driving, please be mindful of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and people cycling. Motorists are reminded to share the lane with people cycling, who have the right to utilize the full lane when riding with mixed traffic. When passing a cyclist, the Highway Traffic Act requires motorists maintain a minimum distance of one metre between their vehicle and the cyclist.

Cyclists are encouraged to use the alternate northbound cycling routes via St. George Street or Bay Street.

Map of cycling detour route on Queens Park Crescent East during construction between College Street and Bloor Street West. Arrows direct people cycling northbound in two directions. First option is east on College Street, north on Bay Street and west on Bloor Street West to Avenue Road. Second option is west on College Street, north on St. George Street, and east on Bloor Street West to Avenue Road.

Please see the Construction Notice for more details.

A bioretention planter separates a cycle track from the roadway on University Avenue.
University Avenue at Elm Street

Watermain replacement and road resurfacing/restoration was completed for the west side of University Avenue in 2024. Upgrades included:

  • Replacement of the quick-build cycle track with a continuous concrete barrier from College Street to Dundas Street West;
  • Minor adjustments to the quick-build cycle track from Dundas Street West to 120 metres north of Queen Street West;
  • Addition of integrated bike/bus platforms, raised platforms for accessible WheelTrans loading in front of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and accessible loading zones with breaks in the cycle track barrier and dropped curbs to facilitate passenger pick-up and drop-off;
  • Curb radii reductions, protected intersection elements, and pedestrian accessibility features where feasible, to improve safety for pedestrians and people cycling;
  • Addition of green infrastructure and plantings from College Street to Dundas Street West within the cycle track barrier; and
  • Upgrades to existing pavement markings.

Upgrades on the east side of University Avenue include:

  • Replacement of the existing quick-build cycle track with a continuous concrete barrier from College Street to Dundas Street West;
  • Minor adjustments to the existing quick-build cycle track from Dundas Street West to Armoury Street;
  • Construction of integrated bike/bus platforms from College Street to Dundas Street West;
  • Addition of a raised platform for accessible WheelTrans loading in front of Toronto General Hospital;
  • Curb radii reductions and curb extensions throughout the project area, where feasible, to tighten up the intersection corners and slow down turning motorists and to improve pedestrian and cycling crossing safety;
  • Installation of other pedestrian accessibility features, such as AODA-compliant curb ramps and tactile warning strips; and
  • Upgrades to existing pavement markings.

In consultation with the Province and Ministry of Transportation regarding the impacts of Bill 212 – Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act of 2024, the City of Toronto will restore a lane of vehicular travel lane on University Avenue, where feasible.

As part of the 2025-2026 upgrades to the east side of University Avenue, the existing full-time on-street parking lane between Armoury Street and College Street will be converted to a vehicular travel lane during the morning and afternoon peak periods, with on-street parking permitted during off-peak hours. Beginning in 2026, the City will modify the existing quick-build cycle tracks to restore a lane of vehicular travel in each direction, while maintaining the existing bikeways. Full-time on-street parking will be converted to a vehicular travel lane during the morning and afternoon peak periods on the west side of University Avenue between Dundas Street West and Adelaide Street West and on the east side between Armoury Street and Adelaide Street West. On-street parking will be permitted during the off-peak hours where designated.

These changes will result in three southbound vehicular travel lanes on University Avenue between Dundas Street and Adelaide Street West. In the northbound direction, three vehicular travel lanes will begin approximately 60 metres north of Adelaide Street West on University Avenue to College Street to connect to the existing three northbound lanes on Queen’s Park Crescent. Between Adelaide Street West and Wellington Street West, the existing quick-build cycle tracks will be modified to provide new turn lanes, where feasible, including:

  • Northbound right-turn lane at Adelaide Street West;
  • Southbound left-turn lane at King Street West; and
  • Southbound right-turn and northbound left-turn lane at Wellington Street West.

As part of the ActiveTO temporary cycling network, cycle tracks were installed on University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent between Bloor Street West and Adelaide Street West in 2020, and were extended further south to King Street West in 2022. This is the only protected and accessible north-south cycling route west of Yonge Street that connects the Bloor Street cycle tracks to the Richmond-Adelaide cycle tracks.

After they were made permanent by City Council in December 2021, the University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent cycle tracks pavement markings were refreshed to bring them up to standards with added safety features, such as decorative curb extensions at key locations along the route, which reduce crossing distances, improve sight lines and reduce turning vehicle speeds.