GUIDELINES
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TORONTO<br />
COMPLETE<br />
STREETS<br />
<strong>GUIDELINES</strong><br />
MAKING STREETS FOR PEOPLE, PLACEMAKING AND PROSPERITY.
STREETS ARE VITAL<br />
PLACES IN TORONTO.<br />
HOW OUR STREETS ARE<br />
DESIGNED SHOULD<br />
IMPROVE SAFETY AND<br />
ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL.
Toronto has over 5,300km of streets, comprising more than<br />
25% of the city’s total land area. On a typical weekday, these<br />
streets accommodate over 5 million trips, moving people<br />
and goods safely and efficiently. But beyond mobility, streets<br />
are also important public spaces where people meet,<br />
socialize and share experiences. Toronto’s streets play a vital<br />
role in creating a sense of place, a safer and more<br />
universally-accessible city, healthy and active travel choices,<br />
green infrastructure and economic prosperity.<br />
We are pleased to share Toronto’s<br />
Complete Streets Guidelines, a<br />
primer that presents a coordinated<br />
vision, goals and design guidance for<br />
Toronto’s streets.<br />
The Guidelines build upon the vision<br />
for streets outlined in the City’s<br />
Official Plan and are guided by three<br />
high-level city-building objectives:<br />
designing streets for people,<br />
designing streets for placemaking<br />
and designing streets for economic<br />
prosperity.<br />
This collaborative, multi-disciplinary<br />
approach to street design considers<br />
the needs of all people using streets<br />
– pedestrians, cyclists, transit users,<br />
and drivers. It’s an approach that also<br />
prioritizes the safety of the most<br />
vulnerable – children, seniors, and<br />
people with disabilities. By seeking<br />
innovative ways to make Toronto’s<br />
streets work for all uses and users, we<br />
can achieve the benefits of road<br />
safety, expanded mobility choices,<br />
social and environmental health and<br />
a more attractive public realm.<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets<br />
Guidelines represent some of the<br />
latest best practices that guide how<br />
the City and other jurisdictions<br />
approach complete streets. This<br />
document has been developed with<br />
extensive public and stakeholder<br />
engagement. We would like to thank<br />
the many Toronto residents,<br />
Councillors, representatives from<br />
various organizations, and City staff<br />
from all Divisions, Agencies, Boards<br />
and Commissions who have provided<br />
input and feedback during the<br />
production of these Guidelines.<br />
The Guidelines will help decisionmakers,<br />
practitioners and<br />
communities make more informed<br />
choices when prioritizing the<br />
competing demands for space on<br />
city streets.<br />
We are excited about Toronto’s<br />
Complete Streets Guidelines and<br />
look forward to continuing to design<br />
great streets in our great city.<br />
Barbara Gray<br />
General Manager<br />
Transportation<br />
Services<br />
Ashley Curtis<br />
Deputy General<br />
Manager<br />
Transportation<br />
Services<br />
Jennifer Keesmaat<br />
Chief Planner and<br />
Executive Director<br />
City Planning<br />
Michael D’Andrea<br />
Executive Director<br />
Engineering and<br />
Construction<br />
Services<br />
Lou Di Gironimo<br />
General Manager<br />
Toronto Water
c. Steven Mrcic
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
represent a collaborative effort from policy<br />
makers, City and agency staff, community<br />
groups and residents, advocates,<br />
researchers, and professionals.<br />
In 2013, Toronto City Council<br />
requested staff to report back on an<br />
approach to developing Complete<br />
Streets Guidelines. Since that time,<br />
participants have been involved in<br />
workshops, public meetings, online<br />
surveys, photo contests, walkshops<br />
and bike tours, to examine<br />
international best practices, assess<br />
current strengths and gaps in<br />
Toronto’s street design approach,<br />
evaluate recent projects, and explore<br />
innovative street design practices.<br />
These Guidelines are the product of<br />
this collaboration and hard work.<br />
CITY OF TORONTO STAFF<br />
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES<br />
• Steve Buckley<br />
• Elyse Parker<br />
• Fiona Chapman<br />
• Janet Lo<br />
• Adam Popper<br />
• Christina Bouchard<br />
• David Kuperman<br />
• Marko Oinonen<br />
CITY PLANNING<br />
• Harold Madi<br />
• Alka Lukatela<br />
• James Perttula<br />
• Kristina Reinders<br />
• David Hunter<br />
• Leo Desorcy<br />
• Sheila Boudreau<br />
TORONTO URBAN FELLOWS<br />
Emma Feltes, Jeremy Kloet, Samira<br />
Behrooz, Laura Pfeifer, Tamara<br />
Augsten, Victoria Wood, Claire<br />
Nelischer<br />
ENGINEERING AND<br />
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES<br />
Shirley Wilson<br />
Penelope Palmer
TECHNICAL ADVISORY<br />
COMMITTEE (DIVISION &<br />
AGENCY LEADS)<br />
• Build Toronto – Carlo Bonanni &<br />
Aaron Cameron<br />
• City Planning – representatives from<br />
all Districts and Sections<br />
• Economic Development and Culture<br />
– Rajashree Kumar & Antonella<br />
Nicaso<br />
• Engineering and Construction<br />
Services – Charlyne Elep & Robert<br />
Klimas<br />
• Environment and Energy – Mark<br />
Bekkering<br />
• Equity, Diversity & Human Rights –<br />
Nicole Cormier<br />
• Fire Services – Colin Booth<br />
• Metrolinx – Elana Horowitz & Naren<br />
Garg<br />
• Municipal Licencing and Standards –<br />
Carleton Grant<br />
• Parks, Forestry and Recreation –<br />
Brian L. Mercer and Carol Walker<br />
• Solid Waste Management Services –<br />
Rob Orpin<br />
• Toronto Hydro – Elias Lyberogiannis<br />
• Toronto Paramedic Services – Dawn<br />
Ainsworth<br />
• Toronto Parking Authority – Ann<br />
Marie Chung & Ian Maher<br />
• Toronto Police – Brett Moore<br />
• Toronto Public Health – Monica<br />
Campbell & Carol Mee<br />
• Toronto Transit Commission – Mary-<br />
Ann George & Rob Gillard<br />
• Toronto Water – Patrick Cheung &<br />
Weng Yau Liang<br />
• Transportation Services –<br />
representatives from all Districts and<br />
Sections<br />
This list is not exhaustive as space<br />
does not permit including many<br />
others who participated in<br />
developing the Guidelines.<br />
STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY GROUP<br />
• Alliance for Equality for Blind<br />
Canadians – Ruth Brown<br />
• Building, Industry, and Land<br />
Development – Danielle Chin<br />
• Canadian Automobile Association –<br />
Raymond Chan<br />
• Code Red TO – Rishi Lukka<br />
• CNIB – Yin Brown<br />
• Cycle Toronto – Jared Kolb<br />
• David Suzuki Foundation –<br />
Kara Garcia<br />
• Green Communities Canada –<br />
Kate Hall<br />
• Harbord Village Residents<br />
Association – Carolee Ormee &<br />
Gord Brown<br />
• METRAC – Linda Frempong<br />
• North American Native Plant Society<br />
– Harold Smith<br />
• Ontario Association of Landscape<br />
Architects – Victor Ford & Raj<br />
Mohabeer<br />
• Park People – Jake Tobin Garrett<br />
• Public Space Workshop – Paul Young<br />
• Smart Commute (Metrolinx) –<br />
Jennifer McGowan<br />
• The Laneway Project – Michelle<br />
Senaya<br />
• Toronto Association of BIAs –<br />
John Kiru<br />
• Toronto Centre for Active<br />
Transportation – Nancy Smith Lea<br />
• Toronto Electric Riders Association –<br />
Doug Beatty<br />
• Toronto and Region Conservation<br />
Authority Tim Van Seters, Rehana<br />
Rajabali, & Cameron Richardson<br />
• Toronto Skateboarding Committee –<br />
Ariel Stagni<br />
• Toronto Women’s City Alliance –<br />
Reggie Modlich<br />
• TTC Riders – Dane Grgas<br />
• Urban+Digital – Gabe Sawnhey<br />
• Walk Toronto – Dylan Reid<br />
Over 80 organizations were invited to<br />
participate in the Stakeholder<br />
Advisory Group. The list above<br />
represents the most active<br />
participants.<br />
CONSULTANTS & CONTRIBUTORS<br />
DTAH, Nelson\Nygaard, and<br />
WSP/MMM Group<br />
Document template designed by<br />
HM&E Inc. Layout and graphics by<br />
DTAH, except where noted.<br />
Stakeholder and public engagement<br />
support provided by Swerhun<br />
Facilitation and Decision Support<br />
and the City’s Public Consultation<br />
Unit.<br />
OFFICIAL REFERENCE / CITATION<br />
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Edition 1. Volume 1. 2017<br />
All photographs are property of the<br />
City of Toronto, except where noted.<br />
Document Typeface: Avenir
CONTENTS<br />
CHAPTER 1<br />
INTRODUCTION, VISION AND<br />
GOALS<br />
02 1.1 Overview<br />
03 1.2 Applicability of Guidelines<br />
04 1.3 Structure of the Guide<br />
06 1.4 Vision for Complete Streets<br />
10 1.5 Goals<br />
CHAPTER 2<br />
STREET TYPES<br />
20 2.1 Understanding Street Type<br />
22 2.2 Use of Overlays<br />
23 2.3 Toronto Street Types<br />
CHAPTER 3<br />
STEPS TO STREET DESIGN<br />
60 3.1 Steps to Street Design<br />
70 3.2 Performance Measurement<br />
71 3.3 Exceptions<br />
CHAPTER 4<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
PEDESTRIANS<br />
74 4.1 Pedestrian Design<br />
Principles<br />
76 4.2 Sidewalk Zones<br />
78 4.3 Importance of the<br />
Pedestrian Clearway Zone<br />
80 4.4 Accessibility and<br />
Universal Design Features<br />
82 4.5 Pedestrian Crossings<br />
84 4.6 Public Realm and<br />
Placemaking<br />
87 4.7 Utilities, Maintenance and<br />
Operations<br />
CHAPTER 5<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR CYCLING<br />
90 5.1 Cycling Design Principles<br />
92 5.2 Context Sensitive<br />
Cycling Facilities<br />
96 5.3 Key Cycling Elements<br />
CHAPTER 6<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR TRANSIT<br />
102 6.1 Transit Design Principles<br />
104 6.2 Key Transit Street Elements<br />
106 6.3 Context Sensitive<br />
Transit Design<br />
CHAPTER 7<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR GREEN<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
110 7.1 Green Infrastructure<br />
Design Principles<br />
112 7.2 Context Sensitive<br />
Green Streets<br />
114 7.3 Key Green Street Elements<br />
CHAPTER 8<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR ROADWAYS<br />
120 8.1 Roadway Design Principles<br />
122 8.2 Design for a Multi-Modal<br />
Transportation System<br />
124 8.3 Design for Safety of<br />
Vulnerable Users<br />
126 8.4 Design Using a Target<br />
Speed for the Street<br />
Context<br />
128 8.5 Design to Support Place-<br />
Making and Street Context<br />
130 8.6 Rightsizing & Repurposing<br />
Roadway as Complete<br />
Streets<br />
132 8.7 Traffic Calming<br />
134 8.8 Roadway Zones<br />
CHAPTER 9<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
INTERSECTIONS<br />
144 9.1 Intersection Design<br />
Principles<br />
146 9.2 Key Needs and<br />
Perspectives of<br />
Each Road User<br />
148 9.3 Accessibility and Universal<br />
Design of Intersections<br />
150 9.4 Context-Sensitive<br />
Intersection Design<br />
154 9.5 Intersection Elements And<br />
Geometric Design<br />
160 9.6 Intersection Signals and<br />
Other Traffic Controls<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
166 C.1 Project Delivery Process<br />
168 C.2 Conclusion
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
c. Nicola Betts<br />
00
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
02 1.1 Overview<br />
03 1.2 Applicability of Guidelines<br />
04 1.3 Structure of the Guide<br />
06 1.4 Vision for Complete Streets<br />
10 1.5 Goals<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets<br />
Guidelines help implement the<br />
City’s Official Plan vision for<br />
complete streets and other city<br />
building objectives.<br />
This chapter outlines that vision for<br />
streets, its supporting goals and<br />
how these guidelines should be<br />
applied.<br />
1.0<br />
INTRODUCTION, VISION<br />
AND GOALS<br />
01
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Overview<br />
1.1<br />
1.1<br />
OVERVIEW<br />
Streets are vital places in Toronto. They are the common space where<br />
our city comes together. Streets are where children learn to ride<br />
bicycles, neighbours meet and couples stroll. Streets are the front<br />
door of our businesses, homes, parks and institutions. They reflect<br />
the values of our city and, at their best, are a source of pride for the<br />
residents and visitors alike. Streets also form essential networks that<br />
move people and goods safely and efficiently in our growing city.<br />
How our streets are designed reflect<br />
our city’s values. How our streets<br />
look, feel and function should<br />
demonstrate how we want our city to<br />
be shaped.<br />
This document outlines a refined<br />
approach for street design—a<br />
‘complete streets’ approach which<br />
considers different and competing<br />
roles. This ‘complete streets’<br />
approach reinforces that streets<br />
should safely accommodate all users<br />
– pedestrians, cyclists, transit services<br />
and motor vehicles – and also<br />
support and enhance local<br />
neighbourhood context and<br />
character. It’s about making streets<br />
that are safe, beautiful and vibrant<br />
places with efficient links in a multimodal<br />
transportation network.<br />
LIABILITY STATEMENT<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets<br />
Guidelines are based on recent<br />
experiences designing and<br />
constructing streets and extensive<br />
consultation with City divisions,<br />
Agencies, Board and Commissions,<br />
the public, Councillors, industry and<br />
community stakeholders, as well as<br />
best practices from local, provincial,<br />
national and international sources. It<br />
integrates and builds upon the latest<br />
available City policies, standards and<br />
guidelines. It is consistent with other<br />
provincial, federal and nongovernmental<br />
organizations, including the<br />
Ontario Traffic Council (OTC),<br />
Transportation Association of Canada<br />
(TAC), Institute of Transportation<br />
Engineers (ITE), National Association<br />
of City Transportation Officials<br />
(NACTO) and other sources. These<br />
Guidelines also work within existing<br />
Provincial and Federal legislation<br />
pertaining the street design and<br />
operations, such as the Ontario<br />
Highway Traffic Act and Accessibility<br />
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.<br />
The Guidelines are based on the<br />
principle that all streets are different,<br />
and that no single design solution<br />
exists. A street’s design will be<br />
tailored for the particular needs and<br />
opportunities created by local<br />
context, existing and future uses and<br />
users and dimensions of each street.<br />
Street design is an evolving practice.<br />
In the coming years, design<br />
strategies used elsewhere, and<br />
technologies that do not yet readily<br />
exist in Toronto, will affect how we<br />
design our streets. Street designers<br />
should stay up-to-date on the latest<br />
best practices.<br />
TORONTO’S COMPLETE<br />
STREETS <strong>GUIDELINES</strong><br />
• Assist in implementing the vision for<br />
Toronto’s streets set out in the City’s<br />
Official Plan.<br />
• Provide a clear street design process<br />
that enhances collaboration on city<br />
street projects.<br />
• Encourage the use of every<br />
opportunity to apply the Complete<br />
Streets Guidelines.<br />
• Integrate adopted City policies,<br />
standards and bylaws as they relate<br />
to street design.<br />
• Provide City and agency staff,<br />
consultants, private developers and<br />
community groups with information<br />
on how to design streets that meet<br />
city-wide objectives.<br />
02
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Introduction<br />
1.2<br />
Applicability of Guidelines<br />
1.2<br />
APPLICABILITY OF <strong>GUIDELINES</strong><br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets Guidelines should be considered in<br />
all street design projects in the City of Toronto. They are most<br />
applicable in the planning and preliminary design project phases,<br />
though they may be useful to later phases in some street design<br />
projects.<br />
The City of Toronto carries out a wide<br />
range of street projects. Large<br />
projects, like full street<br />
reconstructions or the construction of<br />
new streets, tend to have higher<br />
budgets, broader scopes and longer<br />
timelines. Smaller projects,<br />
resurfacing or utility cut repairs have<br />
lower budgets, more constrained<br />
scopes and often shorter timelines.<br />
Large and small projects – and all in<br />
between – offer different<br />
opportunities to make streets more<br />
complete. In each instance,<br />
practitioners are encouraged to<br />
apply their best professional design<br />
judgement and to work<br />
collaboratively to develop suitable<br />
and creative designs. They should<br />
endeavour to make all streets as<br />
complete as possible within the<br />
boundaries of budget, scope,<br />
timelines and maintenance<br />
considerations. The range of street<br />
projects includes:<br />
PLANS<br />
• Area Plans, Secondary Plans, Precinct<br />
Plans, Context Plans, Transportation<br />
Master Plans<br />
• Avenue and Corridor Studies<br />
MAJOR STREET PROJECTS<br />
• New construction<br />
• Reconstruction or revitalization,<br />
major resurfacing<br />
• Environmental Assessments for new<br />
and existing streets<br />
• Business Improvement Area projects<br />
• Highway interchanges and grade<br />
separated crossings<br />
MEDIUM TO SMALLER SCALE<br />
PROJECTS<br />
• Development applications<br />
• New sidewalks or other pedestrian<br />
links<br />
• New bicycle infrastructure or facilities<br />
• Transportation Safety and Local<br />
Improvement Projects (TSLIP)<br />
• Streetscape improvements (such as:<br />
trees, landscaping, street furniture,<br />
beautification, public art, wayfinding)<br />
• Short-term or temporary<br />
interventions for evaluation<br />
• Signs, signal installations, lighting<br />
• Utility cut repairs (where it affects a<br />
street segment)<br />
03
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Structure of the Guide<br />
1.3<br />
1.3<br />
STRUCTURE OF THE GUIDE<br />
The Guidelines document is organized in ten chapters that relate<br />
to the various steps of the street design and development process.<br />
Although the Guidelines document informs the entire process, it<br />
provides a particular focus on the planning and design phases where<br />
the majority of critical decisions take place.<br />
Chapter 1: Introduction, Vision and<br />
Goals provides an overview of<br />
complete streets for Toronto and the<br />
use of this guide, and outlines<br />
Toronto’s vision and goals for<br />
complete streets. These provide the<br />
lens through which project design<br />
should proceed.<br />
Chapter 2: Street Types describes<br />
the various types of streets in the city,<br />
the type of place they aspire to<br />
become and the transportation<br />
function they must serve.<br />
Chapter 3: Steps to Street Design<br />
and Decision Making outlines the<br />
steps to designing streets and the<br />
decision-making framework.<br />
Chapters 4 through 9 provide an<br />
overview of design principles and<br />
considerations for the six key<br />
components and functions on the<br />
street. Links to further resources are<br />
also provided.<br />
• Chapter 4: Street Design for<br />
Pedestrians<br />
• Chapter 5: Street Design for Cycling<br />
• Chapter 6: Street Design for Transit<br />
• Chapter 7: Street Design for Green<br />
Infrastructure<br />
• Chapter 8: Street Design for<br />
Roadways<br />
• Chapter 9: Street Design for<br />
Intersections<br />
The Conclusion summarizes the<br />
overall process to deliver street<br />
projects.<br />
04
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Structure of the Guide<br />
1.3<br />
PROJECT<br />
INITIATION<br />
CONTEXT<br />
ANALYSIS<br />
PRELIMINARY<br />
DESIGN<br />
+<br />
DECISION<br />
MAKING<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
DESIGN<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
OPERATIONS +<br />
MAINTENANCE<br />
1. PLAN 2. DESIGN<br />
3. BUILD + MANAGE<br />
Chapters in the Guidelines and Relationship to Project Delivery Process<br />
1: Introduction<br />
2: Street Types<br />
3:Steps to Street Design and Decision Making<br />
4 through 9: Street Components<br />
10: Conclusion<br />
Coordination and Engagement<br />
Figure 1-1: Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Structure<br />
05
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Vision for Complete Streets<br />
1.4<br />
1.4<br />
VISION FOR COMPLETE STREETS<br />
Toronto’s vision for complete streets is built on the vision for streets<br />
in the City’s Official Plan. There is a deep interdependence between<br />
how we design our streets and the people of the city, the health of<br />
our communities and the strength of our economy. Toronto’s streets<br />
must serve a multitude of roles, functions and users. Complete<br />
streets should be designed for people, for placemaking and for<br />
prosperity.<br />
TORONTO COMPLETE STREETS<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PEOPLE<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PLACEMAKING<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PROSPERITY<br />
Complete Streets for Toronto will help to satisfy several goals<br />
06
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
1.4<br />
Vision for Complete Streets<br />
STREETS FOR PEOPLE<br />
Safe, Accessible, Choices,<br />
Transportation, Networks,<br />
Connectivity, Healthy, Resilient<br />
Safety for all road users is a key<br />
priority and Toronto is committed to<br />
minimizing traffic injuries and<br />
fatalities. Streets are places where<br />
everyone should feel safe,<br />
comfortable and connected.<br />
Streets should enhance human and<br />
environmental health by providing a<br />
range of safe, inviting and attractive<br />
choices for mobility and integrate all<br />
modes into a seamless network.<br />
Streets should provide accessible<br />
sidewalk facilities that include clear,<br />
direct, unobstructed and continuous<br />
paths of context-sensitive width for<br />
all road users—regardless of physical<br />
ability or age.<br />
STREETS FOR PLACEMAKING<br />
Vibrant, Beautiful, Context Sensitive,<br />
Sustainable<br />
Streets are more than just corridors<br />
for movement, they are also<br />
important public spaces, occupying<br />
more than a quarter of the city’s land<br />
area. Streets are places where people<br />
meet, linger and socialize, creating<br />
communities and shaping people’s<br />
experiences of their city. This<br />
important placemaking role for<br />
streets should be considered in<br />
tandem with their transportation<br />
roles.<br />
Streets should reflect the existing<br />
and planned function, scale and<br />
character of the neighbourhoods and<br />
communities that surround them,<br />
responding and respecting the local<br />
context and character, as well as their<br />
civic role in the city.<br />
Streets should also help minimize<br />
impacts on climate and the<br />
environment, such as by providing a<br />
generous tree canopy, and should<br />
strive to incorporate innovative<br />
stormwater management features.<br />
STREETS FOR PROSPERITY<br />
Economic Vitality, Social Equity,<br />
Flexible, Cost Effective<br />
Streets are vital to the economy and<br />
our shared prosperity. People use<br />
streets to access their jobs, schools<br />
and places to shop for goods and<br />
services. Streets are the front door to<br />
many businesses that use streets to<br />
help deliver their goods and services.<br />
The quality of a street’s environment<br />
can affect its economic vitality.<br />
Toronto’s streets must also be<br />
inclusive—people of all incomes,<br />
races, ages, genders and abilities<br />
should be able to safely access and<br />
benefit from functions provided by<br />
our streets.<br />
Streets should also be flexible and<br />
have the ability to change over time,<br />
adapting to needs, preferences and<br />
technologies. Streets are not static,<br />
and should be cost effective to build,<br />
operate and maintain in all seasons.<br />
07
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Vision for Complete Streets<br />
1.4<br />
Official Plan Sidebar: The<br />
‘Complete Streets’ approach<br />
recognizes that there is no single<br />
way in which to make a street<br />
‘complete’. It depends on<br />
numerous factors whose relative<br />
importance varies according to<br />
the character and context of<br />
each particular street. While it<br />
may not be viable or appropriate<br />
to accommodate every type of<br />
user or use on every street, the<br />
overall objective is to create a<br />
well-functioning street network<br />
that is planned and designed to<br />
provide safe access and efficient<br />
operation for all street activities<br />
and functions. Guidelines for<br />
applying the ‘Complete Streets’<br />
approach will be developed to<br />
assist in resolving and balancing<br />
the competing demands placed<br />
upon the use of street rights-ofway<br />
and applied when streets are<br />
constructed, reconstructed, or<br />
otherwise improved.<br />
CITY OF TORONTO OFFICIAL<br />
PLAN COMPLETE STREETS<br />
POLICY<br />
In August 2014, City Council<br />
adopted a ‘complete streets’ Official<br />
Plan policy that recognized that<br />
although streets may have varying<br />
priorities, all new and existing streets<br />
should accommodate a variety of<br />
modes of transportation in a way that<br />
is safe and inviting for people of all<br />
ages and abilities. The policy<br />
emphasized that streets are for more<br />
than just transportation and required<br />
that they also be designed as unique<br />
public spaces that reflect community<br />
identity and support social and<br />
economic activity. Finally the policies<br />
required that while streets must<br />
efficiently serve their role in linking<br />
places, they must also be recognized<br />
as distinct places themselves.<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets<br />
Guidelines align with and integrate<br />
adopted City policies, standards and<br />
bylaws as they relate to street design.<br />
City of Toronto Official Plan Policy<br />
3.1.1(5):<br />
“City streets are significant public<br />
open spaces which connect people<br />
and places and support the<br />
development of sustainable,<br />
economically vibrant and complete<br />
communities. New and existing City<br />
streets will incorporate a ‘Complete<br />
Streets’ approach and be designed<br />
to perform their diverse roles by:<br />
a) balancing the needs and priorities<br />
of the various users and uses within<br />
the right-of-way, including provision<br />
for:<br />
i. the safe and efficient movement of<br />
pedestrians of all ages and abilities,<br />
cyclists, transit vehicles and users,<br />
goods and services vehicles,<br />
emergency vehicles, and motorists<br />
across the network; and<br />
ii. space for other street elements,<br />
such as utilities and services, trees<br />
and landscaping, green<br />
infrastructure, snow and stormwater<br />
management, wayfinding, boulevard<br />
cafés, marketing and vending, and<br />
street furniture;<br />
iii. ensuring the safety of vulnerable<br />
groups such as women, children,<br />
seniors and people with disabilities<br />
by implementing the Toronto Safer<br />
City Guidelines, or an updated<br />
version thereof.<br />
b) improving the quality and<br />
convenience of active transportation<br />
options within all communities by<br />
giving full consideration to the needs<br />
of pedestrians, cyclists, and public<br />
transit users;<br />
c) reflecting differences in local<br />
context and character;<br />
d) providing building access and<br />
address, as well as amenities such as<br />
view corridors, sky view, and sunlight;<br />
and<br />
e) serving community destinations<br />
and public gathering places.”<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Vision for Complete Streets<br />
1.4<br />
OFFICIAL<br />
PLAN<br />
Toronto’s health,<br />
environment, equity,<br />
diversity & human rights,<br />
social and economic goals<br />
COMPLETE STREETS<br />
Vision, Goals, and<br />
Design Guidance<br />
DESIGN DETAILS<br />
By Area or Topic<br />
By Area<br />
Network plans, community<br />
improvement plans, secondary<br />
plans, business improvement area<br />
master plans or streetscape plans,<br />
area master plans, etc.<br />
By Topic<br />
Guidelines: geometric design, green<br />
streets technical (including street tree<br />
details), bicycle design, streetscape<br />
manual, urban design, street furniture<br />
placement, outdoor café, transit<br />
specific; road classification,<br />
construction and utility standards and<br />
specs; operations and maintenance<br />
plans, etc.<br />
Figure 1-2: Toronto Complete Streets Policy Context<br />
09
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Goals<br />
1.5<br />
1.5<br />
GOALS<br />
The goals for Toronto’s Complete Streets Guidelines reflect, reinforce<br />
and build on the vision for streets in the City’s Official Plan. These<br />
goals are used throughout this document to inform the complete<br />
street design approach as the overall organizing framework for<br />
setting priorities, making decisions and evaluating alternative<br />
designs for Toronto street projects.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
1.5<br />
Goals<br />
OUR DESIGN GOALS HAVE CHANGED<br />
Centre Line Out<br />
Outside In<br />
THEN<br />
Auto-Mobility<br />
Automobile Safety<br />
NOW<br />
Multi-modal Mobility + Access<br />
Public Health/Safety<br />
Economic Development<br />
Environmental Quality<br />
Livability/Quality of Life<br />
Equity<br />
c: Tom McGuire, NYC DOT/SFMTA; adapted from<br />
Boston Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Goals<br />
1.5.1<br />
1.5.1<br />
STREETS FOR PEOPLE<br />
Cities are built by and for people. Complete streets are safe and<br />
inviting, provide a range of attractive choices for mobility and<br />
integrate all modes into a seamless network. Complete streets<br />
enhance human and environmental health by providing an<br />
environment that enables and encourages active transportation.<br />
Complete streets are places where people feel comfortable and<br />
connected.<br />
IMPROVE SAFETY &<br />
ACCESSIBILITY<br />
Streets should be safe and accessible<br />
for people of all ages, genders and<br />
abilities, especially the most<br />
vulnerable—children, older adults<br />
and people with disabilities.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Prioritize vulnerable users<br />
• Design for desired target vehicle<br />
travel speed<br />
• Minimize exposure risk for<br />
pedestrians<br />
• Provide visible, predictable design<br />
• Consider Crime Prevention Through<br />
Environmental Design (CPTED)<br />
strategies<br />
• Research, pilot and evaluate<br />
innovative safety treatments,<br />
especially those successfully adopted<br />
in other cities<br />
GIVE PEOPLE CHOICES &<br />
CONNECTED NETWORKS<br />
Streets should be designed to create<br />
connected networks for a variety of<br />
travel modes and give people<br />
choices for how they move around<br />
the city, whether on food, bicycle, on<br />
transit or in a motor vehicle.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Design and allocate space to move<br />
people more efficiently and enhance<br />
connectivity<br />
• Design for person-throughput and<br />
mobility<br />
• Understand and accommodate<br />
“desire lines” (typical paths to<br />
destinations for pedestrians and<br />
cyclists)<br />
• Serve key community destinations<br />
and public gathering places<br />
• Engage with stakeholders and<br />
advocates to help identify network<br />
priorities<br />
• Accommodate emergency vehicles<br />
PROMOTE HEALTHY AND ACTIVE<br />
LIVING<br />
Streets should help promote healthy<br />
and active lifestyles by making<br />
streets more comfortable and inviting<br />
people to walk and bicycle and be<br />
physically active.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Design to encourage people to walk<br />
and cycle, as well as other active<br />
modes<br />
• Design for people to be active on<br />
streets in all seasons<br />
• Design streets to be inviting to all<br />
ages and to encourage social<br />
interaction<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Goals<br />
1.5.1<br />
Improve Safety and Accessibility<br />
c: DTAH<br />
Give People Choices and<br />
Connected Networks<br />
Promote Healthy and<br />
Active Living<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Goals<br />
1.5.2<br />
1.5.2<br />
STREETS FOR PLACEMAKING<br />
Streets are more than just corridors for movement. They shape<br />
the experience and memory of a city and they are, themselves,<br />
unique places in which to linger and enjoy. Streets should respect<br />
and respond to their existing and planned local context, physical<br />
characteristics and civic role in the city as a whole. They should be<br />
designed to encourage people to linger. Streets should help support<br />
objectives for an environmentally sustainable and resilient city.<br />
RESPECT LOCAL CONTEXT<br />
Streets should respond to the local<br />
area context, current and future land<br />
uses and relationships with adjacent<br />
buildings. There is no one-size-fits-all<br />
design approach. Streets should fit<br />
comfortably within the built and<br />
natural environment and reflect local<br />
identity and priorities.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Respect and respond to existing and<br />
planned land uses, scale of buildings<br />
and setbacks<br />
• Support a range of desired activities<br />
• Help define and support adjacent<br />
buildings<br />
• Serve key community destinations<br />
and public gathering places<br />
• Engage with residents and<br />
community groups to understand the<br />
neighbourhood and its priorities<br />
• Support and emphasize BIA identity<br />
CREATE VIBRANT & ATTRACTIVE<br />
PUBLIC SPACES<br />
Streets should strive to be vibrant<br />
and attractive public spaces where<br />
people want to spend time engaging<br />
in social, civic and recreational<br />
activities. Streets should be beautiful,<br />
attractive and inviting spaces that<br />
encourage investment and promote<br />
a sense of civic pride. Streets should<br />
help create a setting for daily city life<br />
and also accommodate special<br />
events. Streets should be well<br />
designed, with attention to landscaping,<br />
materials and maintenance<br />
so they remain attractive over time<br />
and in all seasons.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Design streets for public uses<br />
• Design to encourage gathering and<br />
social interaction<br />
• Design for all-day 24/7 use<br />
• Use attractive, durable materials<br />
• Include space for street furniture<br />
• Design green infrastructure to create<br />
aesthetically pleasing environments<br />
that also perform ecological and<br />
hydrological functions<br />
IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
SUSTAINABILITY<br />
Streets should improve the city’s<br />
environmental sustainability by<br />
enhancing the tree canopy and<br />
landscaping, reducing urban heat<br />
island effects, reducing stormwater<br />
runoff, reducing energy consumption<br />
and reducing greenhouse gas<br />
emissions.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Identify space for street trees or<br />
landscaping<br />
• Minimize impermeable hard surfaces<br />
• Prioritize sustainable transportation<br />
modes to reduce auto-dependency<br />
and improve air quality<br />
• Design streets to complement<br />
adjacent parks, ravines and<br />
naturalized areas<br />
• Design streets to use rainwater as a<br />
resource<br />
• Protect and enhance natural heritage<br />
and environmentally sensitive areas<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
1.5.2<br />
Goals<br />
Respect Local Context<br />
Create Vibrant and Attractive<br />
Public Spaces<br />
c: http://www.sfbetterstreets.org c: DTAH<br />
Improve Environmental<br />
Sustainability<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
Goals<br />
1.5.3<br />
1.5.3<br />
STREETS FOR PROSPERITY<br />
Streets are places of economic and social exchange. They are<br />
where we shop and work, meet friends and family and interact with<br />
other residents and visitors. To ensure a prosperous city, streets<br />
should support the local and regional economy, be equitable to<br />
all people and designed in a flexible and cost-effective manner to<br />
accommodate change over time.<br />
SUPPORT ECONOMIC VITALITY<br />
Streets should support the city’s<br />
economic vitality by helping move<br />
people and goods efficiently and by<br />
supporting local shopping areas. The<br />
quality and vitality of a street<br />
influences and reflects the quality<br />
and vitality of economic activity<br />
along it. Design streets to invite<br />
patrons to retail and shopping<br />
districts. Streets should create<br />
environments that attract and<br />
leverage public and private<br />
investment. Streets should provide a<br />
range of transportation options to<br />
provide access for employees,<br />
residents and tourists as well as<br />
goods movement.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Design to support retail and<br />
shopping<br />
• Accommodate goods movement,<br />
delivery and loading<br />
• Engage and partner with local<br />
businesses and BIAs<br />
• Leverage public and private<br />
investment<br />
• Accommodate space for utilities<br />
ENHANCE SOCIAL EQUITY<br />
Streets should be developed to<br />
remove barriers to people of all<br />
incomes, races, ages, genders and<br />
abilities can safely use and benefits<br />
from Toronto’s streets. Toronto’s<br />
streets should be inclusive for<br />
everyone and help provide people<br />
with opportunities to thrive.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Design inclusive streets for people<br />
who walk, cycle or take transit<br />
• Create connected and safe routes to<br />
support travel to employment and<br />
community services<br />
• Engage and partner with local<br />
community and social service<br />
agencies to better understand social<br />
equity issues<br />
• Incorporate neighbourhood socioeconomic<br />
context, issues and<br />
priorities<br />
BE FLEXIBLE & COST EFFECTIVE<br />
Streets should be able to adapt to<br />
the city’s changing needs and<br />
priorities over time. The design of<br />
complete streets should consider<br />
economic, social and environmental<br />
benefits and costs, as well as<br />
construction, operations and<br />
maintenance. Complete streets<br />
should be designed with the full<br />
lifetime of the street in mind.<br />
Complete streets recognize seasonal<br />
variations, accommodating the need<br />
for snow clearance and storage,<br />
dramatic temperature variations and<br />
the increasing incidence of major<br />
climatic events. Complete streets<br />
build resiliency in their networks,<br />
materials and the modes of travel<br />
they accommodate.<br />
Key design objectives:<br />
• Allow for incremental change over<br />
time, phasing and interim conditions<br />
• Understand and account for the total<br />
lifetime cost<br />
• Design streets to be resilient to<br />
extreme weather events<br />
• Select durable materials<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines Introduction, Vision and Goals<br />
1.5.3<br />
Goals<br />
Support Economic Vitality<br />
Enhance Social Equity<br />
c: http://completestreetsforcanada.ca c: Katherine Childs<br />
Be Flexible and Cost Effective<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
18
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
20 2.1 Understanding Street Type<br />
22 2.2 Use of Overlays<br />
23 2.3 Toronto Street Types<br />
Understanding the roles and<br />
relationships of a street with its<br />
surrounding context is a critical step<br />
in the complete streets design<br />
approach. This chapter identifies a<br />
range of aspirational street types for<br />
Toronto, some key steps in<br />
determining street types, and some<br />
early design objectives for each that<br />
will help set priorities and guide<br />
decision making.<br />
Street types should be used to<br />
establish a starting point in the<br />
complete streets design approach. The<br />
street type and its key objectives<br />
should be referenced when<br />
documenting how and why street<br />
design decisions are made. These<br />
street types can also help communities<br />
and other groups better identify and<br />
understand the variety of types of<br />
streets in the city, and can offer<br />
inspiration for how these streets could<br />
be improved.<br />
Not every street will fit neatly within a<br />
specific Street Type. Some streets<br />
could be combinations of two or more<br />
Street Types. A street’s type may<br />
change along its length, as different<br />
segments have different land uses and<br />
contexts. And a street’s type may<br />
evolve over time.<br />
2.0<br />
STREET TYPES<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Understanding Street Type<br />
2.1<br />
2.1<br />
UNDERSTANDING STREET TYPE<br />
Streets have many different roles, characters, and functions that<br />
depend on their context – whether in a busy, dense downtown<br />
environment, in a quiet low-rise residential neighbourhood, a retail<br />
shopping area, near parkland, or in an industrial area. Streets type<br />
is determined by examining the two most fundamental roles of the<br />
streets: movement and placemaking. A street’s design objectives<br />
begin to emerge from a greater understanding and analysis of these<br />
roles.<br />
Streets have a role in placemaking.<br />
c: Taxiarchos228 c. DTAH<br />
1. Understanding a street’s placemaking<br />
role:<br />
To understand the placemaking role<br />
of a street, it is important to consider:<br />
• The current and future context from a<br />
physical and social perspective, the<br />
City’s official plan, the role of the<br />
street in the city’s urban structure,<br />
which identifies where growth and<br />
what kind of growth should be<br />
directed (e.g., Downtown and<br />
Centres, Avenues and Employment<br />
Areas), as well as which areas should<br />
remain more stable (e.g.,<br />
Neighbourhoods and Green Space<br />
System) in the Official Plan’s chapters<br />
2, 3 and Map 2 – Urban Structure.<br />
• Adjacent land uses along the street,<br />
such as whether housing, stores,<br />
offices and industry or a mix of uses<br />
is desired based on the Official Plan’s<br />
chapter 4 and land use designations<br />
in its maps.<br />
• The physical built environment and<br />
public space, that people on the<br />
street interact with and that enable<br />
social and civic life, such as<br />
employees eating lunch outside,<br />
community festivals and parades.<br />
City policies about the public realm<br />
include the Official Plan chapter 3,<br />
Streetscape Manual, Vibrant Streets<br />
Guidelines and Walking Strategy.<br />
• The potential of the street to<br />
accommodate green infrastructure,<br />
including stormwater control<br />
measures. The Green Streets<br />
Technical Guidelines (anticipated<br />
2017) will help to assess the<br />
feasibility of green infrastructure.<br />
Streets have a movement role.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Understanding Street Type<br />
2.1<br />
Official Plan<br />
Major Streets<br />
Streetscape<br />
Manual<br />
Official Plan<br />
Surface Transit Priority<br />
Relationship with Adjacent<br />
Parks, Ravines, and Green Spaces<br />
Existing and<br />
Planned Land Uses<br />
MOVEMENT<br />
TORONTO<br />
STREET TYPE<br />
PLACEMAKING<br />
Existing and<br />
Planned Land Uses<br />
Road<br />
Classification<br />
System<br />
Official Plan<br />
Urban Structure<br />
Relationship with<br />
Adjacent Buildings<br />
Official Plan<br />
Urban Structure<br />
Figure 2-1: Many factors inform the<br />
understanding and identification of street<br />
type(s).<br />
2. Understanding a street’s<br />
movement role:<br />
Several factors inform the<br />
transportation roles of the street. The<br />
City’s Official Plan outlines the<br />
foundation of Toronto’s street<br />
network, including the planned rightof-way<br />
widths (Map 3, and Schedules<br />
1 and 2) that should be protected.<br />
The Official Plan also identifies<br />
networks of rapid transit and surface<br />
transit priority routes (Maps 4 and 5).<br />
The City’s Road Classification System<br />
is an important road management<br />
tool that identifies various existing<br />
operational characteristics for each<br />
street in the city, but is not intended<br />
as a tool for aspirational planning.<br />
The City’s Cycling Network Plan<br />
provides important information<br />
about which streets in the city have<br />
been identified and prioritized as<br />
part of the cycling network.<br />
In addition to network information, it<br />
is important to take into account<br />
other data, or overlays, to develop a<br />
profile of the transportation role of a<br />
street (see next page). These overlays<br />
include existing and forecasted<br />
growth in pedestrians, cyclists, transit<br />
riders, and major vehicles, as well as<br />
trip generators, demographics and<br />
safety data and analysis.<br />
21
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Use of Overlays<br />
2.2<br />
2.2<br />
USE OF OVERLAYS<br />
Overlay is a term for information or data that may be considered on<br />
its own, or in relation to other data. Often, overlays are geographical<br />
information provided in a map that can be layered on top of one<br />
another, such as combining several maps into one composite map.<br />
These layers of information help provide a full picture of the context<br />
for a street.<br />
Movement Overlays<br />
Placemaking Overlays<br />
Additional Contexts<br />
Street Types<br />
Figure 2-2: Relationship of Overlays to<br />
Street Types<br />
Overlays may provide information on<br />
existing context (such as historical<br />
collisions or counts for pedestrians,<br />
cyclists, transit ridership, and<br />
motorized vehicles), or future<br />
conditions (such as planned land<br />
uses and infrastructure networks).<br />
Overlays may have been developed<br />
using extensive analysis such as the<br />
feasibility analysis that went into the<br />
Ten-Year Cycling Network Plan.<br />
Overlays may be special designations<br />
– such as streets identified as<br />
Business Improvement Areas or<br />
Heritage Conservation Districts.<br />
Examples of overlays (data in a map)<br />
include:<br />
• Lines – such as the Cycling Network,<br />
Surface Transit Priority Network or<br />
truck routes;<br />
• Areas – such as Heritage<br />
Conservation Districts or Character<br />
Areas; or<br />
• Points – such as historical collisions,<br />
school zones, parks or transit stops.<br />
The use of overlays can be applied at<br />
many stages of the street design and<br />
decision-making process. Overlays<br />
can provide information that helps<br />
inform a street’s placemaking and<br />
movement roles and informs the<br />
project’s objectives and priorities.<br />
Applying overlays may also help<br />
suggest which stakeholders should<br />
be invited to participate in the<br />
project. Different stakeholders will<br />
highlight the importance of their<br />
overlays, issues and feedback, so it is<br />
important to be familiar with this<br />
information when engaging them.<br />
22
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Toronto Street Types<br />
2.3<br />
2.3<br />
TORONTO STREET TYPES<br />
The Complete Streets Guidelines present a series of distinct street<br />
types that attempt to best reflect a range of existing and planned<br />
contexts in Toronto. They are based on recent experiences designing<br />
and constructing streets in Toronto. This is not an exhaustive list<br />
of every type of possible street that could exist in Toronto, but is<br />
intended as a starting point in the complete streets design approach.<br />
Each street type includes a brief description, a series of key design<br />
objectives, and an aspirational example rendering to help illustrate<br />
what such a street could look like. It is important to remember that<br />
the renderings show one visual illustration of how a street of this type<br />
could be designed. The renderings do not depict exactly how every<br />
street of that type must be designed.<br />
2.3.1 Civic Street<br />
2.3.2 Downtown & Centres<br />
Main Street<br />
2.3.3 Avenue & Neighbourhood<br />
Main Street<br />
2.3.4 Downtown & Centres<br />
Residential Street<br />
2.3.5 Apartment Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Street<br />
2.3.6 Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Street<br />
2.3.7 Mixed Use Connector Street<br />
2.3.8 Residential Connector Street<br />
2.3.9 Scenic Street<br />
2.3.10 Park Street<br />
2.3.11 Employment Street<br />
2.3.12 Mixed Use Access Street<br />
2.3.13 Mixed Use Shared Street<br />
2.3.14 Residential Shared Street<br />
2.3.15 Mixed Use Lane<br />
2.3.16 Residential Lane<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Civic Street<br />
2.3.1<br />
2.3.1<br />
CIVIC STREET<br />
Civic Streets are streets with symbolic, cultural or ceremonial<br />
importance in Toronto, often distinguished by their landmark quality,<br />
and unique role in the civic life and identity of the city. These streets<br />
are destinations typically lined with clusters of civic, institutional,<br />
government, cultural buildings, significant open spaces or other<br />
public landmarks.<br />
Some Civic Streets have wayfinding<br />
totems.<br />
Civic Streets are typically found in the<br />
older historic parts of the city, such as<br />
University Avenue in the Downtown,<br />
where they are often used for special<br />
city-wide events, parades, and public<br />
demonstrations.<br />
Civic Streets can also be found in<br />
local neighbourhoods, lined with<br />
important neighbourhood civic<br />
buildings and destinations, including<br />
schools, libraries, and community<br />
centers, as well as neighbourhood<br />
public parks and open spaces.<br />
On-street parking is sometimes<br />
provided on Civic Streets.<br />
While they share many similar design<br />
objectives, ‘local neighbourhood’<br />
Civic Streets are different from more<br />
‘city-wide’ Civic Streets. They have<br />
fewer visitors from outside the city<br />
and other neighbourhoods, host<br />
fewer special events, and have a less<br />
distinctive quality of materials and<br />
furnishings.<br />
c: Marcus Mitanis<br />
Some Civic Streets have planters and<br />
unit paving.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Civic Street<br />
2.3.1<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Seek ways to enhance the views,<br />
connectivity and experiences of<br />
adjacent civic buildings and public<br />
spaces like plazas and green space.<br />
• Provide wide sidewalks and<br />
boulevards to attract and support<br />
high levels of pedestrian activity and<br />
special events.<br />
• Provide pedestrian amenities such as<br />
benches/seating, lighting, and<br />
wayfinding.<br />
• Provide convenient and attractive<br />
transit options to access important<br />
destinations.<br />
• Provide convenient and attractive<br />
bikeway design options and bicycle<br />
parking.<br />
• Seek ways to integrate green<br />
infrastructure, including tree<br />
plantings and other landscaping<br />
treatments, to meet environmental<br />
objectives.<br />
• Use high-quality and distinctive<br />
materials, furnishings and public art<br />
to create a sense of character and<br />
identity, especially for Civic Streets of<br />
city-wide importance.<br />
• Consider ways to reduce sidewalk<br />
obstacles and clutter such as by<br />
using building setbacks and burying<br />
overhead utilities.<br />
• Provide appropriately located offstreet<br />
parking and access such as<br />
side streets parking lots, garages,<br />
lanes and parking at the back of<br />
buildings to augment parking supply,<br />
accommodate loading and minimize<br />
driveways, curb cuts and conflicts<br />
especially where space is constrained<br />
on the street itself. Time-of-day<br />
parking restrictions may be used for<br />
on-street parking.<br />
25
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Downtown & Centres Main Street<br />
2.3.2<br />
2.3.2<br />
DOWNTOWN & CENTRES MAIN STREET<br />
Downtown & Centres Main Streets are vibrant mixed-use streets<br />
located in the city’s higher-density growth areas. They support a<br />
wide range of land uses, activities, and are often home to prominent<br />
commercial, retail and mixed-use buildings. These streets are often<br />
surface transit priority routes in the City’s Official Plan and in the<br />
Downtown, and many have busy streetcar routes.<br />
Downtown and Centres Main Streets<br />
have sidewalks to accommodate many<br />
people walking, like this one in North<br />
York.<br />
A busy sidewalk with pedestrians and<br />
window shoppers on a Downtown and<br />
Centres Main Street.<br />
Downtown & Centres Main Streets<br />
are often routes that lead directly to<br />
rapid transit stations. These streets<br />
are often lined with taller buildings<br />
with wide frontages and active<br />
ground-floor uses. Sidewalks are<br />
typically adjacent to the curb with<br />
existing buildings at or near the<br />
street right-of-way. These streets are<br />
often supported by a Business<br />
Improvement Area.<br />
Downtown & Centres Main Streets<br />
are typically major streets in the<br />
transportation network with a large<br />
number of competing demands on<br />
available street space, especially on<br />
the narrower rights-of-way in the<br />
Downtown. They typically connect<br />
significant regional and city-wide<br />
attractions and destinations and<br />
serve a wide variety of different<br />
people from across, and even outside<br />
the city: residents, workers, shoppers<br />
and visitors.<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Provide wide sidewalks and<br />
boulevards with high-quality<br />
pedestrian-scale streetscapes and<br />
amenities to encourage walking,<br />
lingering, dining and shopping.<br />
• Use building setbacks, curb<br />
extensions or parklets to expand the<br />
space for adequate sidewalks,<br />
outdoor seating, cafés patios,<br />
plantings, trees and street<br />
furnishings.<br />
• Prioritize safe movement of<br />
pedestrians, cyclists, and surface<br />
transit and design for slower but<br />
consistent, motor vehicle travel<br />
speeds.<br />
• Provide frequent and safe<br />
opportunities for pedestrians to cross<br />
the street, with wide and prominent<br />
pavement markings at intersections.<br />
Also, explore using curb extensions<br />
on side streets to expand the<br />
pedestrian realm along the Main<br />
Street, shorten crossing distances,<br />
and reduce motor vehicle turning<br />
speeds.<br />
26
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Downtown & Centres Main Street<br />
2.3.2<br />
• Provide generous amounts of public<br />
bicycle parking that should be<br />
coordinated with bicycle parking<br />
provided by any adjacent public<br />
spaces and buildings.<br />
• Support healthy street tree growth<br />
on streets where sufficient space<br />
exists to achieve required pedestrian<br />
clearways and where growing<br />
conditions can be optimized. Where<br />
space is constrained, consider<br />
covered tree pits with Silva Cells and<br />
adequate soil volumes to ensure<br />
growth.<br />
• Consider creative ways to optimize<br />
and manage curb-side space for<br />
integrating a variety of uses, e.g.,<br />
parklets, on-street bicycle parking,<br />
loading areas, and accessible vehicle<br />
boarding.<br />
• Provide appropriately located offstreet<br />
parking and access such as<br />
side streets, parking lots, garages,<br />
lanes and parking at the back of<br />
buildings to augment parking supply,<br />
accommodate loading and minimize<br />
driveways, curb cuts and conflicts,<br />
especially where space is constrained<br />
on the street itself.<br />
• Work with local Business<br />
Improvement Areas and<br />
neighbourhood groups on ways to<br />
support placemaking, local economic<br />
development, and neighbourhood<br />
identity.<br />
• To reduce clutter, consider burying<br />
overhead utilities if possible or<br />
coordinate with other infrastructure,<br />
like sharing hydro and streetcar<br />
poles, for example.<br />
27
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Avenue & Neighbourhood Main Street<br />
2.3.3<br />
2.3.3<br />
AVENUE & NEIGHBOURHOOD MAIN STREET<br />
Avenue & Neighbourhood Main Streets are vibrant streets that serve<br />
as a local focus for Toronto’s many neighbourhoods. These Main<br />
Streets typically follow busy surface transit routes with a mix of uses<br />
and especially retail at street level.<br />
Straight and direct sidewalk on an<br />
Avenue and Neighbourhood Main Street<br />
in Etobicoke-York.<br />
Avenue and Neighbourhood Main Streets<br />
sidewalks often have greening, trees,<br />
transit, cafes, sidewalks and more.<br />
Many of these streets have an<br />
Avenue designation in the Official<br />
Plan, which means they are important<br />
corridors where incremental change,<br />
and often growth, is intended to<br />
occur. These streets are often lined<br />
with mid-rise or low-rise buildings of<br />
a more modest scale than the tall<br />
buildings found on Downtown &<br />
Centres Main Streets. In some parts<br />
of the city, the street right-of-way is<br />
often wider that those in the<br />
Downtown or Centres.<br />
Avenue & Neighbourhood Main<br />
Streets are important places in the<br />
local community, helping support<br />
local businesses and services that<br />
serve the immediate neighbourhood,<br />
but can also attract visitors from<br />
outside the area. These streets are<br />
often supported by a local Business<br />
Improvement Area. These Main<br />
Streets typically include cafés, street<br />
trees and other plantings as<br />
important pedestrian amenities that<br />
make the street a vibrant,<br />
comfortable, and appealing place.<br />
Sidewalks are typically adjacent to<br />
the curb or separated from the<br />
roadway by a boulevard, and<br />
buildings are sometimes set back<br />
from the street to help provide more<br />
sidewalk space.<br />
Avenue & Neighbourhood Main<br />
Streets are major streets in the<br />
transportation network for several<br />
different travel modes, often all<br />
competing for space and<br />
prioritization in the street. They are<br />
important for the delivery of transit<br />
service and for goods delivery to<br />
businesses and shops.<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Provide wide sidewalk and boulevard<br />
space to support high to moderate<br />
levels of pedestrian movement.<br />
• Encourage people to linger with<br />
active ground floor uses, quality<br />
pedestrian-scale streetscapes and<br />
amenities like greening/trees,<br />
benches, parklets and café patios.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Avenue & Neighbourhood Main Street<br />
2.3.3<br />
• Prioritize safe movement of<br />
pedestrians, cyclists and surface<br />
transit and design for moderate<br />
motor vehicle travel speeds.<br />
• Provide frequent and safe<br />
opportunities for pedestrians to cross<br />
the streets. Also explore using curb<br />
extensions on side streets to expand<br />
the pedestrian realm along the Main<br />
Street, shorten crossing distances,<br />
and reduce motor vehicle turning<br />
speeds.<br />
• Provide adequate and safe bicycle<br />
facilities and generous bicycle<br />
parking to encourage cycling trips.<br />
• Locate vehicle driveways, goods<br />
deliveries and loading on side streets<br />
or rear lanes where possible to<br />
minimize curb cuts and areas of<br />
conflict along the street. On some<br />
Main Streets, on-street parking can<br />
be provided, but look for suitable<br />
replacement parking at off-street<br />
locations to minimize on-street<br />
conflicts.<br />
• Work with local Business<br />
Improvement Areas and<br />
neighbourhood groups to help<br />
emphasize neighbourhood identity.<br />
• Support healthy street tree growth<br />
with open tree pits and planters on<br />
streets where sufficient space exists<br />
to achieve pedestrian clearway<br />
requirements. Where space is<br />
constrained, consider covered tree<br />
pits.<br />
• To reduce clutter and visual impacts,<br />
consider burying utilities if possible<br />
or coordinate with other<br />
infrastructure, and in consultation<br />
with the BIA.<br />
29
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential Street<br />
2.3.4<br />
2.3.4<br />
DOWNTOWN & CENTRES RESIDENTIAL STREET<br />
These streets are found in the Downtown and Centres and support<br />
primarily higher-density residential neighbourhood uses, with taller<br />
buildings and higher levels of pedestrian activity than the other<br />
residential streets.<br />
New buildings are often set back on<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential<br />
Streets to provide adequate sidewalk and<br />
amenity space.<br />
Buildings on these streets typically<br />
range from mid-rise to tall – either<br />
independently or as part of a larger<br />
building complex – and are<br />
sometimes set back a small distance<br />
from the street right-of-way, with tree<br />
plantings or landscaping. Ground<br />
level retail, office, grade related<br />
apartments or amenities are<br />
sometimes located within the base of<br />
the buildings.<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential<br />
Streets are important links in the<br />
city’s transportation network, with<br />
high levels of pedestrian and cycling<br />
activity and moderate levels of<br />
vehicular traffic.<br />
There are typically little to no transit<br />
services provided on these streets,<br />
although significant transit services<br />
are usually found close by. Sidewalks<br />
are often located next to the curb,<br />
though ideally separated by a buffer<br />
from moving traffic.<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential<br />
Streets have a moderate number of<br />
competing demands on available<br />
street space, especially on the<br />
narrower rights-of-way in the<br />
Downtown.<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential<br />
Streets often have wider sidewalks than<br />
other residential streets due to the<br />
volume of pedestrians they carry.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Downtown and Centres Residential Street<br />
2.3.4<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Accommodate a high level of<br />
pedestrian activity with wide<br />
sidewalks. New buildings should be<br />
set back to create sidewalk and<br />
amenity space.<br />
• Prioritize the safe movement of<br />
pedestrians and cyclists and design<br />
for modest motor vehicle volumes<br />
and speeds.<br />
• Provide ample bicycle parking for<br />
visitors and residents to encourage<br />
cycling.<br />
• Plant street trees in the frontage zone<br />
if boulevard space is limited.<br />
• Manage speed by rightsizing lanes<br />
and corners, and providing chicanes,<br />
mid-block crossings and on-street<br />
parking.<br />
• Provide driveways and servicing<br />
through shared access lanes and on<br />
side streets to minimize conflicts on<br />
busy residential streets.<br />
• On-street vehicle parking may<br />
sometimes be provided on at least<br />
one side of the street.<br />
• Minimize freight transport that is not<br />
servicing local properties.<br />
31
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood Residential Street<br />
2.3.5<br />
2.3.5<br />
APARTMENT NEIGHBOURHOOD RESIDENTIAL STREET<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood Residential Streets are found throughout<br />
the city and are typically lined with a range of residential buildings:<br />
townhouses, walkups, mid-rise buildings, and tall buildings.<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood Residential<br />
Streets have sidewalks that connect to<br />
buildings.<br />
Example of an Apartment<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets with<br />
a bike parking shelter.<br />
Traditional Apartment<br />
Neighbourhood streets have a range<br />
of scales of apartments with shallow<br />
front yards and entrances organized<br />
like a house. Mid-century ‘tower-inthe-park’<br />
apartment complexes,<br />
found in all parts of the city, have<br />
large lots with few public streets and<br />
large buildings placed in the middle<br />
of the lot. They are typically set back<br />
from the front property line and<br />
landscaped. Street frontages on<br />
larger lots include auto drop-offs and<br />
parking entrances and may have<br />
private short term parking.<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Streets may sometimes<br />
play a major role in the city-wide<br />
transportation network, especially<br />
where they act as key transit routes.<br />
Because of their higher density, they<br />
often have higher levels of<br />
pedestrian use than on<br />
Neighbourhood Streets.<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Streets are typically<br />
located on or near transit and many<br />
trips are accomplished by walking,<br />
cycling or taking transit. Moderate<br />
levels of vehicular traffic are typical,<br />
and some may have surface transit<br />
routes present.<br />
Some Apartment Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Streets are strong<br />
candidates to introduce stormwater<br />
management features. This is<br />
because Apartment Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Streets typically have<br />
available space due to large building<br />
setbacks, few driveways and low<br />
on-street parking demand.<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Apartment Neighbourhood Residential Street<br />
2.3.5<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Provide wide sidewalks that connect<br />
buildings to the pedestrian network<br />
to support a high level of pedestrian<br />
activity.<br />
• Promote socializing, interaction and<br />
activities along the street, including<br />
community events, such as street<br />
parties, yard sales, or children<br />
playing.<br />
• Enhance safety and comfort of transit<br />
waiting areas, and transit operations<br />
priority where transit service is<br />
provided.<br />
• Adequate bicycle parking should be<br />
provided outside residential<br />
buildings to supplement bicycle<br />
parking provided inside buildings.<br />
• Maintain low motor vehicle speeds to<br />
help ensure the street is safe for<br />
everyone, and inviting for novice<br />
bicyclists and more vulnerable<br />
pedestrians. Consider complete<br />
streets elements, such as mid-block<br />
curb extensions or chicanes to<br />
reduce speeds.<br />
• Provide green space such as a<br />
continuous canopy of trees, and<br />
stormwater management in curb<br />
extensions.<br />
• Minimize conflict between motor<br />
vehicles and cyclists and pedestrians,<br />
especially at driveways and vehicular<br />
drop-off areas in front of buildings.<br />
• Include lighting that illuminates<br />
street and sidewalk but prevents light<br />
pollution into the sky and adjacent<br />
residences.<br />
33
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Street<br />
2.3.6<br />
2.3.6<br />
NEIGHBOURHOOD RESIDENTIAL STREET<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets are found throughout Toronto<br />
in areas designated as ‘Neighbourhoods’ in the City’s Official Plan,<br />
which are generally considered as physically stable areas. A range<br />
of building types under four storeys in height are permitted in<br />
Neighbourhoods, including single family residential and multi-family<br />
residential properties.<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
sidewalks often have parents walking with<br />
children to school.<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
provide access for buildings and<br />
usually provide people with direct<br />
pedestrian access to their front door.<br />
These streets provide the setting for<br />
a range of local neighbourhood<br />
gatherings and informal interactions,<br />
such as yard sales, festivals and block<br />
parties. They are streets where<br />
children often play after school or on<br />
weekends. They primarily serve local<br />
movement needs and have relatively<br />
low volumes of motor vehicle traffic.<br />
Pedestrian and cyclist safety is a high<br />
priority. Transit service is less often<br />
provided on this type of street. All<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
should have sidewalks.<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
are not intended to play a major role<br />
in serving city-wide traffic movement.<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
have potential to introduce<br />
pedestrian improvements, such as<br />
intersection curb extensions, as well<br />
as greening, landscaping, and<br />
stormwater management features.<br />
There are generally two different subtypes<br />
of Neighbourhood Residential<br />
Streets in Toronto, distinguished by<br />
the era they were originally planned<br />
or developed: pre-1950s<br />
construction and post-1950s<br />
construction (see pages 36 and 37).<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
commonly have multiple users, trees, and<br />
low vehicle speeds.<br />
34
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Street<br />
2.3.6<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Emphasize safety and connectivity<br />
for pedestrians and cyclists of all<br />
ages and abilities.<br />
• Provide green space and landscaping<br />
and promote a robust canopy of<br />
trees. Consider the opportunity to<br />
manage stormwater at source as<br />
much as possible to reduce stress on<br />
sewers and promote natural water<br />
infiltration.<br />
• Promote social and community<br />
interaction and activities, both across<br />
and along the street, including<br />
accommodating community events,<br />
such as street parties, yard sales, or<br />
children playing.<br />
• Maintain low motor vehicle speeds to<br />
help ensure street is safe for<br />
everyone, and inviting for novice<br />
bicyclists and more vulnerable<br />
pedestrians.<br />
• Accommodate neighbourhood<br />
vehicle access and circulation needs<br />
while deterring through traffic.<br />
• Provide driveway access to private<br />
properties, accommodating curb cuts<br />
as necessary, but design to prioritize<br />
pedestrians where driveways meet<br />
the sidewalk and street.<br />
• Provide connectivity to local<br />
destinations particularly for<br />
pedestrian access.<br />
• Include lighting that illuminates<br />
street and sidewalk but prevents light<br />
pollution into the sky and adjacent<br />
residences.<br />
35
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Sub-type: Neighbourhood Residential Street<br />
(built circa pre-1950s)<br />
2.3.4<br />
SUB-TYPE: NEIGHBOURHOOD RESIDENTIAL STREET<br />
(BUILT CIRCA PRE-1950 s)<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets built<br />
before 1950 typically have sidewalks<br />
against the curb.<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
may include features to encourage<br />
pedestrians and cyclists by reducing<br />
vehicles speeds and volumes.<br />
These Neighbourhood Residential<br />
Streets were typically built prior to<br />
1950, in the period before the<br />
automobile became a primary<br />
consideration in neighbourhood<br />
planning and street design. These<br />
neighbourhood streets are usually<br />
arranged in a grid pattern, typically<br />
with right-of-way widths of 20m or<br />
less.<br />
Sidewalks are typically on both sides<br />
of the street, usually located next to<br />
the curb, with a boulevard between<br />
the sidewalk and property line. There<br />
is sometimes a planting zone<br />
between the sidewalk and the curb.<br />
These streets tend to have shallow<br />
building setbacks and porches at or<br />
near the property line.<br />
Driveways and curb cuts are<br />
uncommon on pre-1950s<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets,<br />
and motor vehicle access and<br />
parking is sometimes accommodated<br />
through rear lanes. On-street parking<br />
is often permitted and some streets<br />
have also allowed curb cuts for front<br />
yard parking. These streets are often<br />
one-way for motor vehicle traffic and<br />
have narrower pavement widths.<br />
Some of these streets also have<br />
traffic calming and diversions. There<br />
exists a moderate opportunity for<br />
implementing green infrastructure.<br />
ADDITIONAL DESIGN<br />
OBJECTIVES<br />
• Trees or landscaping should be<br />
provided between the sidewalk and<br />
buildings.<br />
• Allow for on-street parking on at<br />
least one side of the street where<br />
space permits.<br />
• Consider designated routes for<br />
cyclists of all ages and abilities.<br />
• Front-yard parking pads are<br />
discouraged to reduce impermeable<br />
surfaces and to provide parking<br />
on-street.<br />
• Avoid unnecessarily widening the<br />
street in reconstructions.<br />
36
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Sub-type: Neighbourhoods Residential Street<br />
(built circa post-1950’s)<br />
2.3.4<br />
SUB-TYPE: NEIGHBOURHOODS RESIDENTIAL STREET<br />
(BUILT CIRCA POST-1950 s)<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets built<br />
after 1950 typically have buildings set<br />
back from the street and landscape strips<br />
between the curb and sidewalk.<br />
Curb extensions may including<br />
landscaping or green infrastructure on<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets.<br />
c: Brandon Quigley<br />
Primarily planned and constructed<br />
during or after the 1950s, these<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
were designed mainly to facilitate car<br />
movement, but based on principles<br />
that discouraged through traffic.<br />
They were often designed to<br />
promote local walking and cycling<br />
toward the centre of a<br />
neighbourhood, where parks and<br />
schools were located.<br />
Cul-de-sacs, loop crescents, and a<br />
curvilinear street network were<br />
created instead of the traditional<br />
grid-style street network present in<br />
pre-1950s Toronto. Typically, the<br />
post-1950’s Neighbourhood<br />
Residential Street includes buildings<br />
that are set farther back from the<br />
property line and have driveways<br />
with curb cuts. Long-term curbside<br />
parking is usually not permitted and<br />
rear lanes are rare.<br />
Sidewalks are often separated from<br />
the curb by grass or treed areas, but<br />
sometimes there are no sidewalks at<br />
all. A significant opportunity for<br />
green infrastructure exists in this type<br />
of Neighbourhood Residential Street.<br />
ADDITIONAL DESIGN<br />
OBJECTIVES<br />
• Rightsize the street through on-street<br />
parking, and curb extensions or<br />
chicanes.<br />
• Provide a sidewalk on at least one<br />
side of the street for universal<br />
accessibility and pedestrian safety.<br />
• Integrate streetscapes with<br />
landscaping through setbacks and<br />
open space.<br />
• Integrate stormwater control<br />
measures to improve the natural and<br />
aesthetic environment.<br />
37
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Connector Street<br />
2.3.7<br />
2.3.7<br />
MIXED-USE CONNECTOR STREET<br />
Mixed Use Connector Streets are found throughout the city, but<br />
more often outside of the downtown and central neighbourhoods.<br />
These streets are often longer and more continuous, providing direct<br />
travel routes for people and goods that span and connect several<br />
neighbouring communities and areas.<br />
Some Mixed-Use Connector Streets have<br />
trees in a median.<br />
Pedestrians and transit are common on<br />
Mixed Use Connector Streets.<br />
These streets typically have a mix of<br />
different land uses and building<br />
types along them with a variety of<br />
physical configurations and<br />
relationships with the street:<br />
sometimes buildings are located<br />
further away from the street with<br />
landscaping or a parking lot in<br />
between, while other times buildings<br />
are much closer, with their front<br />
entrances at the street.<br />
Mixed-Use Connectors play a<br />
significant role in the City’s<br />
transportation network. They are<br />
important travel routes for all modes,<br />
but often have higher volumes of<br />
motor vehicles and lower volumes of<br />
pedestrians and cyclists. Given the<br />
higher motor vehicle speeds and<br />
volumes, separated bicycle facilities<br />
are recommended. These streets also<br />
often have important city-wide transit<br />
routes and should be designed to<br />
give transit priority, where applicable.<br />
They are also usually important<br />
streets for moving goods.<br />
While Mixed Use Connectors play a<br />
role in enabling longer-distance<br />
travel and movement in the city, it is<br />
important that these streets be<br />
gradually and incrementally<br />
improved to help create a more safe<br />
and inviting street for people walking<br />
and cycling. These streets are often<br />
found in areas of the city with longer<br />
distances between signalized<br />
intersections and higher motor<br />
vehicle speeds, so additional care is<br />
needed to ensure streets and<br />
intersections are designed to be safe<br />
for the most vulnerable people<br />
walking and cycling. While efficient<br />
motor vehicle travel is a priority on<br />
these streets, ensuring safety for<br />
people walking is critical, with<br />
sidewalks sized for a medium volume<br />
of pedestrians and intersections<br />
designed with clear and well-marked<br />
crossing features.<br />
Wide landscape strips with trees<br />
should be provided on boulevards,<br />
as well as transit shelters and other<br />
street furniture at stops. Buildings<br />
should be set back to enhance street<br />
character and increase comfort for<br />
pedestrians. These streets are<br />
candidates to introduce stormwater<br />
control measures in the planting zone<br />
38
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Connector Street<br />
2.3.7<br />
between curb and sidewalk, and<br />
where applicable, in the frontage<br />
zone. Mixed Use Connectors typically<br />
do not have on-street parking.<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Emphasize movement between<br />
destinations via a variety of modes<br />
and support commercial activity.<br />
• Provide sidewalks and safe,<br />
controlled crossings to connect<br />
destinations and especially to transit<br />
stops or stations.<br />
• Enhance transit amenities (e.g.,<br />
benches/shelters) and transit<br />
operations priority where transit<br />
service is provided.<br />
• Provide dedicated cycling facilities if<br />
part of the cycling network.<br />
• Improve safety and visibility at<br />
intersections and crossings for<br />
pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
• Use shared access management to<br />
reduce the frequency of access<br />
points and conflicts to help manage<br />
traffic flow and safety.<br />
• Facilitate the efficient movement of<br />
larger volumes of motor vehicle<br />
traffic, especially freight and service<br />
vehicles.<br />
• Include a wide planting zone,<br />
especially using frontage zones, to<br />
support a continuous tree canopy<br />
and to integrate stormwater control<br />
measures.<br />
39
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Residential Connector Street<br />
2.3.8<br />
2.3.8<br />
RESIDENTIAL CONNECTOR STREET<br />
Residential Connector Streets are similar to Mixed Use Connector<br />
Streets – their primarily role is to facilitate transportation for all<br />
modes – but they provide travel routes and connectivity within and<br />
through mainly residential areas of the city.<br />
Residential Connector Streets often have<br />
a sidewalk between a row of trees and<br />
the curb, and sometimes run along the<br />
back of properties.<br />
Residential Connector Streets may have<br />
transit shelters and cycling infrastructure<br />
between the curb and buildings.<br />
Residential Connectors are typically<br />
lined with a variety of residential<br />
buildings that face the street, often<br />
set back with well-established front<br />
yards, gardens, and driveways.<br />
Sometimes there are occasional<br />
businesses or stretches of rear-facing<br />
residential lots and backyard fences<br />
along the street.<br />
While Residential Connectors play a<br />
role in enabling longer-distance<br />
travel and movement in the city, it is<br />
important that these streets be<br />
gradually and incrementally<br />
improved to help create a safer and<br />
more inviting street for people<br />
walking and cycling. Residential<br />
Connectors are often found in areas<br />
of the city with longer distances<br />
between signalized intersections and<br />
higher motor vehicle speeds, so<br />
additional care is needed to ensure<br />
streets and intersections are<br />
designed to be safe for the most<br />
vulnerable people walking and<br />
cycling. Although safe and efficient<br />
motor vehicle travel is a priority on<br />
these streets, safety for people<br />
walking is critical, with sidewalks<br />
sized for low to medium volumes of<br />
pedestrians and intersections<br />
designed with clear and well-marked<br />
crossing features.<br />
Wide landscape strips with trees<br />
should be provided on boulevards,<br />
as well as transit shelters and other<br />
street furniture at stops. Buildings<br />
should be set back to enhance street<br />
character and increase comfort for<br />
pedestrians. Residential Connectors<br />
can sometimes have some on-street<br />
parking. Residential Connectors are<br />
candidates to introduce stormwater<br />
control measures in the planting zone<br />
between curb and sidewalk, and<br />
where applicable, in the frontage<br />
zone.<br />
40
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Residential Connector Street<br />
2.3.8<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Emphasize movement between<br />
destinations via a variety of modes.<br />
• Improve safety and visibility at<br />
intersections and crossings for<br />
pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
• Provide sidewalks and safe controlled<br />
crossings to connect destinations,<br />
especially to transit stops or stations<br />
and major neighbourhood<br />
destinations.<br />
• Enhance amenities (e.g., benches/<br />
shelters) and transit operations<br />
priority where transit service is<br />
present.<br />
• Provide dedicated cycling facilities if<br />
part of the cycling network.<br />
• Include a wide planting zone,<br />
especially using the frontage zone, to<br />
support a continuous tree canopy<br />
and to integrate stormwater control<br />
measures.<br />
41
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Scenic Street<br />
2.3.9<br />
2.3.9<br />
SCENIC STREET<br />
Scenic Streets are found throughout the city where there is a strong<br />
relationship with natural features like ravines and the waterfront, or<br />
with significant parks and green spaces.<br />
Scenic Streets often run along parks or<br />
natural features.<br />
Scenic Streets often have separated<br />
paths for pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
c: Kenn Chaplin<br />
Scenic Streets are primarily<br />
characterized by their ‘park-like’<br />
setting and adjacency with nature.<br />
Scenic Streets are also often<br />
meandering or winding, following<br />
the city’s natural topography.<br />
Scenic Streets can play a variety of<br />
roles in the transportation network.<br />
Demand for walking or cycling is<br />
often high, as these streets follow, or<br />
are adjacent to, areas of high<br />
demands for recreational use. Motor<br />
vehicle volumes can be high during<br />
peak hours, but much lower at other<br />
times of the day. While separating<br />
pedestrians and cyclists is always<br />
preferred in areas with higher<br />
recreational use, shared-use paths<br />
may be considered in lieu of<br />
sidewalks to separate pedestrians<br />
and bicyclists from other traffic.<br />
Scenic Streets may also be surface<br />
transit routes. There are usually few<br />
crossings on these streets but, where<br />
present, they must be carefully<br />
designed to safely allow connectivity<br />
and crossings for recreational path<br />
users. There is typically no on-street<br />
parking on Scenic Streets.<br />
Scenic Streets often have large and<br />
healthy trees that together create a<br />
substantial canopy. The adjacent<br />
open spaces present many<br />
opportunities to introduce storm<br />
water control measures.<br />
42
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Scenic Street<br />
2.3.9<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Emphasize and highlight natural<br />
landscape character and features.<br />
• Preserve and protect scenic views<br />
and vistas.<br />
• Enhance environmental quality by<br />
protecting and enhancing tree<br />
canopy and incorporating naturalized<br />
stormwater control measures.<br />
• Support medium to high volumes of<br />
pedestrian and bicycle activity for<br />
both recreation and transportation.<br />
• Enhance transit operations priority<br />
where transit service is provided.<br />
• Provide sidewalk on both sides and<br />
separated bicycle facilities on at least<br />
one side of the street where<br />
appropriate. Ensure adequate space<br />
for pedestrians and cyclists with a<br />
physical delineator between<br />
pedestrians and cyclists for safety<br />
and universal accessibility.<br />
• Integrate street and boulevard<br />
design with adjacent areas such as<br />
landscapes.<br />
• Design to accommodate both<br />
weekday rush hour commuter activity<br />
as well as off-peak (e.g. weekend)<br />
recreational use.<br />
43
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Park Street<br />
2.3.10<br />
2.3.10<br />
PARK STREET<br />
Park Streets are streets found within, adjacent to, or leading to city<br />
parks. They provide local neighbourhood connections and access<br />
to park facilities. Park Streets are primarily intended to support and<br />
complement parks and recreation uses.<br />
Park Streets are often lined with trees and<br />
separated walkways.<br />
Park Streets should be designed<br />
to accommodate different types of<br />
pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
These streets typically play a minor<br />
transportation role for motor vehicles<br />
and transit, but a significant role for<br />
pedestrians and cyclists. Street<br />
design,landscaping and features<br />
should help create an environment<br />
that naturally encourages lower<br />
vehicle speeds and provides park-like<br />
experiences on foot or on a bicycle.<br />
Cycling and walking is prevalent, and<br />
should be welcomed, prioritized and<br />
safe, especially for the most<br />
vulnerable. Cyclists may have a<br />
separate facility such as a lane or<br />
path, but may also mix in the general<br />
use of the street. In areas with higher<br />
recreational use, cyclists and<br />
pedestrians should be separated to<br />
improve safety, accessibility and<br />
enjoyment. Bus transit may be<br />
provided within larger parks during<br />
park hours but are generally not<br />
high-frequency routes. There is<br />
sometimes on-street parking<br />
provided. Park Streets within parks<br />
are sometimes closed during the<br />
evenings with the same hours of<br />
access as the park itself, and some<br />
may even be gated.<br />
Given they are in parks, adjacent to,<br />
or leading to parks, these streets<br />
should have large and healthy trees<br />
that together create a substantial<br />
canopy to complement and add to<br />
the tree canopy in the park itself.<br />
These streets present many<br />
opportunities to introduce<br />
stormwater control measures.<br />
Streets adjacent to parks, or that lead<br />
to and connect with parks can extend<br />
the park amenity and character into<br />
the surrounding neighbourhoods,<br />
providing improved access to parks<br />
for pedestrians, cyclists and wildlife.<br />
44
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Park Street<br />
2.3.10<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Complement and enhance the park’s<br />
environmental and natural qualities.<br />
• Provide attractive walking and<br />
cycling routes between the park and<br />
the local neighbourhoods and<br />
between destinations within the park.<br />
• Provide facilities for a wide range of<br />
cycling skill levels, but provide<br />
separate facilities for pedestrians and<br />
cyclists in locations of heavy<br />
recreational use, often on multi-use<br />
trails or sidewalks on at least one<br />
side of the street.<br />
• Enhance and augment existing tree<br />
canopy and incorporate naturalized<br />
stormwater control measures.<br />
• Provide local vehicle access and<br />
circulation to parks, and within some<br />
parks, and target low vehicle speeds.<br />
• Accommodate park service and<br />
maintenance vehicle needs.<br />
• Provide continuity in the landscape<br />
design and streetscape between the<br />
public spaces on adjacent streets,<br />
and the routes within the park for a<br />
connected network.<br />
45
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Employment Street<br />
2.3.11<br />
2.3.11<br />
EMPLOYMENT STREET<br />
Employment Streets are typically found outside of the Downtown<br />
and support mainly industrial or commercial uses inside Employment<br />
Areas or Districts. Buildings usually range from multi-storey<br />
commercial offices, to lower-rise wholesale or large-format retail,<br />
warehouse, and manufacturing buildings. Buildings are often set<br />
back from the property line with parking or landscaping between the<br />
building and street.<br />
Employment Streets often have<br />
driveways and crosswalks to facilitate<br />
access.<br />
Employment Streets typically have bus<br />
stops to provide mobility options for<br />
workers and visitors.<br />
c: Michael Poos<br />
Employment Streets serving<br />
warehouse or manufacturing uses<br />
often need to accommodate larger<br />
trucks turning, as well as loading and<br />
unloading activities. Employment<br />
Streets dominated by more<br />
commercial or retail uses may have<br />
less large truck activity.<br />
Employment Streets are important<br />
links in the goods movement<br />
network, but typically of lower<br />
importance in the overall city-wide<br />
transportation networks. A significant<br />
number of users of these streets<br />
arrive by car, but this is not the only<br />
mode of access. Many who work on<br />
Employment Streets rely on transit,<br />
walking and cycling. Employment<br />
streets should be designed to<br />
encourage walking, cycling and<br />
transit use, especially where they<br />
serve as a link between adjacent<br />
neighbourhoods and Main Streets.<br />
Employment Streets generally have<br />
rights of way that enable the<br />
provision of sidewalks on both sides<br />
and complete connections in the<br />
pedestrian network. Safe pedestrian<br />
and bicycle accommodation,<br />
especially at intersections where<br />
trucks are turning, is essential. Truck<br />
traffic may be significant on<br />
Employment Streets. Vehicle traffic is<br />
generally moderate, but can be<br />
substantial during peak hours.<br />
Parking on street is usually not<br />
desired due to large truck turning<br />
radii. Long term bicycle parking, such<br />
as sheltered bicycle corrals, should<br />
be provided.<br />
Some Employment Streets have<br />
grassy boulevards with significant<br />
tree planting. Many are candidates to<br />
improve street tree planting and<br />
introduce stormwater control<br />
measures in the planting zone<br />
between curb and sidewalk (where<br />
present).<br />
46
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Employment Street<br />
2.3.11<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Provide attractive mobility options<br />
for workers, especially to support<br />
reliable and convenient transit to<br />
reduce motor vehicle congestion<br />
(e.g., transit priority, transit shelters).<br />
• Enhance transit service and access to<br />
employment via transit.<br />
• Create a street environment that is<br />
safe and comfortable for pedestrians<br />
and cyclists especially to connect to<br />
transit stops or stations.<br />
• Encourage creating a sense of place<br />
using streetscape improvements to<br />
add value and attract additional<br />
investment and employment<br />
expansion.<br />
• Facilitate movement to and through<br />
the area, sometimes with significant<br />
vehicle volumes.<br />
• Accommodate access, loading, and<br />
circulation by large vehicle types on<br />
routes frequented by trucks such as<br />
industrial employment areas.<br />
• Make space for street trees and<br />
landscape strips where possible for<br />
stormwater management and<br />
greening.<br />
• Encourage employers to participate<br />
in transportation demand<br />
management programs such as<br />
Smart Commute that promote ridesharing,<br />
transit pass programs,<br />
flexible work hours and bicycle<br />
parking, lockers and showers.<br />
47
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Access Street<br />
2.3.12<br />
2.3.12<br />
MIXED-USE ACCESS STREET<br />
Mixed Use Access Streets are found mostly within the Downtown<br />
and the Centres. Mixed Use Access Streets primarily provide ‘rear’<br />
service and access functions to adjacent commercial and residential<br />
properties, which often have their front doors on other nearby Main<br />
Streets.<br />
Mixed-Use Access Streets provide truck<br />
loading access for large buildings.<br />
Mixed Use Access Streets generally<br />
have narrower rights-of-way, but are<br />
larger than a lane.<br />
Mixed Use Access Streets are<br />
typically not major streets in the<br />
transportation network. They are<br />
usually limited in length and do not<br />
support long-distance travel.<br />
Driveways, service entrances and<br />
loading docks are common on these<br />
streets, which introduce conflicts with<br />
pedestrians, cyclists and other<br />
vehicles that must be managed.<br />
While cars and service vehicles are<br />
often the dominant users, these<br />
streets should also provide a safe<br />
environment for pedestrians and<br />
cyclists. Surface transit is very<br />
uncommon on Mixed Use Access<br />
Streets. Many will have low or<br />
moderate pedestrian and cyclist<br />
volumes, with low volumes of mostly<br />
larger vehicles, like garbage or<br />
delivery trucks.<br />
Mixed-Use Access Streets accommodate<br />
pedestrians, delivery on foot, and often<br />
have on- or off-street parking.<br />
48
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Access Street<br />
2.3.12<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Facilitate deliveries, loading, and<br />
service access for adjacent residential<br />
and commercial buildings.<br />
• Provide access to secondary<br />
pedestrian entrances to buildings.<br />
• Safely accommodate pedestrians and<br />
cyclists, and encourage low motor<br />
vehicle speeds.<br />
• Consider ways to create an attractive<br />
environment that complements<br />
adjacent Main or Civic Streets.<br />
• Provide an adequate furnishing zone<br />
for key elements like light poles,<br />
waste/recycling receptacles and<br />
bicycle parking, and consider<br />
landscaping and street trees where<br />
possible.<br />
• Some on-street parking may be<br />
provided if space is available.<br />
• Provide wayfinding signage to assist<br />
drivers with finding building access<br />
and entrances to loading areas and<br />
parking garages.<br />
49
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Shared Street<br />
2.3.13<br />
2.3.13<br />
MIXED-USE SHARED STREET<br />
Shared Streets are most often found in areas supported by a<br />
high level of pedestrian activity, usually in mixed-use areas in<br />
the Downtowns and Centres but can also be found in residential<br />
neighbourhoods. Shared Streets are streets that blend and blur the<br />
spaces and zones of the street – sometimes designed without curbs.<br />
Different modes share the space together, but pedestrians typically<br />
have the highest priority.<br />
Seasonal or permanent bike corrals are<br />
common on Shared Streets.<br />
Shared Streets must maintain a<br />
delineated pedestrian clearway zone<br />
to ensure the street is universally<br />
accessible. The remaining street<br />
space is shared between several<br />
different modes or users, but<br />
pedestrians typically have the highest<br />
priority. Shared Streets can have a<br />
flexible design to accommodate<br />
different uses and seasons. All modes<br />
of travel may be permitted on Shared<br />
Streets, but motor vehicle volumes<br />
and speeds are extremely low. All<br />
modes are expected to travel no<br />
faster than walking speed. Some<br />
Shared Streets may prohibit motor<br />
vehicle access and parking entirely,<br />
except for emergency, utility, and<br />
delivery vehicles during specific<br />
times of day, days of week, or entire<br />
seasons.<br />
In the Downtown or Centres,<br />
buildings are typically more mixeduse<br />
and located close to the<br />
property line, clearly defining the<br />
street edges. Shared Streets can<br />
support a variety of uses, including<br />
shopping, entertainment, cafés,<br />
dining, and residences.<br />
Trench drain and bollards on Shared<br />
Streets provide for curbless and flexible<br />
streets.<br />
50
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Shared Street<br />
2.3.13<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Create street conditions for very low<br />
motor vehicle volumes and very slow<br />
travel speeds to facilitate shared use<br />
of the street by pedestrians, cyclists<br />
and motor vehicles.<br />
• For universal accessibility provide a<br />
direct and unobstructed walking path<br />
of adequate width, delineated by<br />
pavers and/or bollards with adequate<br />
contrast and detectability.<br />
• Create a slow zone “feel” for the<br />
public space using design treatments<br />
(e.g., rightsized space, pavers,<br />
plantings, street furniture).<br />
• In mixed-use settings, support<br />
commercial activity (such as<br />
occasional pedestrian-only streets for<br />
events/markets) or neighbourhood<br />
gathering, recreation and leisure<br />
depending on context.<br />
• In mixed-use settings, support<br />
flexible use of the street right-of-way<br />
through all seasons including<br />
incorporating café seating in spring/<br />
summer/fall, and short-term parking<br />
or drop-off in winter.<br />
• In mixed-use settings, accommodate<br />
high volumes of pedestrians and/or<br />
pedestrian lingering, socializing.<br />
• In mixed-use settings, prioritize,<br />
enable and emphasize pedestrian<br />
activities while also accommodating<br />
motor vehicle access by service and<br />
delivery vehicles during non-peak<br />
hours.<br />
51
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Residential Shared Street<br />
2.3.13<br />
RESIDENTIAL SHARED STREET<br />
Residential Shared Streets are streets in primarily residential areas<br />
that mix all modes together to blend and blur the spaces and zones<br />
of the streets. All modes are expected to travel no faster than walking<br />
speed.<br />
Residential Shared Streets are typically<br />
slow zones that include space for people,<br />
trees and parking.<br />
Shared Streets in residential areas<br />
provide space for informal<br />
neighbourhood gatherings and<br />
activities, like socializing and children<br />
playing. In residential areas, where<br />
they are referred to as ‘woonerfs’ or<br />
‘home zone’ streets, Shared Streets<br />
may also permit some on-street<br />
parking. Shared Streets are good<br />
locations for higher amounts of<br />
bicycle parking to help serve the<br />
needs of the surrounding area.<br />
Shared Streets should be narrow to<br />
help slow vehicle traffic and<br />
emphasize pedestrian priority.<br />
Shared Streets are primarily<br />
hardscape, but the low vehicle<br />
volumes make them prime<br />
candidates for pavers, permeable<br />
pavement and other infiltration<br />
strategies. Limited plantings and<br />
planters soften the environment and<br />
provide additional opportunities for<br />
greening and stormwater<br />
management.<br />
Some Residential Shared Streets, like this<br />
one in Toronto, have planters and brick<br />
pavers.<br />
52
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Residential Shared Street<br />
2.3.13<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Create street conditions for very low<br />
motor vehicle volumes and very slow<br />
travel speeds to facilitate shared use<br />
of the street by pedestrians, cyclists<br />
and motor vehicles.<br />
• For universal accessibility provide a<br />
direct and unobstructed walking path<br />
of adequate width, delineated by<br />
pavers and/or bollards with adequate<br />
contrast and detectability.<br />
• Create a slow zone “feel” for the<br />
public space using design treatments<br />
(e.g., rightsized space, pavers,<br />
plantings).<br />
• In residential settings, shared streets<br />
can function as a public space for<br />
recreation and socializing.<br />
53
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Lane<br />
2.3.14<br />
2.3.14<br />
MIXED-USE LANE<br />
Mixed Use Lanes are found in the Downtown, Centres and Avenues,<br />
and other mixed use areas in the city. These lanes support vehicle<br />
and pedestrian access to buildings of various uses. They are typically<br />
narrow access routes flanked by the rear or side faces of abutting<br />
properties.<br />
Mixed-Use Lanes, like this one in Toronto,<br />
may facilitate waste removal as well as<br />
act as pedestrian cut-throughs.<br />
Mixed-Use Lanes provide access for<br />
deliveries, waste disposal and<br />
pickup, and parking garage<br />
entrances, as well as informal local<br />
cyclist and pedestrian routes. They<br />
help to restrict or minimize driveway<br />
access and loading on Civic and Main<br />
Streets to support efficient<br />
movement of people and to reduce<br />
conflicts among modes. Mixed Use<br />
Lanes are typically significantly<br />
narrower than Mixed Use Access<br />
Streets and much shorter –<br />
commonly just one block long.<br />
In a busy Downtown environment,<br />
Mixed-Use Lanes can also offer<br />
unique opportunities to create active<br />
spaces for retail or other commercial<br />
users, and become part of a vibrant<br />
pedestrian network.<br />
Although space for tree planting is<br />
limited, and some servicing<br />
requirements can present challenges,<br />
Mixed-Use Lanes do provide some<br />
opportunities to introduce<br />
stormwater control measures.<br />
Mixed-Use Lanes are very minor links<br />
in the overall transportation network.<br />
Although their primary role is for<br />
motor vehicle service and access,<br />
these lanes are often used as quieter,<br />
informal routes for pedestrians and<br />
bicyclists.<br />
Laneways in Toronto provide space for<br />
murals, and pedestrian and/or vehicle<br />
access to properties.<br />
54
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Street Types<br />
Mixed Use Lane<br />
2.3.14<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Support adjacent commercial and<br />
residential uses by providing access<br />
to the rear of buildings for service,<br />
delivery, loading, and parking garage<br />
access needs.<br />
• Minimize cut-through motor vehicle<br />
traffic and design for slow vehicle<br />
speeds.<br />
• Anticipate and accommodate<br />
through-access by pedestrians and<br />
cyclists and use of lanes as informal<br />
public spaces.<br />
• Durable street materials for heavier<br />
vehicles, like garbage and delivery<br />
trucks.<br />
• Provide adequate lighting for<br />
personal security.<br />
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Street Types<br />
Residential Lane<br />
2.3.15<br />
2.3.15<br />
RESIDENTIAL LANE<br />
Residential Lanes are found throughout the city and typically provide<br />
rear access for pedestrians and vehicles to garages, parking, and rear<br />
entrances of single family homes and low-rise residential buildings.<br />
They are often narrow access routes flanked by fences or garages at<br />
the rear of properties.<br />
Residential Lanes have the opportunity to become attractive public<br />
spaces that support informal play and social interaction.<br />
Residential Lanes are often used by<br />
pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
Motor vehicle volumes are low and<br />
slow on residential lanes, and they do<br />
not play a large role in the overall<br />
transportation network. They are<br />
often used for pedestrian and bicycle<br />
connections within the<br />
neighbourhood, and should be<br />
designed for walking speed to<br />
emphasize and encourage pedestrian<br />
use. They are often used for local<br />
recreational activities.<br />
Although space for tree planting is<br />
limited, Residential Lanes do provide<br />
opportunities to introduce green<br />
street design elements and planting<br />
to create more inviting and useful<br />
spaces.<br />
Residential Lanes typically provide<br />
garage and vehicle parking access at the<br />
rear of properties.<br />
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Street Types<br />
Residential Lane<br />
2.3.15<br />
DESIGN OBJECTIVES<br />
• Provide access to rear of residential<br />
properties and encourage informal<br />
spaces for playing and social<br />
interaction through speed<br />
management (e.g., rightsizing of<br />
space).<br />
• By providing the residential lane, this<br />
reduces or removes the need for<br />
driveways and motor vehiclepedestrian<br />
conflicts from the parallel<br />
residential street.<br />
• Minimize cut-through motor vehicle<br />
traffic, enhance local access, and<br />
design to slow motor vehicle speeds.<br />
• Anticipate and accommodate<br />
through-access by pedestrians and<br />
cyclists.<br />
• Provide adequate lighting for<br />
personal security.<br />
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c. DTAH<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
60 3.1 Steps to Street Design<br />
70 3.2 Performance Measurement<br />
71 3.3 Exceptions<br />
Chapter 3 describes the five<br />
general steps in the street design<br />
process. Not all projects follow<br />
these steps, as the number of steps<br />
and time spent on each one often<br />
depend on the type, scale, scope<br />
and resources of a project.<br />
Making decisions about street<br />
design is a collaborative process<br />
with many different voices at the<br />
table, including City staff,<br />
stakeholders, and members of the<br />
public. It is important to identify<br />
these voices early on and involve<br />
them throughout the process. It is<br />
also important to document key<br />
decisions to ensure the rationale<br />
and design process are transparent<br />
and defensible.<br />
3.0<br />
STEPS TO<br />
STREET DESIGN<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Steps to Street Design<br />
3.1<br />
3.1<br />
STEPS TO STREET DESIGN<br />
The five general steps to street design are illustrated in Figure 3-1<br />
and described in more detail on the following pages. This process is<br />
best suited to large projects such as major reconstructions and<br />
Environmental Assessment studies, but adaptable to many different<br />
project types.<br />
Step 1: Identify Context & Street Type<br />
Step 2: Establish Design Priorities & Objectives<br />
Step 3: Develop Decision-Making Framework & Metrics<br />
Step 4: Assemble, Evaluate, Refine & Repeat<br />
Step 5: Finalize Design & Document<br />
c. DTAH<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Steps to Street Design<br />
3.1<br />
PROJECT<br />
INITIATION<br />
CONTEXT<br />
ANALYSIS<br />
PRELIMINARY<br />
DESIGN<br />
+<br />
DECISION<br />
MAKING<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
DESIGN<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
OPERATIONS +<br />
MAINTENANCE<br />
PLAN<br />
DESIGN<br />
BUILD + MANAGE<br />
1. Identify<br />
Context<br />
2. Establish<br />
Design Priorities<br />
3. Develop<br />
Decision-Making<br />
Framework +<br />
Metrics<br />
4. Assemble/<br />
Evaluate/<br />
Refine<br />
5. Finalize<br />
Preliminary<br />
Design +<br />
Document<br />
Repeat if<br />
Necessary<br />
COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC<br />
Transportation Services<br />
• Beautiful Streets, Pedestrian<br />
Projects, and Street Furniture<br />
• Cycling Infrastructure & Programs<br />
• Traffic Operations<br />
• Traffic Safety<br />
• Traffic Signals (installation &<br />
maintenance)<br />
• Traffic Planning & Right-of-Way<br />
Management<br />
• Infrastructure Asset Management &<br />
Programming<br />
• Road Operations<br />
Toronto Transit Commission<br />
• Strategy & Service Planning<br />
Emergency Access – Divisions<br />
• Fire Services, Paramedic Services<br />
and Police<br />
Operational Access – Divisions<br />
• Waste Management<br />
• Parks<br />
City Planning<br />
• Community Planning<br />
• Transportation Planning<br />
• Urban Design<br />
• Heritage<br />
• Environment<br />
Parks, Forestry & Recreation<br />
• Urban Forestry<br />
Economic Development & Culture<br />
• BIA Office<br />
• Film Office<br />
Municipal Licensing & Standards<br />
• Business Licensing & Regulatory<br />
Services<br />
Utilities<br />
• E.g., Toronto Hydro, Toronto Water,<br />
others including Major Capital<br />
Infrastructure Coordination<br />
Councillors and their staff<br />
Local residents, businesses, and<br />
institutions (schools, hospitals,<br />
seniors facilities, business<br />
improvement areas, etc.)<br />
Community organizations,<br />
advocacy groups and other<br />
industries<br />
• Pedestrians and transit riders<br />
• Disabilities groups (e.g., for vision,<br />
mobility, hearing and cognitive)<br />
• Cycling groups<br />
• Drivers, motorcyclists, and goods<br />
deliveries (e.g., couriers and<br />
logistics)<br />
• Parks, conservation authorities,<br />
environmental groups<br />
• Arts, cultural groups, and film<br />
industry<br />
• Taxi, car-sharing, and tourism<br />
• Developers and property managers<br />
Figure 3-1: Steps to Street Design<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Step 1: Identify Context & Street Type<br />
3.1.1<br />
3.1.1<br />
STEP 1: IDENTIFY CONTEXT & STREET TYPE<br />
Understanding the variety of roles and relationships of a street with<br />
its surrounding context is a critical step in the street design process.<br />
Using the approach outlined in Chapter 2, undertake a<br />
comprehensive review of available information to create a thorough<br />
and holistic understanding of the different aspects of a street’s<br />
context. When gathering and reviewing policies, plans, and other<br />
data, also identify strategies to address significant information gaps<br />
or deficiencies. Using the analysis of information gathered, select one<br />
of the Street Types outlined in Chapter 2 as a starting point for<br />
setting design priorities and objectives.<br />
Official Plan<br />
Major Streets<br />
Streetscape<br />
Manual<br />
Official Plan<br />
Surface Transit Priority<br />
Relationship with Adjacent<br />
Parks, Ravines, and Green Spaces<br />
Existing and<br />
Planned Land Uses<br />
MOVEMENT<br />
TORONTO<br />
STREET TYPE<br />
PLACEMAKING<br />
Existing and<br />
Planned Land Uses<br />
Road<br />
Classification<br />
System<br />
Official Plan<br />
Urban Structure<br />
Relationship with<br />
Adjacent Buildings<br />
Official Plan<br />
Urban Structure<br />
Figure 3- 2: Many factors inform the understanding and<br />
identification of street types<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Step 1: Identify Context & Street Type<br />
3.1.1<br />
STEP 1: CHECKLISTS<br />
Identify the street’s “placemaking”<br />
context:<br />
Consult Official Plan policies and<br />
maps (eg, urban structure, land<br />
use designations, secondary<br />
plans or other area plans,<br />
heritage conservation plans, etc)<br />
Consult public realm and<br />
streetscape policies (e.g,<br />
Streetscape Manual, Vibrant<br />
Streets Guidelines, urban design<br />
guidelines, etc)<br />
Consult the Green Streets<br />
Technical Guidelines including<br />
policies, maps and the Low-<br />
Impact Design feature selection<br />
tool (eg, planting conditions,<br />
stormwater plans, tree canopy,<br />
etc). Identify grades, drainage,<br />
stormwater flow, catch basin<br />
locations, etc.)<br />
Is the street located in a Business<br />
Improvement Area (BIA) and are<br />
there streetscape or master<br />
plans?<br />
What are the street’s trip<br />
generators and destinations,<br />
e.g., schools, institutions, parks,<br />
etc.?<br />
Identify the past, present and<br />
future characteristics of the place<br />
and users of the street (e.g,<br />
cultural heritage, social history<br />
and new development).<br />
Research and identify any<br />
encroachment or easement<br />
agreements on the street<br />
segment.<br />
Identify the street’s “movement”<br />
context:<br />
Consult Official Plan policies,<br />
network plans and maps (e.g,<br />
rapid transit network, surface<br />
transit priority network, planned<br />
right-of-way widths, etc)<br />
Align with the City’s pedestrianrelated<br />
policies and obtain data,<br />
(e.g. existing and future volumes,<br />
trip generators, safety heat<br />
maps, walking conditions, OTM<br />
Book 15, etc.).<br />
Consult the Cycling Network<br />
Plan, OTM Book 18, and obtain<br />
data, e.g, existing and future<br />
volumes, trip generators, and<br />
safety conditions.<br />
Collect and review data (e.g.<br />
collisions, existing and future<br />
volumes, truck volumes, speed,<br />
and travel times)<br />
Identify curbside and operational<br />
uses (e.g. parking (on- and offstreet<br />
supply), deliveries, taxi<br />
stands, food trucks, bike parking,<br />
Bike Share stations, snow<br />
storage, etc).<br />
Review multimodal demand and<br />
connectivity. Consult Road<br />
Classification System.<br />
Identify existing street right-ofway<br />
widths and allocation of<br />
space.<br />
Identify profile of street users:<br />
Conduct site assessments and<br />
gather observational data<br />
What are the current and future<br />
demographics (e.g. seniors)?<br />
Who uses the street? Consider<br />
people of all ages, abilities and<br />
genders, and universal design.<br />
Identify activities and any permit<br />
holders (e.g, cafés, marketing<br />
displays, street vendors, food<br />
trucks, boulevard parking,<br />
filming, etc.).<br />
Consider all times of the day,<br />
different days of the week, and<br />
times of the year (all seasons)<br />
Consider anticipated routes for<br />
different users, and their desire<br />
lines (typical paths and<br />
destinations)<br />
Consider emergency services,<br />
operations and maintenance,<br />
and utilities (year-round, all times<br />
of day)<br />
Consider utilities and their<br />
location and placement, both<br />
above and below ground<br />
What consultation (e.g., public<br />
and stakeholder input and<br />
feedback) has been conducted<br />
on the above roles and users of<br />
the street, and the potential<br />
street type(s) that contribute to<br />
the street project’s objectives?<br />
Identify potential funders and<br />
maintenance partners.<br />
Identify street type(s):<br />
Which street type(s) are most<br />
similar to the aspirational role of<br />
the street (i.e., vision and goals)?<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Step 2: Establish Design Priorities & Objectives<br />
3.1.2<br />
3.1.2<br />
STEP 2: ESTABLISH DESIGN PRIORITIES & OBJECTIVES<br />
Develop the design priorities and objectives through a collaborative<br />
process—agreed upon as much as possible by the parties involved,<br />
and reviewed later in the process to evaluate how they are being<br />
met. They should align with the City’s Official Plan and other city<br />
policies, as well as the complete streets vision, goals, and guidance<br />
outlined in this document. In some cases, previous policy or guidance<br />
(such as Secondary Plan, EA Terms of Reference, BIA Public Realm<br />
Plan, etc) may exist to inform design objectives for a street or area.<br />
Design priorities and objectives should reflect the most recent<br />
context information developed through Step 1. On larger projects,<br />
review and revise objectives as the design proceeds, with changes<br />
and decisions documented for transparency.<br />
STEP 2: CHECKLISTS<br />
Confirm that project objectives<br />
align with the City’s policies and<br />
plans and bylaws:<br />
Alignment with Official Plan’s<br />
city-building vision and goals<br />
Alignment with Toronto’s<br />
Complete Streets vision, goals,<br />
and design guidance<br />
Align with network plans and<br />
local area studies or plans that<br />
exist or are underway<br />
Consult appropriate bylaws in<br />
Toronto Municipal Code (e.g.,<br />
streets and sidewalks, street<br />
vending, etc.)<br />
Confirm that the project objectives<br />
are informed by design objectives<br />
for the selected Street Type in<br />
Step 2:<br />
Design objectives for moving<br />
pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and<br />
motorized vehicles<br />
Design objectives for placemaking,<br />
green infrastructure, and<br />
users of the street<br />
Compare project objectives with<br />
the street type(s) design<br />
objectives<br />
Confirm that project objectives<br />
have received input and feedback<br />
through consultation and<br />
engagement:<br />
Internal consultations of key<br />
stakeholders (all relevant<br />
Divisions, Agencies,<br />
Commissions and units) have<br />
informed the project’s objectives<br />
(think of all modes and users)<br />
External consultations with key<br />
stakeholders have informed the<br />
project’s objectives (think of all<br />
modes and users)<br />
What are the funding sources for<br />
the project?<br />
Internal and external discussions<br />
on funding capital, operations<br />
and maintenance.<br />
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Step 3: Develop Decision-Making Framework & Metrics<br />
3.1.3<br />
3.1.3<br />
STEP 3: DEVELOP DECISION-MAKING<br />
FRAMEWORK & METRICS<br />
An evidence-based decision-making framework and a set of metrics<br />
are essential to evaluate street design options and make difficult<br />
choices and trade-offs. Organize the decision-making framework and<br />
metrics according to the design priorities and objectives established<br />
in Step 2. Develop both qualitative and quantitative metrics for each<br />
of the priorities or objectives to assess how they can be achieved.<br />
Involve a variety of interdisciplinary professionals to provide specific<br />
advice in their area of expertise. Consultation and stakeholder<br />
engagement will also help inform the decision-making framework.<br />
Collect “before” and “after” data to provide a baseline set of metrics<br />
to track and monitor impacts and progress over time. It is important<br />
to document how decisions are being made.<br />
STEP 3: CHECKLISTS<br />
Establish an evidence-based<br />
decision-making framework:<br />
Review the decision-making<br />
framework template (Figures<br />
3-2a and 3-2b)<br />
Incorporate priorities and<br />
objectives resulting from Step 2<br />
into the framework<br />
Conduct internal and external<br />
stakeholder consultation for<br />
input on the framework<br />
Identify qualitative and<br />
quantitative measures for the<br />
evaluation criteria<br />
Collect any data required to<br />
produce the qualitative and<br />
quantitative analysis including<br />
consulting multidisciplinary and<br />
subject matter experts for advice.<br />
Ideally, “before” data is collected<br />
at this stage to provide a baseline<br />
against which “after” data can be<br />
compared once the project has<br />
been completed to track impacts<br />
over time.<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Step 3: Develop Decision-Making Framework & Metrics<br />
3.1.3<br />
TEMPLATE FOR DEVELOPING<br />
DECISION MAKING FRAMEWORK<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PEOPLE<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PLACEMAKING<br />
STREETS FOR<br />
PROSPERITY<br />
Vision:<br />
Improve Safety and<br />
Accessiblity<br />
Create Beautiful and<br />
Vibrant Public Space<br />
Support Economic Vitality<br />
Goal(s):<br />
Shorter Crossing Distance<br />
at Intersections<br />
Wide Pedestrian Clearway<br />
and Furnishing/Planting<br />
Zone<br />
Adequate On- and<br />
Off-Street Parking and<br />
Loading; Wider Sidewalks<br />
and Setbacks for Outdoor<br />
Cafes<br />
Priority and/or Objective(s):<br />
Give People Choices and<br />
Connected Networks<br />
Respond to<br />
Local Area Context<br />
Enhance Social Equity<br />
Length (km) of Missing<br />
Links for Pedestrians and<br />
Cyclists<br />
Alignment with Area and<br />
Community Plans<br />
Increased Transit Access<br />
(5-10 Minute Walk) to<br />
Low-Income Households;<br />
Expanded Bicycle<br />
Network to Transit<br />
Stops/Stations<br />
Criteria and/or Metric(s):<br />
Promote Healthy and<br />
Active Living<br />
Improve Environmental<br />
Sustainability<br />
Balance Flexibility and<br />
Cost Effectiveness<br />
Safety Features for All<br />
Road Users (i.e. Rightsize<br />
Lanes and Curb Radii)<br />
Number and Type of<br />
Green Infrastructure<br />
Added<br />
High, Medium, Low Costs<br />
Over The Long Term<br />
(for Operations and<br />
Maintenance)<br />
Figure 3-2a: Sample Decision Making<br />
Framework Template<br />
Figure 3-2b: Sample Criteria and Metrics<br />
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Steps to Street Design<br />
Step 4: Assemble, Evaluate, Refine, & Repeat<br />
3.1.4<br />
3.1.4<br />
STEP 4: ASSEMBLE, EVALUATE, REFINE, & REPEAT<br />
Step 4 is an iterative step that is often repeated as trade-offs and<br />
choices are made to refine the design of a street. Design choices and<br />
trade-offs should be evaluated and refined through internal and<br />
external consultation and engagement using the evidence-based<br />
decision-making framework from Step 3.<br />
The amount of iteration will depend on the scale, scope and nature<br />
of the street project. For example, a small scale neighbourhood<br />
safety and beautification project will likely not involve as many steps<br />
or iterations as a major streetscape improvement that encompasses a<br />
whole street segment that involves many external stakeholders.<br />
Assemble: Design options should be<br />
prepared using schematic drawings<br />
of street cross-sections as well as the<br />
plan view of an entire block or<br />
intersection. The street type(s) and<br />
design priorities and objectives<br />
should be used as a starting point to<br />
select and help prioritize street<br />
elements.<br />
Street types may lead to more than<br />
one cross-section option for different<br />
street segments. Designers may also<br />
not be able to achieve all design<br />
objectives on a street project due to<br />
context-sensitive considerations. For<br />
more information on cross-section<br />
elements, see Chapters 4 through 9<br />
which provide an overview of some<br />
key design objectives for<br />
pedestrians, cyclists, transit, green<br />
infrastructure, roadways, and<br />
intersections.<br />
Evaluate: Once the options are<br />
developed, they should be evaluated<br />
using the evidence-based decisionmaking<br />
framework and metrics from<br />
Step 3. This evaluation is important<br />
because there are often physical<br />
space allocation choices that need to<br />
be addressed before proceeding to<br />
detailed design. Difficult trade-offs<br />
may need to be made after being<br />
evaluated and documented using an<br />
evidence-based approach.<br />
Evaluating using this approach<br />
ensures that design priorities and<br />
objectives for a project are applied in<br />
a context-sensitive manner, and that<br />
decisions are explained and<br />
documented for how they achieve<br />
the overall complete streets vision<br />
and goals.<br />
Refine & Repeat: Street design<br />
options should be refined through<br />
collaboration and creative problemsolving,<br />
as well as the use of various<br />
design standards and best practices<br />
Repeated refinement is often<br />
necessary to better achieve project<br />
objectives. This is typically an<br />
iterative step that involves multidisciplinary<br />
collaboration among key<br />
stakeholders, as well as external<br />
consultation and engagement with<br />
the community and public.<br />
Refinements to the street design<br />
should result from a thoughtful and<br />
collaborative discussion of trade-offs<br />
between competing uses on the<br />
street and within the available right<br />
of way. This discussion requires all<br />
stakeholders to understand the<br />
perspectives and needs of others.<br />
This is a critical step that<br />
demonstrates transparent and<br />
accountable decision making.<br />
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Step 4: Assemble, Evaluate, Refine, & Repeat<br />
3.1.4<br />
STEP 4: CHECKLISTS<br />
Assemble street cross-section(s):<br />
Review and apply project design<br />
objectives – prioritizing space<br />
and attention to design for<br />
priorities resulting from<br />
Checklists for steps 1, 2 and 3<br />
Review and apply key design<br />
principles and select elements<br />
using the Chapters on<br />
Pedestrians, Cycling, Transit,<br />
Green Infrastructure, Roadways<br />
and Intersections<br />
Review and apply additional<br />
resources including specific<br />
design guidelines, construction<br />
standards, and best practices<br />
(e.g. City’s Lane Width and Curb<br />
Radii Engineering Guidelines,<br />
On-Street Bikeway Design<br />
Guidelines, Green Streets<br />
Technical Guidelines,<br />
Streetscape Manual, etc.)<br />
Coordinate designs with other<br />
projects in the area (e.g. new<br />
buildings or developments), and<br />
permitted activities or businesses<br />
(e.g, cafés, etc.)<br />
Assemble street cross-sections<br />
and plan views using a multidisciplinary,<br />
collaborative<br />
approach with key stakeholders<br />
and produce the schematic<br />
drawings<br />
Evaluate options using the<br />
evidence-based decision-making<br />
framework from Step 3:<br />
Review each design option<br />
against the framework<br />
(developed from Step 3) and<br />
document the pros/cons of each<br />
option, any trade-offs made in<br />
the option, and any qualitative<br />
and quantitative measures<br />
Ensure that all users of the street<br />
are taken into account, e.g., a<br />
road user risk assessment for the<br />
safety of the most vulnerable<br />
road users<br />
Collect any data required to<br />
produce the qualitative and<br />
quantitative analysis of the<br />
design options (including<br />
consulting interdisciplinary and<br />
subject matter experts for<br />
advice)<br />
Conduct internal and external<br />
stakeholder consultation for<br />
feedback on the evaluation of<br />
options including life cycle costs<br />
Document the evaluation using<br />
qualitative and quantitative data<br />
and analysis and feedback<br />
Refine street design and repeat<br />
Step 4, if necessary:<br />
Foster collaborative problemsolving<br />
among key stakeholders,<br />
using a multi-disciplinary<br />
approach, to address issues that<br />
arise and to refine street design<br />
options<br />
Review and apply additional<br />
resources including specific<br />
design guidelines, construction<br />
standards, and best practices<br />
Refine and produce the preferred<br />
street designs, including<br />
schematics and streetscape<br />
details<br />
Consult internal and external key<br />
stakeholders, using a multidisciplinary<br />
approach to gather<br />
input and feedback on their<br />
needs<br />
Document the rationale for any<br />
trade-offs made, conflict<br />
resolution measures and<br />
innovative solutions to design<br />
issues including life-cycle costs<br />
and obtain agreement and<br />
approvals on operations and<br />
maintenance (i.e. who will<br />
maintain the street elements)<br />
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Step 5: Finalize Design & Document<br />
3.1.5<br />
3.1.5<br />
STEP 5: FINALIZE DESIGN & DOCUMENT<br />
The completion of all of the previous steps, including any additional<br />
public and stakeholder input, should provide enough rationale to<br />
select the design option that best matches the context and future<br />
expectations relative to the street project.<br />
It is important that the design team documents the process that was<br />
followed, including consultation and engagement activities, so that it<br />
can inform future similar street projects, and serve as a reference for<br />
any questions that may arise about why a particular decision was<br />
made.<br />
STEP 5: CHECKLISTS<br />
Finalize the preferred<br />
street design:<br />
Finalize the preferred street<br />
design, including cross-sections,<br />
plan views (of the whole block,<br />
segments and/or intersections<br />
and approaches to the<br />
intersection), and streetscape<br />
details<br />
Include documentation of any<br />
analysis<br />
Include documentation on<br />
consultations<br />
Include documentation on the<br />
evaluation<br />
Include documentation on the<br />
written agreement and approvals<br />
on operations and maintenance<br />
for the long term (i.e. who will<br />
maintain the street elements for<br />
the long-term)<br />
Note that, depending on the<br />
lead division or agency, some<br />
streetscape elements will require<br />
a formal agreement with the City.<br />
(e.g, for maintenance,<br />
encroachments, or easements).<br />
Examples of street elements that<br />
require an agreed-upon and<br />
approved maintenance owner<br />
include, but are not limited to:<br />
Street trees, landscaping and<br />
planters<br />
Pavers (e.g. in the furnishing or<br />
edge zones, sidewalk, or<br />
roadway)<br />
Green infrastructure such as<br />
permeable materials<br />
Other streetscape details, e.g.,<br />
lighting, street furniture,<br />
decorative installations<br />
Others, as needed<br />
Examples of maintenance owners<br />
that need to provide agreement<br />
and approval include, but are not<br />
limited to:<br />
Transportation Services<br />
Toronto Water<br />
Parks, Forestry and Recreation<br />
Business Improvement Areas<br />
(BIAs)<br />
Property managers (e.g.<br />
commercial or condominium<br />
building owners)<br />
Toronto Hydro<br />
Others, as needed<br />
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Performance Measurement<br />
3.2<br />
3.2<br />
PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT<br />
This section outlines what project teams should consider in<br />
assessing how well a project performs in terms of meeting its<br />
complete streets objectives.<br />
Queensway: Before<br />
c: google<br />
MEASURING STREET PROJECTS<br />
“Before” and “after” data help to<br />
assess and communicate the results<br />
and benefits of street projects.<br />
Resources for data collection,<br />
analysis, and communications are<br />
often not included in budgets.<br />
Ideally, resources for measuring<br />
street performance are considered in<br />
advance and integrated into the<br />
project budgets, commensurate with<br />
the scale of the project.<br />
While the City of Toronto and its<br />
partners currently collect some data<br />
related to streets and the<br />
transportation system, more often<br />
than not, there would be a need for<br />
project-specific qualitative and<br />
quantitative data for “before” and<br />
“after” monitoring, such as:<br />
• Volumes of pedestrians, cyclists,<br />
transit passengers and vehicles (at<br />
intersections and mid-block)<br />
• Collision data and observational data<br />
(e.g. conflict and near misses) for<br />
motor vehicles, pedestrians and<br />
cyclists<br />
• Motor vehicle speeds<br />
• Transit and motor vehicle travel times<br />
• Provision of new infrastructure (e.g.<br />
length and type of new sidewalks,<br />
bike facilities, transit priority<br />
measures, street trees or<br />
landscaping, street furniture, parking<br />
supply (on- and off-street)<br />
• Use of public space (e.g. observation<br />
studies, surveys or safety audits)<br />
• Socio-economic data (e.g. mix of<br />
land uses, employment data, café<br />
permits, vacancy rates, etc.)<br />
• Environmental and public health<br />
benefits (e.g. tree cover)<br />
• Photographs and visuals to<br />
demonstrate the changes in the<br />
street design<br />
Queensway: After<br />
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Exceptions<br />
3.3<br />
3.3<br />
EXCEPTIONS<br />
This section addresses the issue of exceptions and the need for<br />
professional judgment by practitioners in using the latest best<br />
practices in their field.<br />
As noted earlier, implementing<br />
Toronto’s Complete Streets vision<br />
and goals is the responsibility of all<br />
staff involved in street projects. If the<br />
street design team believes that an<br />
exception to applying the Complete<br />
Streets Guidelines is warranted, they<br />
must document the rationale at each<br />
stage of project planning and design,<br />
and where conflicts arise, seek<br />
approval from senior management.<br />
Documentation should include:<br />
• A description and schematic diagram<br />
of the recommended street design,<br />
including e.g. right-of-way width,<br />
proposed cross section and/or plan<br />
view, and photos of the existing<br />
conditions and graphics that illustrate<br />
the desired condition<br />
• Explanation for the requested<br />
exception and details on why the<br />
desired condition is a better solution<br />
to achieving the City’s objectives and<br />
outline these stated objectives<br />
• Description of the street context and<br />
how the desired condition serves the<br />
existing and future uses and users of<br />
the street<br />
• Description of how the desired<br />
condition satisfies the City’s plans<br />
and policies (e.g. Official Plan,<br />
network plans, master plans, City’s<br />
design guidelines, etc.)<br />
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76 4.2 Sidewalk Zones<br />
78 4.3 Importance of the<br />
Pedestrian Clearway Zone<br />
80 4.4 Additional Accessibility and<br />
Universal Design Features<br />
82 4.5 Pedestrian Crossings<br />
84 4.6 Public Realm and<br />
Placemaking<br />
87 4.7 Utilities, Maintenance, and<br />
Operations<br />
Everyone is a pedestrian—whether<br />
you are walking to school or work,<br />
or to your parked car, transit or<br />
bicycle. Pedestrians include people<br />
on foot and/or using an assistive<br />
device. Pedestrian design should<br />
be accessible for all people.<br />
Pedestrians are the safety priority<br />
in street design as they are the<br />
most vulnerable and have the<br />
highest rates of fatalities among<br />
road users. The safety of<br />
pedestrians should be prioritized<br />
over maximizing traffic capacity and<br />
speeds as the safety benefits can<br />
be reaped for all road users.<br />
The pedestrian network—which<br />
includes sidewalks, crossings, and<br />
public spaces— is core to the city’s<br />
transportation network. Space<br />
should be allocated to protect<br />
pedestrians, encourage walking,<br />
and support placemaking—all of<br />
which enhances Toronto’s economic<br />
and social vitality. This chapter<br />
discusses context-sensitive<br />
pedestrian design, accessibility, and<br />
the public realm.<br />
4.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
PEDESTRIANS<br />
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4.1<br />
4.1<br />
PEDESTRIAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
5<br />
4<br />
8<br />
6<br />
2<br />
1<br />
7<br />
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Sidewalk Design Principles<br />
4.1<br />
3<br />
1. Accessibility and Mobility. A top<br />
priority is to provide accessible<br />
sidewalks and facilities for all users<br />
regardless of physical abilities or age.<br />
Ensure clear, direct, unobstructed<br />
continuous paths of a suitable<br />
context-sensitive width to serve<br />
existing and anticipated pedestrian<br />
flows. Minimize or remove clutter.<br />
2. Provide a Network of<br />
Continuous Sidewalks. Places that<br />
support walking are healthier, more<br />
vibrant, and resilient. Create a<br />
network of continuous sidewalks with<br />
dedicated space for pedestrians<br />
safely separated from cyclists and<br />
motorized vehicles.<br />
3. Design for Safe Crossings.<br />
Pedestrian-friendly design takes into<br />
account the frequency of crossing<br />
opportunities, target speed, street<br />
width, intersection geometry,<br />
visibility, signal timing and walk<br />
speeds for vulnerable pedestrians,<br />
such as seniors and persons with<br />
disabilities. See also Chapter 9 on<br />
Intersections for guidance.<br />
4. Placemaking. Sidewalks are public<br />
spaces where people interact. Design<br />
sidewalks to invite, with seating,<br />
trees, cafés, public art, lighting, and<br />
places to gather. Create<br />
opportunities suited to the street’s<br />
context. Design to evolve with<br />
changing demands. Consider current<br />
and future pedestrians and uses.<br />
5. Design for Comfort. Provide<br />
sidewalks of adequate width for the<br />
context. Design sidewalks and<br />
boulevards for uses all year long.<br />
Street trees offer shade and relief<br />
from sun, rain, wind and snow.<br />
Carefully arrange street elements to<br />
support pedestrian activities, and to<br />
provide a safe buffer between<br />
pedestrians and moving traffic.<br />
6. Greening Infrastructure and<br />
Stormwater Management.<br />
Incorporate passive stormwater<br />
measures in boulevards where<br />
possible. Divert stormwater into rain<br />
gardens, planting beds, or<br />
permeable paving in the boulevard<br />
to reduce potential for ponding.<br />
Green infrastructure enhances the<br />
quality of the street environment,<br />
and contributes to mental and<br />
psychological health. Consider<br />
sufficient soil and water for street<br />
trees to reach maturity. See Chapter<br />
7 on Green Infrastructure for<br />
guidance.<br />
7. Design for Efficient<br />
Maintenance. Consider materials<br />
and designs that are durable and<br />
easier to maintain. Use City Standard<br />
Materials. Provide adequate access<br />
to utilities for maintenance. Consider<br />
snow storage and waste and<br />
recycling collection. Coordinate<br />
repairs and upgrades, if feasible, to<br />
minimize impact to pedestrians.<br />
8. Coordination with Utilities. The<br />
location, use, and maintenance of<br />
utilities needs to be coordinated<br />
early on in street projects. Ensure<br />
pedestrian clearway needs are met<br />
for universal accessibility. Seek ways<br />
to minimize conflicts among utilities,<br />
street furnishings, trees, and<br />
landscaping.<br />
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Sidewalk Zones<br />
4.2<br />
4.2<br />
SIDEWALK ZONES<br />
1<br />
2<br />
1. Frontage and Marketing Zone.<br />
The area adjacent to properties,<br />
such as building entrances, front<br />
yards, stoops, window shopping<br />
area, vending, café seating, and<br />
building-related utilities. This area<br />
may be part of the public right-ofway,<br />
or private, if a building setback<br />
is present.<br />
2. Pedestrian Clearway Zone. The<br />
most important area of the street for<br />
safe, accessible, and efficient<br />
movement of pedestrians. The width<br />
depends on the street context. The<br />
minimum will be higher on streets<br />
with greater pedestrian activities. An<br />
adequate pedestrian clearway is<br />
most important in sidewalk design.<br />
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4.2<br />
3 4<br />
3. Furnishing and Planting Zone.<br />
This zone in the boulevard provides<br />
space for a wide range of street<br />
elements such as trees, other<br />
plantings, litter and recycling bins,<br />
benches, street lights, and bicycle<br />
racks.<br />
4. Edge Zone. The space behind the<br />
curb that acts as a buffer between<br />
moving/parked vehicles and the other<br />
sidewalk/boulevard functions. May<br />
accommodate sign posts, parking<br />
machines, decorative pavers, garbage<br />
set out and snow storage.<br />
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4.3<br />
4.3<br />
IMPORTANCE OF THE PEDESTRIAN<br />
CLEARWAY ZONE<br />
The Pedestrian Clearway Zone is the area of sidewalk that is free<br />
and clear of any obstacles so that people of all ages and abilities<br />
can travel in a direct, continuous path. This zone is dedicated for<br />
pedestrian movement and the amount of space required will depend<br />
on the volume and intensity of pedestrian activity on the street.<br />
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE WIDTHS<br />
A wider pedestrian clearway is<br />
required on streets that bring more<br />
people to the sidewalk, e.g. busy<br />
shopping or destination areas, busy<br />
transit routes with many pedestrians,<br />
or other sites with large volumes of<br />
pedestrians. Space is needed for<br />
greater numbers of pedestrians to<br />
pass each other, window shop, push<br />
strollers or delivery carts, or support<br />
someone needing assistance with<br />
walking(See Figure 4.1 and photos).<br />
At minimum, two assistive devices<br />
need to be able to pass each other<br />
with a buffer. This minimum space<br />
(2.1 metres) provides a safe,<br />
universally accessible path for people<br />
of all abilities. Issues with lack of<br />
space include having to pass on<br />
uneven surfaces like sod that could<br />
tip a wheelchair, or being blocked on<br />
one side by a retaining wall and not<br />
having space to safely pass.<br />
HIGH PRIORITY<br />
For safety reasons, the pedestrian<br />
clearway takes priority from other<br />
parts of the street. In areas with high<br />
pedestrian volumes and crowding,<br />
walking will become obstructed and<br />
overflow if there is inadequate space<br />
and may result in people walking in<br />
the roadway. Overall sidewalk width<br />
should first accommodate the<br />
preferred pedestrian clearway,<br />
assigning available space to other<br />
zones second.<br />
WHAT IS NOT CLEARWAY<br />
When measuring the pedestrian<br />
clearway, do not count the space<br />
right up to a bench or bicycle post<br />
and ring, or other element (e.g. door<br />
opening areas, frontage and<br />
marketing areas or tree pits), because<br />
you need to account for how it is<br />
being used. Think of the users or<br />
objects taking up space, such as a<br />
person sitting on a bench, a bicycle<br />
locked to a post and ring, a person<br />
standing or lining up for a transit stop<br />
or food vendor. Ventilation grates<br />
and covers should be placed outside<br />
of the clearway.<br />
DIRECT AND CONTINUOUS<br />
A direct, continuous clearway is<br />
especially needed along a block,<br />
because it is difficult for people with<br />
low or no vision, or physical mobility<br />
challenges to maneuver sudden or<br />
frequent changes in path. Shared<br />
Streets need a clear path of<br />
adequate width that is delineated<br />
with visual contrast and by tactile<br />
indicators. This provides a dedicated<br />
path of travel for persons of all ages<br />
and abilities in an area with a mixing<br />
of pedestrians and vehicles.<br />
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4.3<br />
Person with Mobility Assistive Device<br />
0.9m<br />
Two People Walking Space<br />
1.4m<br />
Pedestrian + Bags<br />
0.7m + 0.3m<br />
Pedestrian Pushing Stroller<br />
0.9m<br />
Passive Walking<br />
0.7m<br />
Figure 4-1: Examples Of Widths Of Different Types Of Pedestrians<br />
Wider pedestrian clearways are required on streets with greater pedestrian activities,<br />
like these examples in Toronto.<br />
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Additional Accessibility and Universal Design Features<br />
4.4<br />
4.4<br />
ACCESSIBILITY AND<br />
UNIVERSAL DESIGN<br />
Sidewalks are essential. Accessible and universal design for sidewalks<br />
include: ensuring adequate pedestrian clearway widths, effective<br />
physical separation between pedestrians and cyclists, materials,<br />
slopes, and tactile walking surface indicators that provide warnings<br />
and guidance for people with low or no vision. See Chapter 9 on<br />
Intersections for accessible and universal design features found<br />
typically at intersections such as curb ramps, depressed curbs, and<br />
accessible pedestrian signals.<br />
Sidewalks should be designed to<br />
accommodate pedestrians of all ages and<br />
abilities.<br />
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Sidewalk should be flat and level, while<br />
maintaining proper drainage.<br />
SIDEWALK MATERIALS<br />
• Sidewalk materials and their<br />
maintenance impact the experience<br />
of a street. Safe, smooth, stable and<br />
slip-resistant sidewalk surfaces are<br />
important for universal accessibility.<br />
In general, sidewalks should be<br />
constructed of concrete, in a manner<br />
that minimizes gaps, discontinuities,<br />
rough surfaces, and vibration-causing<br />
features for mobility device users.<br />
• Minimize the number of different<br />
materials across the sidewalk. Nonstandard<br />
items are strongly<br />
discouraged for most street types for<br />
cost, durability, maintenance,<br />
accessibility and sustainability<br />
reasons. Unique materials are more<br />
difficult and costly to maintain, and<br />
become tripping hazards, unsightly<br />
and confusing to users especially<br />
when maintenance lags.<br />
SLOPES<br />
• Sidewalks should have a flat, level<br />
surface for walking, while maintaining<br />
enough slope for proper drainage so<br />
rainwater does not accumulate on<br />
sidewalks. The slope of the sidewalk<br />
as you walk forward along it (i.e.,<br />
running slope) often depends on the<br />
slope of the adjacent roadway.<br />
TACTILE WALKING SURFACE<br />
INDICATORS & DELINEATORS<br />
• To provide persons with low or no<br />
vision with warnings and guidance,<br />
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators<br />
(TWSI) are installed at curb ramps or<br />
depressed curbs where a pedestrian<br />
may encounter a hazard such as<br />
moving vehicles.<br />
• A tactile, colour contrasting and/or<br />
physical delineator is required<br />
between the sidewalk and sidewalklevel<br />
cycle track (e.g., on Sherbourne<br />
Street), or for a flush street (e.g.,<br />
Market Street), where pedestrians are<br />
at the same level or grade as cyclists<br />
and cars. Yellow tactile strips are<br />
used at transit stop areas. The design<br />
depends on the context, i.e. speed<br />
and volumes.<br />
Curb ramps and accessible<br />
pedestrian signals are discussed in<br />
Chapter 9 on Intersections.<br />
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators are<br />
in installed at curb ramps or depressed<br />
curbs.<br />
Straight and direct sidewalks are required<br />
for safe and convenient access for people<br />
of all ages and abilities, especially those<br />
with low or no vision.<br />
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Pedestrian Crossings<br />
4.5<br />
4.5<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS<br />
Pedestrian crossings are found at intersections of streets, at midblock<br />
locations on long blocks, and at key destinations, such as<br />
schools, transit stops or stations, offices, or shopping plazas, that<br />
generate pedestrian crossing demand. Pedestrian crossings are<br />
facilitated by traffic signals, mid-block pedestrian signals, pedestrian<br />
crossovers (also known as PXOs) and pedestrian crossing islands or<br />
refuge islands.<br />
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Pedestrian Crossings<br />
4.5<br />
This mid-block pedestrian crossing<br />
facilitates children in walking safely to<br />
school.<br />
PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS<br />
Traffic control signals that provide<br />
pedestrians with a protected crossing<br />
opportunity at intersections or midblock<br />
locations by requiring motorists<br />
to stop at the signal.<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVER (PXO)<br />
Pedestrian crossovers are identified<br />
by specific signs, pavement<br />
markings, illuminated overhead<br />
lights, and pedestrian push buttons.<br />
Under provincial laws, drivers and<br />
cyclists must wait until pedestrians<br />
have completely crossed the road.<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ISLAND<br />
OR REFUGE ISLAND<br />
An area protected by curbs (i.e., a<br />
raised concrete island) between two<br />
directions of traffic, where<br />
pedestrians can wait for a gap in<br />
vehicular traffic or rest while crossing<br />
streets mid-block.<br />
As discussed in Chapter 8 on<br />
Roadways, a priority is to look for<br />
opportunities to rightsize streets to<br />
reduce pavement widths for safety<br />
and greening purposes. For example,<br />
before allocating space to a median<br />
or crossing island, consider rightsizing<br />
lanes and the street to reduce<br />
crossing distances and to support<br />
preferred widths for the pedestrian<br />
clearway, planting and furnishing<br />
zone, and cycling facilities.<br />
The decision to install any of the<br />
above devices depends on many<br />
factors such as pedestrian safety<br />
(e.g., lack of crossings or gaps in<br />
traffic), street geometry, number of<br />
lanes, adjacent land uses and trip<br />
generators, vehicular volumes,<br />
speed, and observational data.<br />
PXOs are common in Toronto.<br />
c: Katie Wittmann c: Katie Wittmann<br />
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Public Realm and Placemaking<br />
4.6<br />
4.6<br />
PUBLIC REALM AND PLACEMAKING<br />
Beyond providing safe pedestrian movement and access, sidewalk<br />
zones also serve as vital public spaces that contribute to the city’s<br />
economic, social and environmental well-being. Various elements<br />
help create vibrant, attractive, safe, and green streets for people,<br />
including street furniture, lighting, cafés and marketing, curb and<br />
sidewalk extensions, wayfinding, green infrastructure, the sensitive<br />
placement of utilities, and year-round operations and maintenance.<br />
(Also see Chapter 7 on Green Infrastructure). These street elements<br />
are important components of placemaking, especially pedestrian<br />
amenities like benches and seating, which offer places for people to<br />
sit, rest, and socialize.<br />
Sidewalks provide vital public space day<br />
and night.<br />
c: tracer.ca. https://flic.kr/p/YYbkU<br />
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4.6<br />
Curbside Café<br />
Parklet Café Small Café Laneway Café<br />
Curbside/Parklet Café Corner Café Frontage Café<br />
Figure 4-2<br />
STREET FURNITURE<br />
Street furniture includes street trees<br />
and planters, transit shelters,<br />
benches, bicycle parking, information<br />
and wayfinding signs, litter and<br />
recycling bins, multi-publication<br />
boxes, poster kiosks poles and<br />
boards, and automated public toilets.<br />
Ensure street furniture does not<br />
obstruct the pedestrian clearway,<br />
rather locate them in the Furnishing<br />
and Planting Zone or Edge Zone (for<br />
narrower elements), or on private<br />
property using building setbacks and<br />
easements.<br />
LIGHTING<br />
Street lighting supports safety,<br />
pedestrian activity, sense of place,<br />
and economic vitality. It includes<br />
roadway lighting and pedestrianscale<br />
lighting. Pedestrian-scale<br />
lighting for sidewalks and crosswalks<br />
ensures that pedestrians are visible<br />
to motorists and illuminates potential<br />
tripping hazards. Where cycling<br />
facilities are located adjacent to the<br />
sidewalk, these benefits are also<br />
extended to cyclists.<br />
CAFÉS AND MARKETING<br />
An outdoor café is a seating area<br />
located on the sidewalk that is<br />
operated and maintained by an<br />
adjacent restaurant or café owner.<br />
Various types of sidewalk café<br />
configurations are shown in Figure<br />
4.2.<br />
Since pedestrians are given the<br />
highest priority in the Sidewalk Zone,<br />
outdoor cafés or marketing displays<br />
must not infringe on the pedestrian<br />
clearway. Greater clearways are<br />
required in busier pedestrian areas,<br />
so people do not spill onto the<br />
roadway and can comfortably access<br />
and enjoy café, marketing, and<br />
vending areas(see section 4.3 on the<br />
importance of the pedestrian<br />
clearway).<br />
PUBLIC ART, CULTURE AND<br />
HERITAGE<br />
These elements help to celebrate the<br />
culture, history, and sense of place<br />
that makes our communities unique.<br />
Public art, culture and heritage<br />
features enhance the sense of<br />
enjoyment and well-being of people<br />
using city streets. These elements<br />
can include street art, sculptures,<br />
plaques, painted traffic boxes, murals<br />
and heritage buildings, structures or<br />
sites.<br />
ORNAMENTAL PLANTING<br />
Decorative hanging baskets, planters<br />
for trees and landscaping, and other<br />
visually attractive initiatives by local<br />
businesses and communities help to<br />
improve the public realm and create<br />
a sense of place.<br />
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Placemaking on sidewalks may provide<br />
transition space between streets and<br />
destinations for people to gather, linger<br />
and socialize.<br />
Wayfinding helps people orient<br />
themselves and navigate to their<br />
destinations.<br />
An enhanced streetscape in<br />
Scarborough Centre.<br />
CURB AND SIDEWALK<br />
EXTENSIONS<br />
Curb and sidewalk extensions (a.k.a.<br />
bulb-outs or bump-outs) are<br />
extensions of the sidewalk area and/<br />
or landscaped boulevard that<br />
protrude past the normal curb<br />
alignment. They are used for safety,<br />
greening and placemaking purposes<br />
as they can help repurpose space in<br />
the roadway for other much-needed<br />
uses. Uses include stormwater<br />
management and greening,<br />
streetscaping, or multi-unit bicycle<br />
racks depending on context and<br />
ensuring clear sightlines. Consider<br />
curb and sidewalk extensions<br />
wherever there is a permanent<br />
parking lane and consider how to<br />
accommodate cyclists when<br />
introducing curb extensions.<br />
PEDESTRIAN WAYFINDING<br />
Wayfinding systems help people<br />
orient themselves in physical space<br />
and navigate from place to place.<br />
They also help people to identify<br />
landmarks, explore the city and<br />
discover new destinations. The<br />
wayfinding systems are further<br />
supported through signs, printed<br />
maps and mobile devices. Toronto’s<br />
360 Wayfinding Strategy has specific<br />
guidance for on-street pedestrian,<br />
TTC, parks and trails and cyclist<br />
wayfinding systems.<br />
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
Green infrastructure refers to natural<br />
and human-made elements that<br />
provide ecological and hydrological<br />
functions. These environmental<br />
qualities contribute to the<br />
enjoyment, care and value of the<br />
City’s streets and public spaces. Part<br />
of their social and economic benefits<br />
include supporting opportunities for<br />
recreation, leisure and green tourism.<br />
Green elements include street trees,<br />
plantings, bioswales, permeable<br />
materials, and active transportation<br />
facilities. (see Chapter 7 on Green<br />
Infrastructure)<br />
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Utilities, Maintenance, and Operations<br />
4.7<br />
4.7<br />
UTILITIES, MAINTENANCE, AND<br />
OPERATIONS<br />
Create a safe, attractive and functional public realm by coordinating<br />
early on with staff involved in utilities, maintenance, and operations.<br />
Various needs include considering the placement of utilities so that<br />
they can be accessed, upgraded and maintained, while also ensuring<br />
a safe, universally accessible pedestrian clearway and minimizing<br />
conflicts with street furnishings, trees and landscaping. Year-round<br />
maintenance and operations are important to consider upfront to<br />
enable city services to be provided, while coordinating with other<br />
complete streets needs.<br />
PLACEMENT OF UTILITIES<br />
Utilities play a vital role in the city’s<br />
infrastructure system and in our daily<br />
lives. Above ground utilities include<br />
various electrical and telecommunications<br />
wires, fire hydrants, traffic<br />
signal controllers and lighting.<br />
Underground utilities include various<br />
electrical and telecommunications<br />
conduits, water infrastructure and<br />
natural gas mains. Coordinate the<br />
safe access, use and maintenance of<br />
utilities using a complete streets<br />
approach to ensure safe and efficient<br />
operation of city streets and the<br />
utilities. Important considerations<br />
include ways to reduce clutter above<br />
ground and minimize negative<br />
impacts of underground utility repair,<br />
modification and replacement where<br />
possible. Early street project coordination<br />
will maximize opportunities<br />
for well-designed sidewalks that<br />
minimize conflicts among utilities,<br />
street furnishings and landscaping.<br />
YEAR-ROUND MAINTENANCE<br />
AND OPERATIONS<br />
Access to the Furnishing and Planting<br />
Zone and/or Edge Zone is critical for<br />
on-going and seasonal city services<br />
like snow clearing and storage, and<br />
waste and recycling collection.<br />
Sidewalk planning and design must<br />
keep in mind the various needs –<br />
including sweeping, repairs, snow<br />
removal and storage, landscaping<br />
maintenance, and waste<br />
management<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
• City of Toronto. Best Practices for<br />
Effective Lighting. Anticipated 2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Accessibility Design<br />
Guidelines. 2004.<br />
• City of Toronto. Green Streets<br />
Technical Guidelines. 2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto 360°<br />
Wayfinding Strategy. 2012.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Walking<br />
Strategy. 2009.<br />
• City of Toronto. Urban Design<br />
Guidelines. Various dates.<br />
• City of Toronto. Urban Design<br />
Streetscape Manual. 2010.<br />
• City of Toronto. Vibrant Streets:<br />
Toronto’s Coordinated Street<br />
Furniture Program. 2012.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 12:<br />
Traffic Signals. 2012.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 15:<br />
Pedestrian Crossing Facilities. 2016.<br />
• “Street Lighting Construction<br />
Standards.” Toronto Hydro. Accessed<br />
October 18, 2016.<br />
• Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition.<br />
Shade Guidelines. 2010.<br />
• Toronto Hydro. Design and<br />
Construction Guidelines for Street<br />
Lighting. Anticipated 2017.<br />
• Toronto Public Health. Green City:<br />
Why Nature Matters to Health. 2015.<br />
• “Tree Details & Drawings – Trees &<br />
Ravines – Parks, Forestry &<br />
Recreation.” City of Toronto.<br />
Accessed October 18, 2016.<br />
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90 5.1 Cycling Design Principles<br />
92 5.2 Context-sensitive<br />
Cycling Facilities<br />
96 5.3 Key Cycling Elements<br />
Cycling infrastructure provides<br />
choice in how people are able to<br />
move around the city. Cyclists are<br />
vulnerable road users and can be<br />
seriously injured in even minor<br />
collisions, so prioritizing the safety of<br />
cyclists by designing safe streets for<br />
cycling is critical. Streets that feel<br />
unsafe for cycling may also<br />
discourage people from choosing to<br />
ride. For many people, cycling close<br />
to fast moving motor vehicles is<br />
uncomfortable, but well-designed<br />
streets and cycling facilities can<br />
reduce conflicts for all road users and<br />
enhance real and perceived safety.<br />
It is critical to consider safe and<br />
comfortable cycling on all Toronto<br />
streets as part of the street design<br />
process. This includes mitigating<br />
exposure to potential conflict<br />
between cyclists and motor vehicles.<br />
Toronto’s On-Street Bikeway Design<br />
Guidelines and Multi-Use Trail Design<br />
Guidelines provide detailed design<br />
guidance and should be used in the<br />
design of cycling facilities. When<br />
trips are shifted from driving to<br />
cycling, motor vehicle volumes<br />
decrease, which in turn reduces<br />
traffic congestion, as well as air and<br />
noise pollution. Streets with cycling<br />
infrastructure also have the potential<br />
to move more people, at a lower<br />
cost, and with improved public<br />
health outcomes.<br />
5.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
CYCLING<br />
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Cycling Design Principles<br />
5.1<br />
5.1<br />
CYCLING DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
3 4<br />
5<br />
1<br />
3<br />
7<br />
6<br />
2<br />
8<br />
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Cycling Design Principles<br />
5.1<br />
1. Apply context–appropriate<br />
designs. Faster, busier streets create<br />
more risk for cyclists and will need<br />
greater separation and protection for<br />
cyclists. Quiet streets with low traffic<br />
volumes and low speeds may provide<br />
a comfortable cycling experience<br />
without a dedicated cycling facility.<br />
2. Design for both present and<br />
future users. Cycling ridership<br />
numbers will grow if a cycling facility<br />
is provided on a street that was<br />
previously uncomfortable for cycling.<br />
Where cyclist volumes are growing,<br />
consider widening the cycling<br />
facilities.<br />
3. Prioritize the most vulnerable<br />
road users. Vulnerable users can be<br />
seriously injured or killed in even<br />
minor collisions. Think of how to<br />
design facilities for all types of<br />
cyclists, as well as the protection of<br />
pedestrians of all ages and abilities.<br />
Protect pedestrians from cyclists by<br />
providing cycling facilities that are<br />
separated from sidewalks using<br />
design treatments that respond to<br />
both pedestrian and cycling speeds<br />
and volumes. Treatments range from<br />
buffers and physical delineators to<br />
visual contrast and tactile indicators.<br />
4. Visible, intuitive cycling<br />
facilities. Clear delineation of the<br />
cycling path of travel and wayfinding<br />
can improve safety for all road users.<br />
Use pavement markings, signs, grade<br />
change between users and physical<br />
design, like buffers, to mitigate<br />
hazards, such as car doors opening,<br />
or pedestrians walking into bicycle<br />
paths.<br />
5. Intersection safety and mixing<br />
zones. Continue bicycle lane<br />
markings through intersections and<br />
pedestrian crossing markings over<br />
cycling routes and clearly mark<br />
conflict areas. Consider providing<br />
visible, designated space for cyclists<br />
to wait and make turns. Avoid<br />
pedestrian and cyclist mixing zones,<br />
especially at intersections with high<br />
pedestrian volumes.<br />
6. Supply adequate bicycle parking<br />
and Bike Share access. Support and<br />
encourage cycling through Toronto’s<br />
bike sharing system - Bike Share<br />
Toronto, and a convenient and<br />
adequate supply of bicycle parking,<br />
including multi-unit corrals especially<br />
in mixed use, institutional, and<br />
commercial areas.<br />
7. Design and maintain bikefriendly<br />
curbside conditions. Ensure<br />
catch basin covers are bike-friendly,<br />
and that debris, water and ice do not<br />
accumulate where people will be<br />
cycling.<br />
8. Surface conditions. Provide<br />
smooth riding surfaces as much as<br />
possible by re-paving before adding<br />
cycling facilities, and regular<br />
maintenance, such as sweeping and<br />
snow ploughing. Provide pavement<br />
markings that guide cyclists safely<br />
across streetcar tracks.<br />
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Context-Sensitive Cycling Facilities<br />
5.2<br />
5.2<br />
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE<br />
CYCLING FACILITIES<br />
As part of the street design process, a key step is identifying whether<br />
the proposed project is part of the existing or planned Cycling<br />
Network or other area or corridor plans. The Cycling Network Plan<br />
aims to build and connect higher-order cycling routes across the<br />
city. A key benefit is to attract and accommodate a wide range of<br />
cyclists. While the Cycling Network Plan identifies key routes and<br />
their preferred cycling facility type, there is still opportunity to select<br />
and design context-sensitive cycling facilities for streets not yet in the<br />
plan.<br />
Cycling is a year-round activity in Toronto.<br />
c: Jun Nogami<br />
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5.2<br />
CONNECTIVITY<br />
EXISTING CYCLING<br />
BARRIERS<br />
CYCLING<br />
IMPACT<br />
ANALYSIS<br />
SHORT TRIPS<br />
TRIP<br />
GENERATORS<br />
COLLISIONS<br />
COVERAGE<br />
POPULATION<br />
& EMPLOYMENT<br />
DENSITY<br />
Figure 5-1: Considerations for Cycling<br />
Impact Analysis.<br />
For more information on Toronto's<br />
cycling network, visit toronto.ca/<br />
cyclingnetwork<br />
A good starting point for<br />
practitioners is to refer to the Ontario<br />
Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 18, which<br />
guides facility selection based on<br />
motor vehicle operating speed and<br />
average daily traffic volumes. In<br />
addition, it will be important to apply<br />
Toronto’s On-Street Bikeway Design<br />
Guidelines to design for the context<br />
and local conditions. At the outset of<br />
a project, design teams should<br />
consider the:<br />
• Presence of existing or planned<br />
Cycling Network Routes.<br />
• Proximity and potential connections<br />
to the Cycling Network.<br />
• Speed and volume of motor vehicles.<br />
• Street’s proximity to schools, seniors’<br />
homes, or similar institutions, as this<br />
may affect the types of users and the<br />
interaction with pedestrians of all<br />
ages and abilities.<br />
• Existing and potential pedestrian<br />
volumes, as this may affect the<br />
suitability of sidewalk-level cycling<br />
facilities.<br />
• Presence of transit and taxi stands.<br />
• Presence of on-street parking (offpeak,<br />
lay-bys or lanes).<br />
THE CYCLING NETWORK PLAN –<br />
A KEY NETWORK OVERLAY<br />
Toronto’s Ten Year Cycling Network<br />
Plan (2016) is the result of extensive<br />
feasibility analyses, together with<br />
public and stakeholder consultation.<br />
The following technical factors were<br />
combined to rate a route’s cycling<br />
impact and feasibility:<br />
• Current and potential demand:<br />
Number of existing and potential<br />
cycling trips. Number of short trips<br />
by motorists (less than 5km) with a<br />
high potential to shift to cycling.<br />
Areas where cycling volumes have<br />
high growth.<br />
• Population and employment<br />
density: Greater density or new<br />
developments suggests more cycling<br />
trips.<br />
• Network coverage, connectivity,<br />
and barrier crossings: The presence<br />
of gaps in the network or barriers<br />
(e.g. ravines, rail corridors) that a<br />
route could help overcome.<br />
• Trip generators and target<br />
demographics: Assesses whether the<br />
cycling project would improve access<br />
to places many people would like to<br />
access, such as schools, universities,<br />
and transit stations. It also looks at<br />
how well the cycling project would<br />
meet the needs of target<br />
demographics such as women<br />
commuting, tourists, and children<br />
getting to school.<br />
• Safety: Opportunities to improve<br />
cycling safety if the street in question<br />
is known to have a high number of<br />
collisions, or reported traffic safety<br />
issues.<br />
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5.2<br />
No Way, No How<br />
32%<br />
Strong and Fearless<br />
1%<br />
Enthused and<br />
Confident<br />
7%<br />
Interested But<br />
Concerned<br />
60%<br />
Figure 5-2: Designing for Cyclists of All<br />
Types.<br />
source: Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18:<br />
Cycling Facilities (2013). Dill, Jennifer<br />
and McNeil, Nathan (2012). Four types<br />
of cyclists? Examining a typology to<br />
better understand bicycling behavior<br />
and potential. Geller, R. (2006) Four<br />
Types of Cyclists, Portland Bureau of<br />
Transportation.<br />
“Urban edge lines” in Toronto provide<br />
safe riding space for cyclists.<br />
BICYCLE FRIENDLY STREETS<br />
Even in cases where there are no<br />
plans for cycling facilities, the City’s<br />
bicycle friendly streets policies, as set<br />
out in the Toronto Bike Plan (2001),<br />
must be observed. These include<br />
wider curb lane widths, standards for<br />
the construction of bridges/<br />
underpasses, provisions exempting<br />
bicycles from some traffic regulations<br />
and maintaining cycling access<br />
through traffic calming projects,<br />
catch basin cover standards, and<br />
bicycle detection at actuated signals.<br />
Toronto’s Bicycle Friendly Street<br />
Policies are applicable to all street<br />
types.<br />
KEY FACTORS – SPEED AND<br />
VOLUME OF MOTORIZED<br />
TRAFFIC<br />
As mentioned above, the speed and<br />
volume of motorized traffic are key<br />
factors influencing the contextsensitive<br />
design of cycling facilities.<br />
Detailed guidance is provided in<br />
OTM Book 18. Figure 5.3 illustrates<br />
that higher speeds and higher<br />
volumes lead to higher risk to<br />
cyclists, thereby needing more<br />
separation (e.g., wider buffers) and<br />
protection (e.g., physical buffers) for<br />
safe and comfortable conditions for<br />
cyclists of all types (Figure 5.2).<br />
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5.2<br />
0 km/hr 10<br />
Speed<br />
(Motorized Vehicles)<br />
20 30 40<br />
50 60 70<br />
Consider Shared<br />
Roadway<br />
such as<br />
Shared Lane Markings, Wide Curb Lanes,<br />
and Standard Lanes<br />
Consider Designated<br />
Cycling Operating Space<br />
such as<br />
Exclusive Bicycle Lanes<br />
(incl. Separated Lanes and Cycle Tracks)<br />
Consider Separated<br />
Facility<br />
such as<br />
Active Transportation Pathway in Boulevard,<br />
Separated Lanes, and Cycle Tracks<br />
0/day<br />
Volume<br />
(Motorized Vehicles)<br />
15,000+/day<br />
Higher Speed and Volume > Higher Risk > Increase Separation and Protection<br />
Figure 5-3: The Relationship of Traffic Speed and Volume to Types of Cycling Facilities.<br />
Source: Adapted from OTM Book 18.<br />
CYCLIST USER CHARACTERISTICS<br />
In the street design process, it is<br />
critical to consider the characteristics<br />
and needs of existing and potential<br />
users. This includes cyclists of<br />
various ages, skill and comfort levels,<br />
as well as various trip purposes such<br />
as cycling for recreation, commuting<br />
to work or school, and other<br />
utilitarian purposes like shopping or<br />
visiting friends or making deliveries<br />
(e.g., cargo bikes). Important<br />
considerations include the typical<br />
user characteristics, as a starting<br />
point for thinking about the minimum<br />
space needed. The right amount of<br />
space is determined by examining<br />
typical cyclists’ dimensions, space<br />
needed to maneuver, expected<br />
cyclist volumes, speed, road<br />
geometry, topography and the<br />
presence of other users and uses. A<br />
variety of factors influences the<br />
dimensions when designing cycling<br />
facilities. Figure 5.4, adapted from<br />
OTM Book 18, illustrates the<br />
minimum typical user characteristics<br />
for physical space and height.<br />
Physical<br />
0.75m<br />
Edge Line Minimum<br />
1.2 m<br />
Bike Lane Minimum<br />
1.5 m<br />
Bike Lane Desired<br />
1.8 m<br />
Widths<br />
Handlebar<br />
Figure 5-4: Cyclists Operating Space Requirements.<br />
Source: Adapted from OTM Book 18.<br />
Height of adult<br />
standing on pedals<br />
Eye Level<br />
1.1 m<br />
1.5 m<br />
2.5 m<br />
Heights<br />
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5.3<br />
5.3<br />
KEY CYCLING ELEMENTS<br />
Cycling facilities, bicycle parking, Bike Share Toronto, and wayfinding<br />
are key elements that should be considered for complete streets<br />
improvements. Intersection-related topics are covered in Chapter 9<br />
on Intersections design. Cycling facilities can be subdivided into two<br />
categories: those on Fast, Busy Streets and those on Quiet Streets.<br />
Cycling facilities can be between the<br />
sidewalk and the property line when<br />
there are no or few building frontages<br />
and when it connects with a multi-use<br />
trail such as this one in Scarborough.<br />
CYCLING FACILITIES ON FAST,<br />
BUSY STREETS<br />
High motor vehicle speeds and<br />
volumes necessitate dedicated<br />
cycling facilities. Examples include<br />
painted and buffered bicycle lanes,<br />
cycle tracks (separated bicycle lanes<br />
with bollards, planters, or a row of<br />
parked cars between cyclists and<br />
moving traffic), and raised cycling<br />
facilities (e.g., curb protects cyclists<br />
from motorized vehicles, cycling<br />
facility in the boulevard, etc). In any<br />
of these cycling facilities, it is not<br />
lawful for motor vehicles to drive,<br />
stop, stand or park. Exceptions may<br />
be made for taxi pick-up and dropoff<br />
and Wheel Trans boarding.<br />
CYCLING FACILITIES ON<br />
QUIET STREETS<br />
Low motor vehicle volumes and<br />
travel speeds, may provide a<br />
comfortable cycling experience<br />
without a formal cycling facility.<br />
Some Quiet Streets that are part of<br />
the Cycling Network may have<br />
dedicated facilities, or a range of<br />
design features including traffic<br />
calming measures, shared lane<br />
pavement markings, and wayfinding.<br />
If the route is not a designated<br />
“Quiet Street” in the Cycling<br />
Network, consider ways to apply the<br />
City’s Bicycle-Friendly policies. These<br />
include wider curb lane widths,<br />
standards for the construction of<br />
bridges/underpasses, provisions<br />
exempting bicycles from some traffic<br />
regulations and maintaining cycling<br />
access through traffic calming<br />
projects, catch basin cover standards,<br />
and bicycle detection at actuated<br />
signals.<br />
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5.3<br />
Bicycle lanes are only one form of cycling<br />
infrastructure, such as this example in<br />
Etobicoke-York.<br />
Bicycle Lanes Buffered Bicycle Lanes Cycle Tracks Raised Cycling Facilities<br />
Contraflow Bicycle Lanes Routes - Wayfinding Bicycle Friendly Streets<br />
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5.3<br />
Bicycle parking may be seasonal or<br />
permanent depending on context and<br />
demand.<br />
BICYCLE PARKING AND BIKE<br />
SHARE<br />
Travel by bicycle requires an<br />
adequate and convenient supply of<br />
Bike Share Toronto bicycles and<br />
docking stations and bicycle parking<br />
on both private property and in the<br />
public right-of-way. Many types of<br />
bicycle parking exist from ring-andpost,<br />
to bicycle corrals and parking<br />
structures, such as secure bicycle<br />
stations or bicycle lockers. Bicycle<br />
parking in the right-of-way should be<br />
considered on every street type,<br />
except perhaps some<br />
Neighbourhood Residential Streets<br />
and Laneways. It is especially<br />
important on Main Streets and near<br />
destinations, such as in institutional,<br />
mixed-use, and commercial areas.<br />
Consider seasonal changes in<br />
demand for bicycle parking.<br />
Bicycle parking, including the parked<br />
bicycles, must not obstruct the<br />
pedestrian clearway. Also consider<br />
the space needed to access bicycles<br />
while being locked or unlocked.<br />
Bike Share Toronto requires<br />
unobstructed space within or<br />
adjacent to the right-of-way for its<br />
docking stations. Stations must be<br />
connected linearly and wired to a<br />
power source. To optimize station<br />
balance, Bike Share stations are<br />
installed along a 300m grid. The<br />
frequency of stations must be<br />
maintained to ensure connectivity<br />
and accessibility.<br />
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5.3<br />
WAYFINDING<br />
Bicycle wayfinding consists primarily<br />
of signs and pavement markings that<br />
are legible to cyclists while they are<br />
travelling. Directional signs focus on<br />
routes that are included in the<br />
Cycling Network. In addition to<br />
providing information to make travel<br />
simpler and more convenient, the<br />
main benefits of wayfinding include<br />
increased safety by facilitating<br />
decision making in advance of<br />
intersections rather than in<br />
intersections, and greater visibility of<br />
cycling as a viable travel mode.<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
• City of Toronto. City of Toronto Bike<br />
Plan. 2001.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Bikeway<br />
Design Guidelines. Anticipated 2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Cycling<br />
Network Plan. 2016.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Cycling<br />
Wayfinding Strategy. 2015.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Multi-Use<br />
Trail Design Guidelines. 2015.<br />
• CROW-25. Design Manual for Bicycle<br />
Traffic. 2007.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18:<br />
Cycling Facilities. 2013.<br />
• National Association of City<br />
Transportation Officials. Urban<br />
Bikeway Design Guide. 2014.<br />
Bicycle wayfinding provides route<br />
and distance information to facilitate<br />
convenient travel.<br />
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102 6.1 Transit Design Principles<br />
104 6.2 Key Transit Street Elements<br />
106 6.3 Context-Sensitive<br />
Transit Design<br />
As the City of Toronto continues to<br />
grow, it becomes increasingly<br />
important to make public transit an<br />
attractive travel choice for more<br />
people. Buses, streetcars and light<br />
rail vehicles consume far less<br />
roadway space per passenger trip<br />
than a car, and can help relieve<br />
congestion, improve air quality and<br />
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.<br />
The Toronto Transit Commission<br />
(TTC) has over 7,400 km of<br />
on-street streetcar and bus routes<br />
carrying over 1.67 million people<br />
per weekday.<br />
Transit on streets has the potential<br />
to move great numbers of people<br />
quickly to their destinations,<br />
making efficient use of very limited<br />
roadway space. This chapter<br />
outlines ways to support transit<br />
operations to make transit more<br />
convenient, faster and more<br />
reliable. The combination of various<br />
street elements outlined on<br />
following pages and signal<br />
strategies covered in Chapter 9 on<br />
Intersections aim to improve the<br />
quality of surface transit on our<br />
streets.<br />
6.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
TRANSIT<br />
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6.1<br />
TRANSIT DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
9<br />
4<br />
3<br />
6<br />
7<br />
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1<br />
2<br />
8<br />
5<br />
1. Enhance transit users’<br />
experience. Enhance the reliability,<br />
frequency and speed for transit by<br />
prioritizing space for transit and by<br />
implementing signal priority.<br />
Consider ways to improve convenience<br />
and comfort for users through<br />
amenities such as transit shelters, bus<br />
stop landing pads, streetcar<br />
platforms, street furniture, lighting,<br />
greening, public art and real-time<br />
travel and route information.<br />
2. Make connections safe,<br />
convenient, and seamless. Facilitate<br />
ease of transfers among different<br />
transit routes, walking, cycling and<br />
other modes of transportation, such<br />
as sidewalks and crossings to transit<br />
stops, bicycle parking and Bike Share<br />
Toronto, and wayfinding information.<br />
3. Visible, safe and convenient<br />
transit stops. Stops should be<br />
located at signalized intersections, or<br />
at controlled crossings (e.g. PXOs),<br />
as it allows for safe access to stops or<br />
when making route transfers. Locate<br />
stops near pedestrian generators.<br />
move to the front of the queue,<br />
avoiding significant delays. At stops<br />
with adjacent on-street parking,<br />
transit platform bulb-outs can help<br />
people board or alight faster, and<br />
they make it easier for transit vehicles<br />
to pull back into traffic. Remove or<br />
relocate on-street parking away from<br />
a transit stop and supplement it with<br />
traffic signs to ensure the space is<br />
clear for transit vehicles all the time.<br />
6. Traffic signal control strategies.<br />
Traffic signal progression or<br />
coordination aims to provide a wave<br />
of “green lights” on corridors with<br />
on-street transit. Transit signal<br />
priority is another method to<br />
enhance transit performance and<br />
keep transit on schedule. Time-based<br />
turn restrictions can help prevent<br />
significant delays to transit and other<br />
drivers on busy routes.<br />
7. Transit streets are safe for<br />
walking and cycling. Create safe<br />
streets for people to walk and cycle<br />
and safe crossings – as they are most<br />
often the customers who use transit.<br />
4. Universally accessible transit<br />
stops and facilities. Design for all<br />
users, with universal accessibility,<br />
comfort and mobility of passengers<br />
in mind, such as accessible transit<br />
shelters that accomodate the<br />
pedestrian clearway, curb ramps for<br />
new LRT stops, tactile walking<br />
surface indicators on platforms and<br />
at stops delineating raised cycling<br />
facilities, and accessible pedestrian<br />
signals.<br />
5. Curbside design to support<br />
transit efficiency. Where<br />
appropriate, queue-jump lanes<br />
provide opportunities for buses to<br />
8. Transit streets are linear public<br />
spaces. Creating streets as places<br />
will enhance the attractiveness of<br />
transit and its ability to support the<br />
city’s social, economic and<br />
environmental vitality. Repurpose<br />
underutilized space for parklets,<br />
plazas and cafés.<br />
9. Design for growth. As Toronto<br />
continues to grow and develop,<br />
streets can be designed to retain<br />
current riders and attract new riders<br />
through the coordinated planning of<br />
transit expansion and new<br />
development.<br />
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6.2<br />
KEY TRANSIT STREET ELEMENTS<br />
Transit lanes, transit stop and intersection treatments are the three<br />
types of transit facilities that should be considered for complete<br />
street improvements. They may be considered on their own, but<br />
should be combined, while considering their benefits and impacts<br />
on all road users in the street design process. (For transit design<br />
considerations at intersections, such as Queue Jump Lanes, see<br />
Chapter 9 on Intersections.)<br />
Surface transit may be in dedicated<br />
lanes (as above), or as part of the shared<br />
roadway (as below).<br />
DEDICATED OR EXCLUSIVE<br />
TRANSIT LANES<br />
They are marked for transit only<br />
using pavement markings, signs, and<br />
sometimes physical design.<br />
Dedicated transit lanes are typically<br />
used to move the highest volume of<br />
passengers and to support the<br />
highest frequency of transit vehicles.<br />
Even when physically separated,<br />
these lanes may accommodate<br />
emergency vehicles and maintenance<br />
vehicles, with some exceptions.<br />
RESERVED LANES OR SHARED<br />
TRANSIT LANES<br />
Reserved lanes allow any<br />
combination of transit vehicles, taxis,<br />
high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) and<br />
bicycles. Reserved lanes can allow for<br />
greater transit frequency and<br />
reliability on routes with high<br />
ridership and congestion. Shared-use<br />
lanes, where transit moves together<br />
with mixed traffic, are useful<br />
alternatives in many places where<br />
right-of-way space is limited. Transit<br />
service can be improved on shareduse<br />
lanes through geometric design,<br />
signal timing, time of day restrictions,<br />
as well as parking and turn<br />
restrictions. In all cases, lane widths<br />
need to be sufficient to serve transit<br />
vehicles and passengers.<br />
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The cycling facility is level with the<br />
sidewalk for accessible boarding on the<br />
streetcar on Roncesvalles Ave.<br />
TRANSIT STOPS<br />
The location and design of transit<br />
stops has direct implications for the<br />
comfort and convenience of transit<br />
passengers and other users. The<br />
selection of stop locations is<br />
generally guided by the safety and<br />
comfort of transit users, and<br />
minimizing transit delay. Key<br />
considerations for locating stops<br />
include spacing between stops, and<br />
stop location relative to intersections<br />
and land uses, including intensifying<br />
areas. The spacing between stops<br />
should be between 300m and 400m<br />
in most locations to balance access<br />
to transit with travel time for<br />
passengers, though this may vary<br />
based on context. Stops should<br />
generally be at intersections. Stops<br />
should be clear of clutter and<br />
unobstructed for boarding and<br />
alighting.<br />
Signalized intersections are ideal<br />
locations to allow for safe pedestrian<br />
crossings, and the likelihood of<br />
route-transfers. Mid-block bus stops<br />
are recommended only near<br />
significant pedestrian generators,<br />
and where intersections are far away.<br />
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR<br />
TRANSIT STOP DESIGN<br />
• Safety: visibility, lighting, geometry,<br />
reducing conflicts.<br />
• Accessibility: tactile walking surface<br />
indications, sign poles, curb cuts; full<br />
compliance with City Accessibility<br />
Guidelines and the Accessibility for<br />
Ontarians with Disabilities Act<br />
(AODA).<br />
• Comfort: protection from weather,<br />
coordinated street furniture for<br />
waiting passengers, facilitating<br />
transfers with transit information.<br />
• Placemaking: transit stops are<br />
gateways to streets and<br />
neighbourhoods; they should be<br />
legible and provide users with<br />
wayfinding information.<br />
• Integration with transit vehicle<br />
design: the number, type and size of<br />
vehicles that will use the stop may<br />
affect the size of a stop and landing<br />
pads, where transit doors open.<br />
TRANSIT PLATFORM BULB-OUTS<br />
These are curb extensions that align<br />
the surface transit stop with the<br />
parking lane. This lets buses stop and<br />
board transit riders without having to<br />
leave and re-enter the travel lane.<br />
Transit platform bulb-outs help buses<br />
and streetcars move faster and more<br />
reliably by eliminating or reducing<br />
the amount of time lost with traffic<br />
interactions. They also ensure that<br />
the pedestrian clearway remains<br />
unobstructed by transit shelters and<br />
passengers waiting to board.<br />
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6.3<br />
6.3<br />
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE TRANSIT DESIGN<br />
A street’s land use and network context will inform the type of transit<br />
accommodation and priority, whether deciding on travel lanes, stop<br />
design or intersection treatments. In addition, location-specific<br />
information will help address issues such as transit user safety,<br />
comfort, visibility, boarding/disembarking, transfers among routes<br />
and modes, and coordination of transit with land developments.<br />
GENERAL CONTEXT-SENSITIVE<br />
CONSIDERATIONS<br />
• Official Plan rapid transit and surface<br />
transit priority routes (OP Maps 4 and<br />
5)<br />
• Existing and anticipated transit<br />
priority routes, ridership volumes and<br />
vehicle frequency<br />
• Existing and anticipated transit<br />
ridership volumes on the route and<br />
nearby routes under consideration<br />
• Location of current and proposed<br />
stops, including boarding and<br />
alighting volumes<br />
• Other network priorities along the<br />
same route and location (e.g. cycling,<br />
goods movement)<br />
• Existing and potential cycling and<br />
pedestrian volumes<br />
• Transfers between transit routes and<br />
different modes (such as walking and<br />
cycling to take transit or passenger<br />
drop-off/pick-up)<br />
• Total existing and planned street<br />
right-of-way widths (OP Map3)<br />
• Direction of travel: one-way or twoway<br />
• Number of through and turning<br />
vehicle lanes, and their usage<br />
throughout the day<br />
• Speed and volume of motor vehicles,<br />
and traffic congestion management<br />
• Collision data and safety issues<br />
• Presence of on-street parking,<br />
driveways and other curbside uses<br />
• Existing utility infrastructure<br />
• Presence of trees and other greening<br />
functions<br />
• New buildings and developments<br />
• Demographics of existing and<br />
potential transit customers (e.g.<br />
school, college, university, seniors or<br />
tourists)<br />
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Very high-frequency and high-volume<br />
routes may require exclusive transit lanes.<br />
• Access to destinations, especially<br />
special event venues, and transit<br />
rider-generating locations of all kinds<br />
Very high-frequency and very highvolume<br />
services warrant unique<br />
considerations. For example, some<br />
high-volume stops will require<br />
accommodating many waiting<br />
passengers as well as people<br />
boarding and disembarking through<br />
wider sidewalks, or longer platforms<br />
and bus bays to accommodate more<br />
than one bus at a time. Where<br />
several thousand passengers per<br />
hour per direction is expected,<br />
unique and more extensive transit<br />
priority measures may be required,<br />
such as corridor-wide turn<br />
prohibitions, extended stopping<br />
prohibitions, or exclusive transit<br />
lanes. The implementation of<br />
dedicated transit lanes requires<br />
significant investment and planning,<br />
and is determined through<br />
comprehensive feasibility studies.<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
• “Accessibility for Ontarians with<br />
Disabilities Act, 2005, S.O. 2005, c.<br />
11.” e-Laws (Government of<br />
Ontario). Accessed October 24,<br />
2016.<br />
• City of Toronto. Accessibility Design<br />
Guidelines. 2004.<br />
• City of Toronto. Criteria for<br />
Evaluating Request for Queue-Jump<br />
Lanes. Updates underway (in use<br />
internally).<br />
• City of Toronto. Revised Transit Stop<br />
Guidelines. In development,<br />
anticipated 2017.<br />
• Metrolinx. Mobility Hub Guidelines.<br />
2011.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Transit-Supportive Guidelines. 2012.<br />
• National Association of City<br />
Transportation Officials. Transit Street<br />
Design Guide. 2016.<br />
Articulated buses are used on some<br />
of Toronto’s busiest bus routes to<br />
accommodate high demand.<br />
Yonge-Eglinton is one of Metrolinx’s<br />
designated Mobility Hubs, where<br />
seamless mobility and placemaking are<br />
key goals.<br />
c: Public Work<br />
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110 7.1 Green Infrastructure<br />
Design Principles<br />
112 7.2 Context-Sensitive<br />
Green Streets<br />
114 7.3 Key Green Street<br />
Elements<br />
Green infrastructure refers to<br />
natural and human-made elements<br />
that provide ecological and<br />
hydrological functions. In addition<br />
to these functions, green<br />
infrastructure contributes to<br />
making streets more pleasant,<br />
comfortable and sustainable.<br />
Components may include natural<br />
heritage features and systems, park<br />
lands, stormwater management<br />
systems, street trees, urban forests,<br />
natural channels, permeable<br />
surfaces, green roofs, and active<br />
and sustainable transportation<br />
modes.<br />
Through the Toronto Green<br />
Standard, TransformTO, Wet<br />
Weather Flow Management<br />
Guidelines and Toronto’s Strategic<br />
Forest Management Plan, the City<br />
of Toronto has established a wide<br />
range of environmental goals to<br />
address climate change, emissions,<br />
air quality, energy efficiency,<br />
stormwater quality and runoff, and<br />
the urban tree canopy. Green<br />
infrastructure is vital to achieving<br />
the City’s environmental goals and<br />
is as integral to the City as other<br />
infrastructure.<br />
7.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
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7.1<br />
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
1<br />
7<br />
3<br />
6<br />
4<br />
8<br />
5<br />
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2<br />
1. Street trees and landscaping.<br />
Seek ways to incorporate and<br />
provide healthy growing conditions<br />
for trees and/or landscaping to<br />
improve air quality, mitigate urban<br />
heat-island effect, enhance<br />
ecosystem health, and contribute to<br />
community character. Select planting<br />
locations, spacing and design details<br />
(e.g., adequate soil volume, water<br />
and sun access) so that trees and<br />
landscaping will flourish. Trees can<br />
frame and define streets, calm traffic<br />
by visually narrowing the roadway,<br />
and add texture, shade and visual<br />
interest.<br />
2. Stormwater management.<br />
Use a variety of “Low Impact<br />
Development” techniques to<br />
minimize stormwater load on<br />
Toronto’s sewer system and improve<br />
water quality through natural<br />
filtration. Reduce stormwater runoff<br />
and potential flooding of streets and<br />
natural areas. Strategies include<br />
minimizing impervious surfaces, and<br />
promoting infiltration of rainwater<br />
and stormwater runoff.<br />
3. Visibility and safety. Ensure<br />
adequate visibility is maintained,<br />
especially at street corners, traffic<br />
lights, traffic signs, transit stops and<br />
driveways. Where there is vegetation,<br />
ensure maintenance programs<br />
maintain appropriate sightlines.<br />
Clear sightlines are important to the<br />
safety of all road users.<br />
4. Universal accessibility. Design to<br />
promote universal accessibility, such<br />
as through the selection of materials<br />
and elements, to accommodate<br />
people of all ages and abilities. Tree<br />
pits, openings and grates on the<br />
sidewalk are not considered part of<br />
the pedestrian clearway.<br />
5. Operations and maintenance.<br />
Design for ease of maintenance, such<br />
as through passive irrigation,<br />
selecting context-sensitive native<br />
plant species and planning for safe<br />
access to maintain green<br />
infrastructure. Coordinate green<br />
infrastructure with utilities during<br />
design, construction and for the long<br />
term. Seek opportunities to partner<br />
with BIAs and other local<br />
stakeholders to assist with the design<br />
and maintenance of green elements.<br />
6. Achieving multiple<br />
environmental objectives. Consider<br />
ways to combine environmental<br />
design, such as tree canopy<br />
expansion, stormwater retention, and<br />
microclimate moderation into single<br />
street features like roadside rain<br />
gardens.<br />
7. Sustainable energy. Consider<br />
energy generation, use and<br />
management by selecting, designing<br />
and siting street elements such as<br />
solar lighting, parking machines, Bike<br />
Share Stations and street furniture to<br />
contribute to an energy efficient city.<br />
8. Sustainable transportation.<br />
Provide greener, healthier mobility<br />
choices so that more people walk,<br />
bicycle, take public transit and<br />
carpool. Reduce vehicular<br />
congestion, greenhouse gas<br />
emissions and air pollution.<br />
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7.2<br />
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE GREEN STREETS<br />
The Green Streets Technical Guidelines provide a full range of<br />
locations for green infrastructure, along with a selection tool to help<br />
identify the best green infrastructure elements for a given context.<br />
Green streets are designed with attention to the ecological and<br />
hydrological functions of the street, and in particular, to the at-source<br />
treatment of stormwater runoff.<br />
c: Katie Wittmann<br />
Green infrastructure may be provided in a<br />
variety of locations on a street.<br />
Green streets employ green<br />
infrastructure solutions to support<br />
human health and well-being and to<br />
relieve urban pressures on ecological<br />
systems, air quality, energy efficiency<br />
and water resources. Street trees and<br />
other plantings can provide vital and<br />
comfortable microclimates for<br />
humans and habitats for urban<br />
wildlife and pollinator species. Low<br />
Impact Development (LID) facilities<br />
can be designed to replicate the<br />
functions of a natural drainage<br />
system by attenuating and infiltrating<br />
stormwater as close as possible to<br />
where it lands. A holistic approach<br />
can reduce or even eliminate the<br />
need for a conventional stormwater<br />
management system.<br />
Street contexts with adequate space<br />
and limited conflicting demands are<br />
ideal locations for green<br />
infrastructure; however it is possible<br />
to incorporate green infrastructure in<br />
a variety of places within the public<br />
right-of-way:<br />
• Frontage Zone, such as where<br />
buildings are set-back from the street<br />
and sidewalk.<br />
• Planting and Furnishing Zone,<br />
typically between the pedestrian<br />
clearway and edge zone or curb, is<br />
an ideal location for green street<br />
elements as it provides a buffer<br />
between pedestrians and vehicles.<br />
This zone may also make use of<br />
street poles for hanging planters,<br />
trellises and solar panels as long as<br />
adequate visibility and safety are<br />
maintained.<br />
• Curbside in the roadway is where<br />
greening can often be enhanced<br />
through curb extensions, bioswales,<br />
rain gardens, permeable paving on<br />
the curb extension or edge zone,<br />
cycling facilities or parking laybys<br />
and other green street elements.<br />
• Medians or raised islands in the<br />
roadway can be good places to<br />
include trees and other landscaping,<br />
but require special attention to<br />
ensure visibility and safety for<br />
travelers and long-term maintenance.<br />
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7.2<br />
Examples of green streets elements in the<br />
Frontage Zone and in the Planting and<br />
Furnishing Zone.<br />
The following contextual factors are<br />
considered when identifying streets<br />
(and locations on streets) for green<br />
street design:<br />
• Street type – including components<br />
such as intensity of demand from<br />
other users and uses<br />
• Available right-of-way width and<br />
building setbacks<br />
• Site physiography (soil permeability,<br />
topography, depth to water table or<br />
bedrock, soil contamination)<br />
• Surface water flow routes<br />
• Sunlight<br />
• Open space context – adjacent<br />
natural heritage systems, open space<br />
and parks<br />
• Storm drainage infrastructure<br />
• Underground transit infrastructure<br />
• Utilities infrastructure (underground<br />
and overhead)<br />
• Proximity to known flooding<br />
• Urban forest cover<br />
• Watershed context – erosion<br />
vulnerability<br />
• The need and availability of<br />
operation and maintenance<br />
• Curbside accommodations for goods<br />
movement, delivery and loading<br />
• Sightlines and other safety<br />
considerations<br />
• Setbacks from intersections and<br />
other street infrastructure<br />
Some green street elements collect<br />
stormwater from sidewalks and roadways.<br />
Green street elements are sometimes<br />
located curbside or combined with speed<br />
management components.<br />
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7.3<br />
7.3<br />
KEY GREEN STREET ELEMENTS<br />
A wide variety of Green Street Elements are possible in Toronto<br />
to support the goals of sustainable street design. The Green<br />
Streets Technical Guidelines provide a comprehensive list of<br />
green infrastructure options and factors to select features that are<br />
appropriate for a given site context. Two of the most common<br />
options include street trees and landscaping, and Low Impact<br />
Development (LID) practices for stormwater management. These<br />
elements should be considered in the street design process.<br />
South Station Street in Etobicoke-<br />
York is a City of Toronto green streets<br />
demonstration site. It features trees,<br />
landscaping and stormwater retention<br />
components.<br />
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7.3<br />
Some larger sidewalks are candidates for<br />
a double row of trees, like this one on The<br />
Esplanade.<br />
STREET TREES AND<br />
LANDSCAPING<br />
Street trees and landscaping<br />
comprise a number of elements<br />
including groupings of trees, single<br />
trees, shrubs and perennial plants.<br />
Trees and planting materials are most<br />
commonly installed in open<br />
landscape at grade, in planters (that<br />
may double as seating) or in covered<br />
tree pits and may be installed in LID<br />
features such as stormwater tree pits/<br />
trenches, bioswales and rain gardens.<br />
They have numerous benefits related<br />
to ecology, air quality, temperature<br />
moderation, safety, microclimate,<br />
land value, and human well-being.<br />
Toronto City Council has set a goal to<br />
reach 40% tree canopy cover over<br />
the next 40-50 years.<br />
Street trees form a significant part of<br />
the City’s urban forest, and are found<br />
on all types of streets. Consider<br />
enhanced planting conditions for<br />
street trees wherever noticeable<br />
deficiencies or gaps in the tree<br />
canopy are present. Special<br />
engineering solutions are required<br />
for trees in hard boulevard surfaces<br />
to provide adequate soil volumes<br />
and optimum growing conditions.<br />
Urban and drought tolerant plant<br />
materials and native plant species<br />
can facilitate ease of maintenance.<br />
Open planters, tree pits and aboveground<br />
planters are all possible<br />
elements to contain trees and<br />
landscaping on streets, but are not<br />
considered part of the pedestrian<br />
clearway.<br />
Street trees and landscaping are<br />
ideally located where growing<br />
conditions are best, where people<br />
can enjoy them, and where they can<br />
be efficiently maintained. The two<br />
most common locations for tree<br />
plantings are within the Frontage<br />
Zone, and Planting and Furnishing<br />
Zone (see the Chapter 4 on<br />
Pedestrians for the various zones of<br />
the sidewalk and boulevard). See<br />
Section 7.2 for other locations in the<br />
street to include trees and<br />
landscaping.<br />
To successfully incorporate plant<br />
material within a streetscape made of<br />
so many elements, it is essential that<br />
the design team consider planting<br />
conditions and street context as part<br />
of the street design process for<br />
projects. Coordination with utilities<br />
early in the design process is critical.<br />
Consideration should be given to<br />
minimizing conflicts between the<br />
layout of utilities and the planting<br />
plan at the time of construction and<br />
with future growth.<br />
The City of Toronto’s Tree Planting<br />
Solutions in Hard Boulevard Surfaces<br />
and Green Streets Technical<br />
Guidelines provide detailed design<br />
guidance, and should be consulted<br />
throughout the street design process.<br />
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7.3<br />
This green street demonstration site<br />
features a rain garden as part of a new<br />
parkette, that was derived from excess<br />
roadway space at Fairford Ave. and<br />
Coxwell Ave. in East York.<br />
TORONTO CITY COUNCIL<br />
ADOPTED AMENDMENTS TO<br />
TORONTO’S OFFICIAL PLAN TO<br />
INCLUDE IN ITS VISION:<br />
• a healthy natural environment,<br />
including clean air, soil, energy and<br />
water;<br />
• infrastructure and socio-economic<br />
systems that are resilient to<br />
disruptions and climate change;<br />
and,<br />
• a connected system of natural<br />
features and ecological functions<br />
that support biodiversity and<br />
contribute to civic life.<br />
GREEN STORMWATER<br />
MANAGEMENT<br />
INFRASTRUCTURE<br />
Streets form a vital part of Toronto’s<br />
stormwater management<br />
infrastructure. A Green Street in<br />
Toronto is a right-of-way that through<br />
a variety of design and operational<br />
treatments, manages stormwater<br />
at-source and achieves the broad<br />
objectives of the Toronto Green<br />
Standard (2014). Green Streets are<br />
designed with a particular focus on<br />
capturing rainfall, and treating runoff<br />
at the source. This approach is at the<br />
core of “Low Impact Development”.<br />
The City of Toronto’s Green Street<br />
Technical Guidelines (2016) are<br />
intended as the primary source for<br />
technical direction on green<br />
stormwater management.<br />
Green infrastructure designed to<br />
capture rainwater is an emerging and<br />
important part of Toronto’s streets. It<br />
can help minimize stormwater load<br />
on the City’s sewer system, which has<br />
come under increasing pressure with<br />
the frequency and severity of storms.<br />
Green Streets can help to reduce<br />
runoff volumes and manage<br />
stormwater runoff quality. This may<br />
lead to other benefits such as<br />
reduced operating infrastructure<br />
costs, enhanced water quality and<br />
water balance in Toronto’s streams,<br />
rivers and Lake Ontario. Among the<br />
many health and environmental<br />
benefits, green streets can also<br />
provide a more aesthetically pleasing<br />
street and contribute to placemaking.<br />
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7.3<br />
Trees and grass between the sidewalk and<br />
curb is a common green street feature in<br />
Toronto.<br />
An attempt should be made in the<br />
street design process to assess ways<br />
to incorporate green infrastructure in<br />
appropriate parts of the right-of-way.<br />
Design options should weigh the<br />
benefits to other users, the water<br />
cycle and the overall ecosystem.<br />
Furthermore, it is important to<br />
recognize that maintenance is<br />
required to ensure plants can thrive<br />
and infrastructure can maintain its<br />
functionality. Maintenance processes<br />
and owners are required to be clearly<br />
identified and agreed upon as part of<br />
the design process when assessing<br />
the viability of design options.<br />
Maintenance responsibility should be<br />
clear and agreed upon before<br />
moving onto the detailed design<br />
phase.<br />
MORE INFORMATION:<br />
• City of Toronto. Design Guidelines<br />
for ‘Greening’ Surface Parking Lots.<br />
2013. (includes adjacent sidewalk<br />
zone)<br />
• City of Toronto. Green Streets<br />
Technical Guidelines. Anticipated<br />
2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Sustaining &<br />
Expanding the Urban Forest:<br />
Toronto’s Strategic Forest<br />
Management Plan, 2012-2022. 2013.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Street Trees:<br />
Guide to Standard Planting Options.<br />
2010.<br />
• City of Toronto. Tree Planting<br />
Solutions in Hard Boulevard Surfaces:<br />
Best Practices Manual. 2013.<br />
• City of Toronto. Urban Design<br />
Streetscape Manual. 2010.<br />
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and<br />
Housing of Ontario. Provincial Policy<br />
Statement Under the Planning Act.<br />
2014. (includes direction on green<br />
infrastructure)<br />
• Toronto Cancer Prevention Coalition.<br />
Shade Guidelines. 2010.<br />
• “Toronto Green Standard –<br />
Developing Toronto – City Planning.”<br />
City of Toronto. Accessed October<br />
13, 2016.<br />
• Transportation Association of<br />
Canada. Canadian Guide for Greener<br />
Roads. 2015.<br />
Before tree planting on Holbrooke Ave.<br />
in Etobicoke.<br />
After tree planting.<br />
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120 8.1 Roadway Design<br />
Principles<br />
122 8.2 Design for a Multi-Modal<br />
Transportation System<br />
124 8.3 Design for Safety of<br />
Vulnerable Users<br />
126 8.4 Design Using a Target<br />
Speed for the Street Context<br />
128 8.5 Design to Support Placemaking<br />
and Street Context<br />
130 8.6 Rightsizing & Repurposing<br />
Roadway as Complete Streets<br />
132 8.7 Traffic Calming<br />
134 8.8 Roadway Zones<br />
The design of streets has become<br />
more complex over time, especially<br />
given the rapid growth of the city.<br />
As shown in Chapter 1, the roadway<br />
is not just about moving motorized<br />
vehicles – its design affects the<br />
space adjacent to the roadway, as<br />
well as multi-modal access and<br />
mobility, public health, economic<br />
vitality, environmental sustainability<br />
and quality of life.<br />
The roadway (the space between<br />
the curbs) needs to serve various<br />
modes of travel and their access in<br />
an environmentally, socially and<br />
economically sustainable manner.<br />
Roadway design should provide<br />
conditions that foster reliable travel<br />
and safety for all road users,<br />
particularly for the most vulnerable.<br />
This chapter focuses on designing<br />
mid-block portions of roadways.<br />
Intersections are dealt with in<br />
Chapter 9. Topics related to<br />
pedestrians, cycling, transit and<br />
green infrastructure are discussed<br />
in Chapters 4 to 7.<br />
8.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
ROADWAYS<br />
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8.1<br />
8.1<br />
ROADWAY DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
3<br />
1<br />
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8.1<br />
5<br />
2<br />
4<br />
1. Multi-modal transportation. Give<br />
reliable, convenient and attractive<br />
mobility choices to people and<br />
support more efficient, active and<br />
healthier forms of travel (by foot,<br />
bicycle, transit) to reduce vehicular<br />
congestion. Provide emergency<br />
access and operations. Support<br />
goods movement and delivery by<br />
different modes. Identify and support<br />
existing and planned priority<br />
networks for each mode.<br />
2. Safety. Fully consider road users<br />
who are particularly vulnerable in a<br />
crash or in interactions with other<br />
road users, such as pedestrians<br />
(especially children, older adults and<br />
persons with disabilities) and cyclists.<br />
Seek ways to reduce their exposure<br />
to risk (e.g., rightsize travel lanes,<br />
repurpose underused road space and<br />
separate pedestrians from cyclists).<br />
Provide visible, clear and predictable<br />
travel paths for all road users.<br />
3. Context-sensitive target speed<br />
and reliable travel. Create a safer<br />
environment for everyone by using<br />
design to facilitate the intended<br />
speed of travel for drivers based on<br />
the street’s context. Safer speeds and<br />
driver behaviours result in fewer<br />
incidents on the roadway that can<br />
cause delays and vehicular<br />
congestion, which negatively impact<br />
emergency access and goods<br />
movement. Coordinated signals,<br />
along with target speed, can help<br />
improve consistency in travel times.<br />
Peak-hour restrictions for stopping,<br />
parking and turn movements can<br />
improve travel times along key<br />
routes. This helps to manage<br />
demand and road capacity during<br />
peak travel times.<br />
4. Placemaking. Consider existing<br />
and planned land uses, urban form,<br />
and the different uses of the street<br />
(e.g., social and economic activities)<br />
when making decisions about<br />
competing demands for space on the<br />
street. Seek ways to provide space,<br />
for example, through building<br />
setbacks and/or repurposing<br />
underused roadway space for<br />
streetscaping, street trees, street<br />
furniture, café or marketing areas,<br />
parklets, bicycle parking, pedestrian<br />
lighting, snow storage and removal,<br />
etc.<br />
5. Greening and stormwater<br />
management. Limit the area of<br />
impervious materials. Seek ways to<br />
integrate street trees, landscape<br />
features, as well as water retention<br />
and treatment strategies and snow<br />
storage. Promote non-motorized<br />
modes to reduce greenhouse gas<br />
emissions and air and noise pollution.<br />
Use materials that contribute to<br />
sustainability, life-cycle performance<br />
and reduce the urban heat island<br />
effect. See Chapter 7 on Green<br />
Infrastructure for design guidance.<br />
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Design for a Multi-modal Transportation System<br />
8.2<br />
8.2<br />
DESIGN FOR A MULTI-MODAL<br />
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM<br />
In a growing city like Toronto, limited street space is in high demand.<br />
Streets become more efficient when the focus is on moving people<br />
and goods rather than just moving vehicles.<br />
Transit vehicles carry far more<br />
passengers than private automobiles<br />
and should be given priority<br />
wherever practicable to reduce<br />
vehicular congestion. Fewer single<br />
occupant motor vehicles will help<br />
free up space for other purposes,<br />
such as urban goods movement or<br />
placemaking. Design streets to<br />
encourage and support higher<br />
volume and more space efficient<br />
modes like walking, cycling and<br />
public transit, whenever possible.<br />
An example of the efficient use of<br />
space to increase person capacity is<br />
the improvement to the Richmond-<br />
Adelaide corridor - converting a<br />
travel lane to a protected bicycle<br />
lane led to an increase to overall<br />
person capacity. Evaluations of such<br />
projects are important to monitor<br />
person capacity, traffic operation and<br />
impacts on emergency response.<br />
c: TTC<br />
Figure 8-1: Toronto Version of the famous Munster, Germany graphic illustrating space requirements between autos and transit.<br />
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8.2<br />
Figure 8-2: Road space required per<br />
passenger for various travel modes.<br />
Street space requirements increase with<br />
vehicle speeds, as faster vehicles require<br />
more “shy distance” between them and<br />
other objects. Space requirements also<br />
decline with more space efficient modes<br />
like walking, cycling and taking transit.<br />
An automobile on an urban arterial<br />
requires about 20 times as much space<br />
as a pedestrian or transit passenger, and<br />
five times as much as a cyclist.<br />
transit<br />
1m 2 /second<br />
walking<br />
1m 2 /second<br />
cycling<br />
4m 2 /second<br />
single occupant automobile<br />
19m 2 /second<br />
source: Adapted from Litman, T. August<br />
2015. “Evaluating Complete Streets”.<br />
Assumes typical dimension and travel<br />
speeds of walking (5km/h), cycling<br />
(15km/h), transit (25km/h) and auto<br />
(30km/h), with bus transit occupancy<br />
at 60% or 30 passengers and 1.2<br />
passengers per automobile.<br />
1 person per car<br />
(typical single<br />
occupant vehicle)<br />
50 people per bus<br />
130 riders per new streetcar<br />
Figure 8-3: Mode Priority and<br />
Capacity. For longer trips, transit can<br />
move far more people and with greater<br />
efficiency than single occupant motor<br />
vehicles.<br />
source: Metrolinx, TTC<br />
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Design for Safety of Vulnerable Users<br />
8.3<br />
8.3<br />
DESIGN FOR SAFETY OF<br />
VULNERABLE USERS<br />
Vulnerable users such as pedestrians, especially children, the older<br />
adults and people with disabilities are the priority. Pedestrians are<br />
more vulnerable to serious injury or death in motor vehicle collisions,<br />
as well as in interactions with cyclists given the differential in mass,<br />
speed and momentum. Pedestrians and cyclists are at greater risk of<br />
injury and mortality during a collision than motor vehicle occupants.<br />
Reducing speed is a critical aspect to improve safety for the most<br />
vulnerable.<br />
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road<br />
users.<br />
Street design teams shall consider<br />
the safety of vulnerable users<br />
throughout every stage of the street<br />
project delivery process and design<br />
strategies that take into account<br />
street context such as:<br />
• Lowering speeds to reduce severe<br />
injuries and deaths in the event of a<br />
crash.<br />
• Rightsizing travel lanes to meet<br />
target speeds for the street’s context.<br />
• Prioritizing the safety of pedestrians,<br />
who are the most vulnerable of road<br />
users, especially children, older<br />
adults and persons with disabilities<br />
(e.g. mobility, vision, cognitive, and<br />
balance issues). Assess risks for the<br />
most vulnerable users, ensure<br />
dedicated space and reduce<br />
exposure to faster modes that may<br />
harm or injure pedestrians.<br />
• Shortening crossing distances and<br />
exposure of vulnerable users to<br />
vehicles in the roadway.<br />
• Increasing and ensuring the visibility<br />
of pedestrians and cyclists to drivers.<br />
• Curb extensions and rightsizing<br />
intersection corners to address<br />
turning speeds.<br />
• Separation between different users,<br />
and greater separation with<br />
increasing speeds.<br />
• Bicycle facilities designed according<br />
to context and to make cyclists more<br />
visible to turning motor vehicles.<br />
• Placement and design of elements to<br />
reduce the opportunity for crime and<br />
fear of crime, such as the principles in<br />
the Safer City Guidelines and Crime<br />
Prevention Through Environmental<br />
Design (CPTED).<br />
Cyclists are also vulnerable road users<br />
and have a high risk of injury and<br />
mortality during a collision with motor<br />
vehicles.<br />
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8.3<br />
Figure 8-4: Mass of Various Street Users.<br />
The severity of a crash increases as the<br />
mass and/or the speed increases. The<br />
lighter of the two objects will always<br />
sustain the more severe injuries or<br />
damage.<br />
Bus/Streetcar<br />
11,000 - 48,000 kg<br />
Automobile<br />
900 kg - 2000 kg<br />
Cyclist<br />
70 - 125 kg<br />
Pedestrian<br />
10 - 110 kg<br />
source: Adapted from NACTO Urban<br />
Street Design Guide.<br />
VEHICLE SPEED, STOPPING DISTANCE, AND CHANCE OF SURVIVAL<br />
30<br />
km/h<br />
40<br />
km/h<br />
50<br />
km/h<br />
60<br />
km/h<br />
70<br />
km/h<br />
21m 9m<br />
stopping distance*=30m (5 car lengths)<br />
28m<br />
17m<br />
stopping distance*=45m (8 car lengths)<br />
35m<br />
28m<br />
stopping distance*=63m (11 car lengths)<br />
42m<br />
stopping distance*=85m (15 car lengths)<br />
49m<br />
stopping distance*=111m (20 car lengths)<br />
9 in 10 chance of survival<br />
7 in 10 chance of survival<br />
43m<br />
1.5 in 10 chance of survival<br />
62m<br />
0.5 in 10 chance of survival<br />
Figure 8-5: Vehicle Speed, Stopping<br />
Distance, and Chance of Survival. Higher<br />
motor vehicle speeds directly correlate<br />
with slower driver reaction time and<br />
increased risk of serious injury or death to<br />
vulnerable users upon collision.<br />
0 in 10 chance of survival<br />
Thinking distance<br />
Braking distance<br />
*Stopping distances during wet conditions. Single car length=5.6m. Based on a 2.5s reaction time, representing 90th percentile of drivers.<br />
*Stopping distances during wet<br />
conditions. Single car length=5.6m.<br />
Based on a 2.5s reaction time,<br />
representing 90th percentile of drivers.<br />
source: Adapted from World Health Organization, 2008. Speed management: a road<br />
safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners.<br />
Transportation Association of Canada, 2011. Geometric Design Guide for Canadian<br />
Roads Part 1. 1.2.5.2 - 1.2.5.4.<br />
source: Adapted from World Health Organization, 2008. Speed management: a road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners.<br />
Transportation Association of Canada, 2011. Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads Part 1. 1.2.5.2 - 1.2.5.4.<br />
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8.4<br />
8.4<br />
DESIGN USING A TARGET SPEED<br />
FOR THE STREET CONTEXT<br />
The speed at which vehicles are travelling is a central factor in the<br />
ability to avoid collisions and the severity of crashes should they<br />
occur. Target speed is the intended speed of travel for drivers based<br />
on the street’s context.<br />
Reduced corner radii help to slow turning<br />
traffic.<br />
Lower speeds increase a driver’s field<br />
of view and decrease their stopping<br />
distance. For example, safe speeds<br />
around schools or busy pedestrian<br />
areas will need to be lower than on<br />
wide streets with large setbacks or<br />
land uses that do not generate many<br />
trips.<br />
Street design is always more effective<br />
in shaping behaviour than posted<br />
speed limits. Incorporate context<br />
sensitive design feature when<br />
redesigning streets to achieve the<br />
intended target (posted) speed for<br />
the context. More consistent travel<br />
speeds support reliable and smooth<br />
traffic flows for all road users, and can<br />
help reduce incidences on roadways<br />
which cause delays and traffic<br />
congestion.<br />
Examples of mid-block design<br />
measures to achieve target speed<br />
based on street context include:<br />
• Rightsizing lane widths mid-block<br />
and rightsizing turning radii.<br />
• Mid-block curb extensions to<br />
rightsize roadway (e.g., pinch points<br />
to reduce vehicular speeds).<br />
• On-street bicycle or motor vehicle<br />
parking.<br />
• Trees and other vertical elements<br />
(“cause visual friction”).<br />
• Presence of pedestrians and cyclists,<br />
and facilities that support them.<br />
• Signals synchronized to target<br />
(posted) speed.<br />
Mid-block curb extensions help reduce<br />
vehicle speeds.<br />
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Street Design for Roadways<br />
Design Using a Target Speed for the Street Context<br />
8.4<br />
Speed<br />
+<br />
+++<br />
Field<br />
of Vision<br />
22 0<br />
100 km/h<br />
30 0<br />
80 km/h<br />
++<br />
++<br />
80 0<br />
120 0<br />
30 km/h<br />
+++<br />
+<br />
0 km/h<br />
Figure 8-6: Speed and Field of Vision<br />
Speed is especially lethal to vulnerable users like people walking or riding a bicycle. The<br />
Speed risk of severe is especially injury increases lethal to as vulnerable a driver’s field users of like vision people narrows walking and misses or riding potential a bicycle. The risk of severe<br />
injury hazards. increases Field of as vision a driver’s is the area field a of person vision sees narrows when and their misses eyes are potential fixed in one hazards. position.<br />
source: base image: mark.watmough flickr: cc.2.0; Federal Motor Carrier Safety<br />
Administration; DTAH<br />
source: base image: mark.watmough flickr: cc.2.0; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; DTAH<br />
CONVENTIONAL<br />
40 km/h 50 km/h<br />
POSTED<br />
DESIGN<br />
CONTEXT SENSITIVE<br />
40 km/h<br />
Figure 8-7: Target Speed<br />
Conventional street design considers a posted maximum speed as lower than the<br />
design speed. Context-sensitive design promotes that the street includes elements<br />
so that both are the same, so that drivers are not comfortable exceeding the intended<br />
posted speed.<br />
source: NACTO ; ITE; FHWA; DTAH<br />
POSTED=DESIGN<br />
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8.5<br />
8.5<br />
DESIGN TO SUPPORT PLACEMAKING<br />
AND STREET CONTEXT<br />
Placemaking is the act of creating public spaces that contribute to<br />
the location’s unique character. It often involves diverse tactics such<br />
as streetscape improvements and event programming to attract<br />
social and economic activities to an area like a Main Street. When<br />
redesigning Toronto streets, respond to the existing and planned<br />
context— taking into account the land uses, buildings, front yard<br />
setbacks, activities on the street, and public spaces adjacent to the<br />
street itself.<br />
Roadways contribute to placemaking when<br />
their design responds to an area’s unique<br />
social and cultural importance.<br />
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8.5<br />
Some underutilized roadways in Toronto<br />
have been repurposed to meet an<br />
area’s placemaking, mobility and safety<br />
objectives.<br />
c: Courtesy of Waterfront Toronto<br />
Traditional roadway design focused<br />
on a “centreline-out” approach<br />
where the basis of street design<br />
began from the center of the<br />
roadway, meeting the vehicle needs<br />
first without an understanding of the<br />
context that the street exists within.<br />
A best practice for transportation<br />
engineering is to take a more holistic<br />
approach – one that looks at the<br />
whole street from building face to<br />
building face. Taking a holistic view<br />
of streets means applying a “building<br />
in” perspective that first looks at the<br />
adjacent land uses and users of the<br />
street, and then the curb to curb<br />
portion of the street. Street context<br />
informs the priority functions and<br />
uses of the street, as well as details<br />
such as choice and quality of<br />
materials, need for furnishings, user<br />
amenities and greening schemes.<br />
Local context becomes a critical<br />
input. Context can range from<br />
industrial employment areas to<br />
mixed use areas to residential. Street<br />
context will inform the priority<br />
functions and uses of the street, as<br />
well as details such as choice and<br />
quality of materials, need for<br />
placemaking and furnishings and<br />
user amenities, and greening<br />
schemes.<br />
Street projects will account for<br />
placemaking and context by:<br />
• Assessing the street from a holistic<br />
perspective (building face to building<br />
face), taking into account the<br />
adjacent land uses, ground floor uses<br />
and setbacks of a street together<br />
with designing the roadway or curbto-curb<br />
portion of the street.<br />
• Using information in Chapter 2 on<br />
Street Types and data inputs such as<br />
maps and overlays to identify and<br />
understand a project area’s context<br />
(both existing and planned land uses<br />
and priority networks, e.g., for<br />
transit, cycling and goods<br />
movement).<br />
• Using consultation and engagement,<br />
as outlined in Chapter 3 on the steps<br />
to designing streets to obtain input<br />
on a project’s street context.<br />
• Developing a full profile of the<br />
street’s current and future context,<br />
uses and various users of the street<br />
and developing a priority for space<br />
allocation for the street.<br />
• Seeking ways to enhance and<br />
support the unique character, e.g.,<br />
social and cultural aspects of the<br />
location of a street, such as designing<br />
public spaces for lingering and<br />
respite, not just movement. For<br />
example, curb extensions on side<br />
streets enable seating and plantings<br />
to enhance local character. Street<br />
furniture, pedestrian scale lighting<br />
and public art will also contribute to<br />
the identity of a street.<br />
• Looking at strategies that include use<br />
of building setbacks and/or<br />
repurposing underutilized roadway<br />
space for placemaking objectives for<br />
a street’s context.<br />
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8.6<br />
8.6<br />
RIGHTSIZING & REPURPOSING<br />
ROADWAYS AS COMPLETE STREETS<br />
On many streets, a key objective is to observe what space is not<br />
being used effectively and to rightsize and repurpose the space to<br />
achieve complete streets goals.<br />
Curb extensions provide space for green<br />
infrastructure and street furniture.<br />
St. George Street lanes were repurposed<br />
to widen sidewalks, add green<br />
infrastructure, and improve safety for all.<br />
Rightsizing and repurposing roadway<br />
space essentially involves the<br />
following approach:<br />
• Observing and thinking critically<br />
about the required space needed by<br />
various road users to enable safe<br />
mobility and access (see Chapters 4<br />
to 9 on each component related to<br />
pedestrians, cycling, transit, green<br />
infrastructure, roadways and<br />
intersections).<br />
• Ensuring that excess space is not<br />
provided for any one mode to the<br />
detriment of the safety of other<br />
modes and/or street project<br />
objectives such as safety and target<br />
speed, active and sustainable<br />
transportation options, placemaking,<br />
greening or universal design and<br />
accessibility.<br />
• Gathering all of the relevant<br />
background information on a street’s<br />
context and evaluating design<br />
options against the complete streets<br />
goals and street project objectives<br />
developed through the street design<br />
process outlined in Chapter 3.<br />
• Developing and evaluating street<br />
design options, and finalizing the<br />
reallocation of space in the roadway.<br />
Rightsizing and repurposing roadway<br />
space involves redesigning the<br />
physical space and using geometric<br />
design to improve safety conditions<br />
for everyone using the street. Design<br />
techniques include:<br />
• Curb extensions mid-block or at<br />
intersections.<br />
• Chicanes (or road narrowings) such as<br />
using on-street parking, or curb<br />
extensions, that alternate on a street.<br />
• Reconfiguring four lanes into three,<br />
with the shared turn lane as the<br />
middle lane.<br />
• Reviewing for adequate corner radii<br />
for truck routes or transit vehicles.<br />
• Rightsizing vehicular lanes and<br />
repurposing space to on-street<br />
parking and/or bicycle lanes and/or<br />
widened sidewalks and boulevards.<br />
• Rightsizing pavement and<br />
repurposing space to add or widen a<br />
sidewalk and/or boulevard where<br />
there is none to provide for safe<br />
space for pedestrians and universal<br />
accessibility.<br />
• Repurpose or redesign sidewalks and<br />
boulevards to ensure that the<br />
pedestrian clearway is not cluttered<br />
or obstructed, such as by moving a<br />
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transit shelter to the back of a<br />
sidewalk onto private property<br />
through an easement or providing<br />
outdoor café patio seating using a<br />
parklet.<br />
Repurposed roadway space to improve<br />
cycling facilities on Sherbourne Street.<br />
Potential co-benefits of rightsizing<br />
and repurposing roadway space<br />
include opportunities for landscaping<br />
and stormwater management if the<br />
features enable greening or the use<br />
of permeable surfaces. All of the<br />
above and previously described<br />
design techniques will also take into<br />
consideration the accommodation of<br />
emergency vehicles and year-round<br />
operations and maintenance. By<br />
increasing perceptions and<br />
experiences of safety and<br />
repurposing space to other uses such<br />
as placemaking, more people may<br />
walk and cycle in the neighbourhood<br />
or frequent local businesses to<br />
support local economic<br />
development.<br />
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8.7<br />
8.7<br />
TRAFFIC CALMING<br />
In Toronto, traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps or<br />
diverters may only be used on local and collector roads. The City’s<br />
Traffic Calming Policy (2010) defines traffic calming measures as well<br />
as the criteria and process for applying them to streets. The purpose<br />
of traffic calming devices is to alter drivers’ behaviour and to improve<br />
road safety. The need for these devices is often an indication that<br />
the street is not well-designed to achieve its desired target speed for<br />
vehicles. The better approach is to seek opportunities through street<br />
redesign projects to rightsize and repurpose street space to achieve<br />
complete streets objectives. When implementing traffic calming,<br />
treatments intended to curtail motor vehicles should exempt<br />
cyclists, not be located on transit routes and should accommodate<br />
emergency vehicles and winter maintenance requirements.<br />
Traffic calming on Armadale Avenue in<br />
Etobicoke using a raised concrete island.<br />
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Speed humps on Falstaff Avenue<br />
in Etobicoke.<br />
Speed humps and traffic island on<br />
Logan Avenue.<br />
Treatments curtailing motor vehicles<br />
should exempt cyclists.<br />
c: Marcus Mitanis<br />
Traffic island on Armadale Avenue.<br />
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8.8<br />
ROADWAY ZONES<br />
The roadway is generally defined as the space between the curbs. It<br />
functions primarily to support the movement of people and goods<br />
by various modes, including transit, bicycles, and motorized vehicles.<br />
The roadway may also include parking or loading areas, greening,<br />
placemaking (such as parklets in the curb lane) and other uses.<br />
The roadway may include a number, but not necessarily all, of the<br />
following elements:<br />
5<br />
2<br />
1<br />
4<br />
1. Curbside Space. The area next to the curb<br />
is the space that is often in high demand by<br />
diverse and competing uses, such as cycling<br />
facilities, public transit (boarding/disembarking),<br />
accessible parking, parking/pick up/drop-off,<br />
delivery vehicles, driveways, access to buildings,<br />
on-street parking of various types, parklets or<br />
curb extensions, waste/recycling collection and<br />
snow storage.<br />
2. Transit Lanes. These lanes, if present,<br />
could share a centre or curb lane with other<br />
vehicles (for example High Occupancy<br />
Vehicle Lanes) or act as fully dedicated<br />
transit only lanes or facilities. The width<br />
of these lanes will need to accommodate<br />
transit vehicles (buses, streetcar, or light rail<br />
transit). See Chapter 6 on Transit for design<br />
guidance.<br />
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3<br />
2<br />
4 5<br />
3. Turn Lanes and/or Medians. If<br />
present, painted or built medians<br />
in the centre of the roadway may<br />
provide for a number of different<br />
uses including lane separation, Left<br />
Turning Lanes, Pedestrian Crossing<br />
Islands, and space for streetscape<br />
elements on wider medians such as<br />
planting, public art and public space<br />
(e.g. University Avenue).<br />
4. Vehicle Lanes. These lanes<br />
serve vehicular movement,<br />
including thru and turning<br />
movements. The width of the<br />
lanes depends on many factors<br />
and is informed by street<br />
context and priority network<br />
requirements such as transit<br />
routes or routes with high truck<br />
volumes.<br />
5. Cycling Infrastructure. Depending on<br />
the street’s context (including vehicular<br />
speeds and volumes), there may be<br />
cycling facilities in the roadway that are<br />
demarcated by pavement or physical<br />
separation from moving motor vehicles.<br />
Depending on the context, these cycling<br />
facilities may be located curbside, or<br />
separated from the curb by a row of<br />
on-street parking. See Chapter 5 on<br />
Cycling for design guidance.<br />
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2.00<br />
2.54<br />
2.60<br />
2.65<br />
3.20<br />
Figure 8-8: Drawing of Typical Road User Dimensions for four different types of vehicles:<br />
cars, delivery trucks, fire trucks and TTC buses.<br />
Context is a key factor in the City’s<br />
approach to vehicle lane widths.<br />
Signal retiming is an important part of the<br />
City’s Congestion Management Plan.<br />
VEHICLE LANES<br />
Vehicle lanes are typically striped to<br />
delineate the path of travel for<br />
vehicles along a street. They serve<br />
the movement of people and goods<br />
by various modes. The City of<br />
Toronto’s Lane Width Guidelines<br />
provide guidance on selecting the<br />
context-appropriate lane widths in<br />
order to improve safety, consider all<br />
road users, and balance roadway<br />
space for other competing uses.<br />
Travel lane widths can range from<br />
3.0m to 3.5m depending on context<br />
and constraints, including land uses;<br />
presence of pedestrians, cyclists, and<br />
transit; truck volumes; emergency<br />
services; posted speed; on-street<br />
parking; etc.. Curb lane widths<br />
depend on whether there are cycling<br />
facilities – if there are not dedicated<br />
cycling facilities, the curb lane width<br />
should still be designed to enable a<br />
car to safely pass a cyclist on the<br />
roadway.<br />
HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE<br />
(HOV) LANES<br />
Lanes marked with signs and<br />
markings to indicate which vehicles<br />
are permitted to travel in the lanes.<br />
HOV lanes are intended to provide<br />
travel time incentives to people who<br />
carpool, use public transit or ride<br />
taxis, motorcycles or bicycles, so that<br />
limited space on city streets is<br />
optimized by moving more people in<br />
HOV lanes as well as reducing<br />
emissions and air pollution. HOV<br />
lanes are accompanied by hours of<br />
operation (typically during morning<br />
and afternoon peak travel times) and<br />
occupancy requirements that<br />
consider efficiency and use of the<br />
lanes. The City’s Congestion<br />
Management Plan includes reviewing<br />
HOV lane locations and ways to<br />
improve their use and benefits.<br />
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The City uses real time data to manage<br />
traffic congestion.<br />
CONGESTION MANAGEMENT<br />
The City of Toronto’s Congestion<br />
Management Plan 2014-2018 sets<br />
out numerous activities to manage<br />
traffic congestion to benefit<br />
travellers, businesses and the<br />
environment. These include traffic<br />
management on arterial roads (e.g.,<br />
Main Streets, Mixed Use Connectors,<br />
etc.) and using different technologies<br />
(e.g., intelligent transportation<br />
systems, upgrading the city’s signal<br />
system) and partnerships to improve<br />
efficiency and coordination on the<br />
City’s transportation network.<br />
EMERGENCY SERVICES AND<br />
OPERATIONS<br />
Roadway design must consider the<br />
space and operational needs of first<br />
responders such as fire, paramedics<br />
and police. Fire trucks are the largest<br />
emergency response vehicles and<br />
need accommodation in the design<br />
of roadways. They must have<br />
adequate space in the roadway to<br />
access structures and fire routes;<br />
deploy apparatus, equipment, and<br />
personnel safely and efficiently; and<br />
provide passable (drivable) space to<br />
ensure effective, timely and safe<br />
emergency response. For example,<br />
in some instances, the transitway may<br />
be used as a route for first<br />
responders.<br />
One of the potential benefits of the<br />
complete streets approach is to<br />
improve safety of all road users and<br />
to reduce the incidence and severity<br />
of crashes to which paramedics,<br />
police and fire must respond.<br />
Collaborative and innovative efforts<br />
exist among city departments to<br />
address response times, including<br />
system planning for dispatch<br />
locations, use of real-time data for<br />
traffic congestion, navigation<br />
technologies, signal operations and<br />
street design considerations.<br />
Space efficient modes help to reduce<br />
motor vehicle congestion.<br />
Designs must consider the space and<br />
operational needs of fire services and<br />
paramedics.<br />
c: DTAH<br />
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Taxi stands are one of the many potential<br />
curbside uses. Curbside space will vary<br />
based on context, and may be flexible<br />
by time of day, season, or location on the<br />
block.<br />
On-street parking in a lay-by.<br />
Seasonal bike parking corral.<br />
CURBSIDE SPACE<br />
The area next to the curb is in high<br />
demand for many different uses<br />
including access and movement. The<br />
uses will vary widely depending on<br />
street context and span transit lanes;<br />
on-street parking for bicycles,<br />
motorcycles, and automobiles;<br />
loading/unloading for goods; pick up<br />
and drop off including accessible<br />
boarding and disembarking; taxi<br />
stands, food trucks; parking for film,<br />
music and tourism; and collection<br />
and storage of snow and solid waste/<br />
recycling. It can also be used for an<br />
extension of the sidewalk and<br />
boulevard zone, for example for<br />
parklets. Depending on street<br />
context, it can also be space that is<br />
used for mobility options for<br />
dedicated cycling facilities, transit<br />
lanes and stops or high occupancy<br />
vehicle lanes. This space can also be<br />
treated in a flexible manner through<br />
regulation (time of day restrictions for<br />
parking) and/or street design (e.g.<br />
curb extensions, parklets or laybys).<br />
Since there are many demands from<br />
many users for the limited space in<br />
this zone, curbside design and<br />
management often involves making<br />
collaborative trade-offs. It begins<br />
with an understanding of the<br />
competing demands for its use and<br />
the overall context, including the use<br />
and design of the whole street such<br />
as the adjacent buildings and public<br />
spaces.<br />
PARKING<br />
Parking serves an important need for<br />
motorists, persons with disabilities<br />
and cyclists as well as for the film,<br />
music and tourism industries,<br />
accessing destinations and can be<br />
supplied off-street (e.g., parking lots<br />
or garages) and on-street (e.g.,<br />
temporary, pick up/drop off spots,<br />
metered or permitted parking).<br />
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Medians help to manage access and<br />
provide space for green infrastructure. It is<br />
critical to consider impacts on emergency<br />
access, maintenance access and costs.<br />
Landscaped mid-block curb extensions.<br />
Traffic island with seating for transit users<br />
and new tree plantings.<br />
CURB EXTENSIONS (MID-BLOCK)<br />
A curb extension is where the curb<br />
extends out and expands the<br />
sidewalk beyond the typical curb<br />
alignment. Curb extensions should<br />
be considered where on-street<br />
parking exists, as the extensions can<br />
be on either side of the on-street<br />
parking and provide street space for<br />
features such as benches, trees and<br />
plantings (for stormwater<br />
management), surface transit stops,<br />
and multi-unit bicycle racks to<br />
increase parking. Curb extensions<br />
also provide an unobstructed<br />
location for fire hydrants that do not<br />
have the risk of access being blocked<br />
by illegally parked cars. When street<br />
elements are installed in curb<br />
extensions, it is important to plan<br />
and design to maintain sightlines for<br />
safety.<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVERS, MID-<br />
BLOCK CROSSWALKS, AND<br />
PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ISLANDS<br />
These are discussed in Chapter 4 on<br />
Pedestrians.<br />
MEDIANS OR RAISED ISLANDS<br />
Medians or raised islands separate<br />
lanes or directions of traffic within the<br />
roadway using pavement markings or<br />
raised concrete islands. Medians may<br />
be applied for different reasons –<br />
they can be used to manage or<br />
restrict access, provide space for turn<br />
lanes (and turning vehicles), facilitate<br />
pedestrian crossings, placemaking<br />
and provide space for greening.<br />
Their application and dimensions<br />
depend on many considerations.<br />
Since medians typically require a<br />
wider right-of-way, the practitioner<br />
needs to weigh the benefits of a<br />
median against using the space to<br />
support other uses and facilities (e.g.,<br />
curb extensions, cycling facilities,<br />
sidewalk and boulevard widening for<br />
pedestrians and streetscaping). In<br />
addition, medians or raised islands<br />
can impact emergency vehicles<br />
accessing properties and intersecting<br />
side streets, which should be<br />
considered in design options.<br />
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5.0.0<br />
The design and installation of “soil cells”,<br />
HEADING<br />
the underground system to help trees<br />
grow, must be coordinated with the<br />
location and access of any underground<br />
utilities.<br />
Mixed Use Access Streets are found mostly in non-residential areas<br />
within the Core and the Centres. They are generally smaller than<br />
Core & Centres Main Streets, and for the most part they perform a<br />
service function. Buildings are of various uses and do not typically<br />
have their front door on these streets.<br />
Street lighting supports road safety and<br />
personal security.<br />
LIGHTING<br />
Street lighting is directed towards<br />
roadways and also sidewalks, and is<br />
critical at intersections and<br />
crosswalks. Lighting supports road<br />
safety for all users and enables road<br />
users to see each other. Streets with<br />
higher intensity of use, such as Civic<br />
Streets and Main Streets, will have<br />
higher illumination levels than lower<br />
intensity streets, such as Park Streets<br />
and Residential Streets, which<br />
receive lower illumination levels.<br />
UTILITIES AND THE ROADWAY<br />
ZONE<br />
Utilities in the roadway can be found<br />
at the surface (e.g., catch basins) and<br />
below ground (e.g., pipes, ducts,<br />
conduits and chambers for water,<br />
wastewater, stormwater, electric,<br />
telecommunication, and gas).<br />
Proactive planning and coordination<br />
among various city partners, external<br />
organizations and developers will<br />
help identify opportunities to site<br />
utility elements where they will<br />
support design objectives and<br />
operational expectations. It is<br />
essential to address utility design and<br />
engage utility companies early in the<br />
street design process.<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
• AARP. Evaluating Complete Streets<br />
Projects: A guide for practitioners.<br />
2015.<br />
• City of Toronto. Best Practices for<br />
Effective Lighting. Anticipated 2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Toronto Safer City<br />
Guidelines. 1997.<br />
• City of Toronto. Traffic Calming Policy<br />
2010. 2010.<br />
• Dumbaugh, E., Tumlin, J., and<br />
Marshall, W. “Decisions, Values and<br />
Data: Measuring Bias in<br />
Transportation Performance<br />
Measures”. ITE Journal. 2014.<br />
• “Global Road Safety Partnership.”<br />
Global Road Safety Partnership.<br />
Accessed October 13, 2016.<br />
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8.8<br />
• “Highway Safety Manual.” American<br />
Association of State Highway and<br />
Transportation Officials. Accessed<br />
October 18, 2016.<br />
• Institute of Transportation Engineers<br />
and Congress for the New Urbanism.<br />
Designing Walkable Urban<br />
Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive<br />
Approach. 2010.<br />
• “Road Diets (Roadway<br />
Reconfiguration) – Safety.” U.S.<br />
Department of Transportation<br />
Federal Highway Administration.<br />
Accessed October 13, 2016.<br />
• “Street Lighting Construction<br />
Standards.” Toronto Hydro. Accessed<br />
October 18, 2016.<br />
• Toronto Hydro. Design and<br />
Construction Guidelines for Street<br />
Lighting. Anticipated 2017<br />
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144 9.1Intersection Design<br />
Principles<br />
146 9.2 Key Needs and<br />
Perspectives of Each<br />
Road User<br />
148 9.3 Accessibility and Universal<br />
Design of Intersections<br />
150 9.4 Context-Sensitive<br />
Intersection Design<br />
154 9.5 Intersection Elements And<br />
Geometric Design<br />
160 9.6 Intersection Signals and<br />
Other Traffic Controls<br />
Intersections are where streets<br />
meet – these locations generate a<br />
lot of interaction and potential<br />
conflict among all modes. The<br />
principles outlined in this section<br />
enable the design of intersections<br />
to function well for everyone, to<br />
create an environment that is safe<br />
and predictable. A key starting<br />
point is to understand the primary<br />
needs of each modal user. Some<br />
street elements that improve the<br />
conditions for one mode may<br />
reduce the comfort or convenience<br />
of another, but these should never<br />
supersede the need for safety of all<br />
road users, especially of the most<br />
vulnerable. Street context will<br />
inform intersection design,<br />
including the physical space and<br />
budget constraints. The street<br />
design process will ensure full<br />
consideration of the needs of<br />
various users and help to weigh the<br />
benefits and drawbacks of different<br />
intersection features.<br />
9.0<br />
STREET DESIGN FOR<br />
INTERSECTIONS<br />
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9.1<br />
INTERSECTION DESIGN PRINCIPLES<br />
3<br />
9<br />
8<br />
4<br />
2<br />
6<br />
5<br />
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9.1<br />
1. Safety first: Intersections are<br />
where the most points of conflict<br />
occur between different street users.<br />
The design of intersections should<br />
first ensure safe crossing for the most<br />
vulnerable users.<br />
They also minimize pedestrian<br />
crossing distances and exposure to<br />
risk for vulnerable road users. They<br />
can also shorten signal cycle lengths<br />
which benefits all modes by reducing<br />
delay and improving convenience.<br />
7<br />
1<br />
11<br />
2. Predictability: Provide clear<br />
guidance for all users on where<br />
crossing movements are expected<br />
and the correct path of permitted<br />
movements. Simplify complex<br />
intersections where possible.<br />
3. Visibility: Ensure unobstructed<br />
sightlines among road users at<br />
intersections. Locate crosswalks close<br />
to the intersection to improve the<br />
visibility of pedestrians to drivers.<br />
Reduce physical barriers and visual<br />
clutter.<br />
4. Multi-modal: Select traffic controls<br />
based on equitable consideration of<br />
all street users, the street’s context<br />
and role in the network. Analyze<br />
capacity from a multi-modal<br />
perspective, focusing on movement<br />
of people, rather than vehicles.<br />
7. Active transportation: Observe<br />
and anticipate pedestrian and cyclist<br />
desire lines to inform design based<br />
on street context. For example,<br />
provide depressed curb ramps and<br />
wider crosswalks in locations with<br />
higher pedestrian volumes, and bike<br />
boxes where needed to enhance<br />
safety for cyclists making turns.<br />
8. Transit: Incorporate transit stops<br />
at intersections to allow for<br />
convenient transfers for transit users.<br />
Consider transit priority measures<br />
based on street context.<br />
9. Placemaking: Depending on<br />
street context and width, repurpose<br />
space to enhance quality of life with<br />
greening, street furniture, or public<br />
art gateways, especially to define the<br />
entrance to unique neighbourhoods.<br />
10<br />
5. Accessibility: Incorporate<br />
accessible design at intersections,<br />
such as tactile walking surface<br />
indicators, curb ramps or depressed<br />
curbs, accessible pedestrian signals,<br />
walk speeds at crossings for all ages<br />
and abilities, and access to transit<br />
stops, etc.<br />
6. Compact design and shorter<br />
crossings: Compact intersections<br />
tend to lower motor vehicle<br />
operating speeds and enable more<br />
eye contact, which increases safety.<br />
10. Maintenance and operations:<br />
Intersections should function well for<br />
all users all year, e.g. design to<br />
prevent ponding at ramps and snow<br />
from blocking access to pedestrian<br />
push buttons.<br />
11. Manage stormwater:<br />
Incorporate green street elements<br />
depending on street context and<br />
width, such as on curb extension to<br />
reduce stormwater runoff and<br />
recharge ground water, improve air<br />
quality and beautify.<br />
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9.2<br />
9.2<br />
KEY NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES<br />
OF EACH ROAD USER<br />
The principles outlined in this chapter enable the design of<br />
intersections to function well for everyone, to create an environment<br />
that is safe and predictable. A key starting point is to understand the<br />
primary needs of each modal user. Keep in mind that some street<br />
elements that improve the conditions for one mode may reduce<br />
the comfort or convenience of another, but these should never<br />
supersede the need for safety of all road users, especially the most<br />
vulnerable.<br />
PEDESTRIANS<br />
• Lower motor vehicle speeds, by<br />
rightsizing vehicle lanes and curb<br />
radii, and traffic calming on local or<br />
side streets such as installing curb<br />
extensions or raised intersections.<br />
• Reduced exposure to risk and<br />
conflicts, with clear sightlines and<br />
visibility, shorter crossing distances,<br />
adequate pedestrian space on<br />
corners, and adequate crossing time.<br />
• Accessibility and universal design for<br />
all, with curb ramps or depressed<br />
curbs (for people using assistive<br />
devices or people with shopping<br />
carts or strollers), tactile walking<br />
surface indicators (for persons with<br />
low or no vision), accessible<br />
pedestrian signals, dedicated space<br />
(away from mixing with cyclists and<br />
vehicles), sufficient walk time for all<br />
ages and abilities, and adequate<br />
sidewalk and crosswalk widths given<br />
pedestrian volumes and the street<br />
context.<br />
• Adequate signalized crossing<br />
opportunities.<br />
• Desire lines inform crossings, so that<br />
crosswalks align with the path of<br />
travel.<br />
• Placemaking considerations, based<br />
on street context, such as buildings<br />
that front on the street or have<br />
transparent storefronts (for “eyes on<br />
the street”), transit shelters and<br />
benches.<br />
CYCLISTS<br />
• Lower motor vehicle speeds, by<br />
rightsizing vehicle lanes and turning<br />
radii, and traffic calming on local or<br />
side streets such as installing curb<br />
extensions or raised intersections.<br />
• Reduced exposure to risk and<br />
conflicts, with clear sightlines, shorter<br />
crossing distances, and dedicated<br />
space, separation and signal design<br />
for cyclists that are context sensitive.<br />
• Guidance for safe streetcar track<br />
crossings, by providing markings at<br />
safe angles.<br />
• Wayfinding on cycling routes and<br />
how to stay on the network and<br />
navigate routes, especially at<br />
complex intersections.<br />
• Maintenance and materials to have<br />
pavement quality that reduces<br />
vibrations for cyclists.<br />
• Nearby bicycle parking and Bike<br />
Share stations to support cycling<br />
options for people, especially at<br />
transfer points like transit or major<br />
destinations.<br />
TRANSIT USERS<br />
• Good pedestrian and cycling<br />
connections (see the previous<br />
sections), with sidewalks, transit<br />
shelters benches, nearby bicycle<br />
parking, and Bike Share stations,<br />
wayfinding, cycling route<br />
information, and regular<br />
maintenance (e.g., snow removal).<br />
• Reduced exposure risk and conflict,<br />
such as curb extensions at bus stops,<br />
transit-only lanes and far-side bus<br />
stops.<br />
• Accessibility for all with contextspecific<br />
stop spacing, platforms, bus<br />
pads and sidewalk ramps with tactile<br />
walking surface indicators, and welllit<br />
transit stops and adequate<br />
pedestrian clearway widths.<br />
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9.2<br />
Pedestrians crossing a busy intersection in<br />
North York.<br />
• Reliable and improved travel times<br />
and schedules, with context-specific<br />
measures such as frequent headways,<br />
signal priority, queue jump lanes, and<br />
seamless connection to other transit.<br />
• Placemaking considerations, based<br />
on street context, such as buildings<br />
that front on the street or have<br />
transparent storefronts (for “eyes on<br />
the street”), safe, comfortable<br />
waiting areas and transit-supportive<br />
developments.<br />
MOTORISTS<br />
(e.g. TRANSIT, CARS AND TRUCKS)<br />
• Reduced conflicts and severity of<br />
crashes, with clear sight lines and<br />
visibility, dedicated space for all<br />
modes, and predictability of<br />
expected movements (e.g. using<br />
pavement markings, signage and<br />
signals/traffic controls).<br />
• Safe turning options, with contextspecific<br />
measures such as<br />
phase-separated turning movements,<br />
placement of advanced stop bars,<br />
and clearly marked turn lanes.<br />
• Well-maintained intersections such as<br />
good pavement quality, pruned<br />
vegetation, and adequate levels of<br />
lighting.<br />
• Wayfinding, with large visible street<br />
name signs and other wayfinding<br />
information to help people navigate<br />
the city, e.g. to locate reliable<br />
parking options.<br />
• Reliable and improved travel times,<br />
using coordinated signal timing,<br />
responsive vehicle detection and<br />
signals, real-time information, traffic<br />
regulations and congestion reduction<br />
by shifting more trips to walking,<br />
cycling and transit.<br />
Cycling facility is at sidewalk level for<br />
accessible boarding on transit at the<br />
intersection.<br />
Cycling infrastructure in Toronto that<br />
promotes multi-modal mobility and<br />
safety.<br />
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9.3<br />
9.3<br />
ACCESSIBILITY AND UNIVERSAL<br />
DESIGN OF INTERSECTIONS<br />
Intersection design is an important component of providing<br />
accessible and barrier-free environments for everyone. The following<br />
are some examples of accessible and universal design strategies to<br />
provide access, predictability, safety and convenience for people of<br />
all ages and abilities at intersections.<br />
Depressed curbs smooth the transition<br />
from sidewalks to roadways.<br />
Tactile Walking Surface Indicators are<br />
detectable underfoot and used as a<br />
warning for people with low or no vision.<br />
CURB RAMPS OR DEPRESSED<br />
CURBS<br />
To eliminate the need to step down<br />
from a curb to the roadway to cross<br />
at intersections, design intersections<br />
with adequately wide and properly<br />
designed curb ramps and depressed<br />
curbs at intersections. A curb ramp or<br />
depressed curb is needed for people<br />
with physical disabilities or even<br />
people using shopping carts or<br />
strollers. A fully depressed curb has<br />
the benefit of removing trip hazards<br />
(e.g., the section of curb between<br />
crosswalks), especially with high<br />
volumes of pedestrians. Curb ramps<br />
can also be found at transit stops,<br />
such as for the Light Rail Transit<br />
stops.<br />
TACTILE WALKING SURFACE<br />
INDICATORS (TWSIS)<br />
These are the flat-topped bumps<br />
detectable under foot that are used<br />
as warning or attention indicators for<br />
persons with low or no vision. TWSIs<br />
help warn someone with low or no<br />
vision that they are approaching a<br />
hazard such as moving traffic or the<br />
edge of a transit platform.<br />
ACCESSIBLE PEDESTRIAN<br />
SIGNALS (APS)<br />
These have an audible locator tone<br />
and also a walk indicator tone to<br />
indicate to persons with low or no<br />
vision when it is safe to cross the<br />
roadway and in which direction. APS<br />
may be activated automatically, or by<br />
push-button that has a tactile arrow<br />
aligning with the direction of<br />
crossing. This button vibrates when<br />
the pedestrian can cross for persons<br />
who are deafblind.<br />
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9.3<br />
Elementary<br />
School Students<br />
Older Women<br />
0.6m/s<br />
0.8m/s<br />
Figure 9-1: Not all pedestrians are able to<br />
cross the street at the same pace. Signal<br />
timing should consider context and most<br />
likely users.<br />
Older Men<br />
Current Standard<br />
Former Standard<br />
0.9m/s<br />
1.0m/s<br />
1.2m/s<br />
c. L. Asher, M. Aresu, E. Falaschetti, J.<br />
Mindell (2012). Most older pedestrians<br />
are unable to cross the road in time: a<br />
cross-sectional study. Age and Ageing,<br />
Oxford Press; L. J. H. Schulze (2006).<br />
Evaluation of cross-walk timing and the<br />
application of a standard crossing light<br />
timing formula, International Ergonomics<br />
Association<br />
WALK SPEEDS AT CROSSINGS<br />
CONSIDERING ALL AGES AND<br />
ABILITIES<br />
Typical walk speeds when crossing<br />
the street are 1.0 to 1.2 metres per<br />
second (m/s), but this walking speed<br />
could exclude one-third of older<br />
pedestrians and 90 per cent of<br />
pedestrians using an assistive device<br />
such as a walker or cane. Where<br />
there are higher pedestrian volumes<br />
and the expectation of pedestrians<br />
with disabilities based on<br />
demographics and land use context,<br />
the walk speed for traffic signals<br />
should be in the range of 0.8m/s to<br />
1.0m/s to enable safe crossings for<br />
people of all ages and abilities.<br />
DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN SPACE<br />
(AWAY FROM MIXING WITH<br />
CYCLISTS AND MOTOR VEHICLES)<br />
The hierarchy of vulnerable users has<br />
pedestrians at the top, because they<br />
are unprotected when encountering<br />
faster-moving road users such as<br />
cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers. At<br />
intersections and mid-block<br />
locations, it is important to provide<br />
dedicated space for pedestrians, and<br />
separation from cyclists and motor<br />
vehicles, whether on the sidewalk, at<br />
transit stops, and at intersections –<br />
on street corners and crosswalks.<br />
ADEQUATE SIDEWALK AND<br />
CROSSWALK WIDTHS FOR THE<br />
STREET CONTEXT<br />
Safe, passable space is needed to<br />
accommodate persons using<br />
assistive devices and the contextspecific<br />
pedestrian volumes at<br />
intersections. Sidewalk and crosswalk<br />
widths should be commensurate with<br />
the intensity of pedestrian activity<br />
and volumes at intersections, to<br />
minimize crowded conditions, and<br />
potential conflicts among modes.<br />
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9.4<br />
9.4<br />
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE<br />
INTERSECTION DESIGN<br />
Intersection design will depend on street context including nearby<br />
land uses, users of the street, and role in the network. The variety of<br />
Toronto’s intersections is vast, and local conditions play a key role in<br />
the design and selection of elements. The street design process will<br />
ensure full consideration of the needs of various users and help to<br />
weigh the benefits and drawbacks of different intersection features.<br />
Following are some examples of common types of intersections and<br />
their considerations for complete streets design.<br />
Pedestrian priority phase (a.k.a.<br />
“scramble”) at one of Toronto’s busiest<br />
intersections.<br />
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MAIN STREETS OR MIXED-USE<br />
CONNECTORS<br />
Main Streets or Mixed-use<br />
Connectors often have a combination<br />
of high traffic volumes, high<br />
approach speeds, transit stops and<br />
pedestrian and cycling activity. The<br />
challenge becomes balancing the<br />
need to reduce risk to all road users,<br />
while accommodating traffic capacity<br />
and turning movements for larger<br />
vehicles. Consider the following<br />
design treatments:<br />
• Due to the size of these intersections,<br />
clear alignments and pavement<br />
markings are needed to guide the<br />
paths for all road users and to<br />
provide predictable and visible<br />
movements.<br />
• To help pedestrians of all ages and<br />
abilities to safely cross wide<br />
roadways, consider pedestrian<br />
crossing islands, zebra crosswalk<br />
markings, the City’s standard curb<br />
radii, leading pedestrian interval (LPI)<br />
signals, adequate space for<br />
pedestrians waiting on street corners<br />
(e.g., declutter corners, rightsize<br />
corner, set back buildings, etc.), and<br />
other pedestrian safety measures.<br />
• To make cyclists more visible to other<br />
road users, mark bicycle facilities<br />
through the intersection, including<br />
bike boxes or queue boxes,<br />
providing designated bicycle signal<br />
phases where appropriate, and<br />
regulatory and warning signs for<br />
motorists where notable conflicts<br />
exist.<br />
• Analyze intersection capacity from a<br />
multi-modal perspective and focus<br />
on moving people, such as by<br />
prioritizing transit, in order to reduce<br />
traffic congestion as intersections<br />
become busier with residential and<br />
employment growth. Consider<br />
planned land uses, anticipated mode<br />
split shifts, and latent demand for<br />
pedestrian, cyclists and transit users<br />
during the design process.<br />
Crossing at a major intersection in North<br />
York.<br />
A main street intersection in<br />
Scarborough.<br />
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9.4<br />
INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN<br />
RESIDENTIAL STREETS WITH<br />
MAIN, CIVIC AND CONNECTOR<br />
STREETS<br />
Design becomes complex for<br />
situations where lower volume streets<br />
intersect with higher volume streets,<br />
because traffic flow and capacity will<br />
focus on the busier street, yet side<br />
streets and their users also need to<br />
be accommodated. These<br />
intersections may be signalized or<br />
have two-way stop control such as<br />
stop signs. Consider the following<br />
design treatments:<br />
• Clearly mark controlled pedestrian<br />
and cyclist crossings (i.e. with stop<br />
control, PXOs with flashing lights, or<br />
signals) wherever they exist.<br />
• Analyze and design intersections<br />
taking into account the<br />
transportation network. It may not be<br />
possible or practical to<br />
accommodate all movements at all<br />
times (e.g. through or left-turn<br />
movements from the side street) at a<br />
two-way stop-controlled intersection.<br />
• If there is heavy traffic on the Main,<br />
Civic or Connector Street, with<br />
insufficient gaps in traffic for safe<br />
turns, consider access management<br />
strategies such as consolidating and<br />
limiting driveways, laybys or other<br />
conflict points, and potential turn<br />
prohibitions from side streets.<br />
Pavement markings indicate actuated<br />
signals for cyclists.<br />
Streetcar at Kingston Road and<br />
Scarborough Road.<br />
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INTERSECTIONS AT<br />
RESIDENTIAL STREETS<br />
Residential street intersections are<br />
characterized by low traffic volumes<br />
and slower speeds. In addition,<br />
people of all ages and abilities may<br />
be on foot in the neighbourhood for<br />
various activities such as getting to<br />
school, transit or nearby destinations.<br />
Consider the following design<br />
treatments:<br />
• Enhance pedestrian safety with<br />
crosswalks, all-way stop control, curb<br />
extensions, raised intersections, and<br />
rightsizing corner radii as well as<br />
complementary mid-block measures<br />
(e.g., chicanes, mid-block curb<br />
extensions, etc.).<br />
• In general, delay and capacity are not<br />
key factors for residential<br />
intersections as they have low<br />
volumes and speeds. Design of these<br />
intersections focuses on pedestrian<br />
accessibility and connectivity to<br />
homes, parks, community centres,<br />
and the pedestrian network to transit<br />
and other streets. Cyclists are often<br />
accommodated in a similar manner<br />
to motor vehicles or are supported<br />
by bicycle-friendly street designs<br />
noted in the Cycling chapter of this<br />
document (e.g., adequately wide<br />
curb lanes, bicycle detection at<br />
actuated signals, etc.).<br />
• While larger vehicles such as fire,<br />
waste collection and snow plow<br />
trucks are important to consider, the<br />
turning movements for these vehicles<br />
will typically use the width of the<br />
roadway to negotiate turns.<br />
Multi-modal intersection of residential<br />
streets.<br />
Residential street intersections may<br />
include curb extensions.<br />
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9.5<br />
9.5<br />
INTERSECTION ELEMENTS AND<br />
GEOMETRIC DESIGN<br />
Various street elements and design features contribute to complete<br />
streets strategies for intersections. The selection of features will<br />
depend on street context such as land uses, networks, type of<br />
intersection, alignment, number and type of lanes, speed, right-ofway<br />
widths, and existing and projected volumes of different modal<br />
users. The following illustrates some key examples of these features,<br />
but is not meant to be an exhaustive list.<br />
Sight line obscured by a parked car.<br />
FOR ALL ROAD USERS<br />
PAVEMENT MARKINGS &<br />
VISIBLE CROSSINGS<br />
Visible pavement markings such as<br />
stop bars, and pedestrian crosswalks<br />
(a.k.a. zebra pavement markings or<br />
parallel line markings) to indicate<br />
where vehicles are to stop and where<br />
pedestrians and cyclists cross a<br />
roadway at controlled crossings.<br />
SIGHT LINES<br />
A clear view of people, activities and<br />
objects. (a.k.a. “daylight triangles”<br />
near intersections and driveways).<br />
Ensuring good sight lines reduces<br />
the risk of conflicts between all street<br />
users and promotes safety for all.<br />
Regulations that prohibit parking at<br />
the corner can also improve blocked<br />
sight lines.<br />
CURB RADII<br />
The curved section of a curb that<br />
connects two intersecting streets. Its<br />
size affects the turning speed of<br />
vehicles, pedestrian crossing<br />
distances, visibility, and space<br />
available for pedestrians waiting to<br />
cross the street.<br />
Improved sight line due to parking<br />
prohibition near the corner.<br />
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Simple placemaking can be combined<br />
with curb extensions, like this example in<br />
Etobicoke-York.<br />
PEDESTRIAN-RELATED FEATURES<br />
CURB EXTENSIONS<br />
Curb extensions (a.k.a. bump-outs or<br />
bulb-outs) are enlarged sidewalk or<br />
boulevard areas at corners. A<br />
common complete streets measure<br />
that reduces pedestrian crossing<br />
distances and signal cycle lengths,<br />
and improves visibility and<br />
pedestrian waiting areas on corners.<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ISLANDS<br />
An area protected by curbs where<br />
pedestrians can wait or rest while<br />
crossing streets. They must have<br />
accessible features (e.g. curb ramps,<br />
APS and TWSIs) and may be<br />
considered for high volume<br />
intersections with six or more lanes of<br />
traffic. The decision to include islands<br />
or medians should be weighed<br />
against using that space instead for<br />
adequately wide sidewalks, cycling<br />
facilities, and planting and furnishing<br />
zones.<br />
RAISED CROSSWALKS OR<br />
INTERSECTIONS (A.K.A.<br />
TABLE TOPS)<br />
These are raised areas of the<br />
roadway at intersections. They<br />
improve the visibility of pedestrians<br />
crossing and increase the awareness<br />
of drivers travelling at inappropriate<br />
speeds.<br />
PLACEMAKING AT<br />
INTERSECTIONS<br />
Depending on street context, there<br />
may be features that enhance the<br />
sense of place while balancing the<br />
need for safety and clear sightlines.<br />
Features used at intersections<br />
include but are not limited to:<br />
wayfinding signs, maps or<br />
information pillars; landmarks;<br />
gateway features; meeting locations<br />
with seating; pedestrian lighting;<br />
pedestrian crossing islands with<br />
landscaping; decorative pavers; and<br />
carefully selected street furniture<br />
and/or street art.<br />
Raised crosswalk in Toronto.<br />
c: Brandon Quigley<br />
Placemaking at intersections may include<br />
cafés or other seating.<br />
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Left-turn queue boxes indicate a<br />
designated area for cyclists to make a<br />
left turn.<br />
Arrows indicate the path of cyclists<br />
through an intersection.<br />
CYCLIST-RELATED FEATURES<br />
BICYCLE LANE MARKINGS<br />
Pavement markings indicating the<br />
paths of cyclists, e.g., a bicycle lane<br />
through the intersection or between<br />
vehicle through-lanes and right-turn<br />
lanes at intersections, to increase<br />
awareness at conflict points.<br />
CROSS RIDES<br />
Cross rides indicate where cyclists<br />
may ride to cross a roadway at<br />
controlled crossings, alongside<br />
pedestrians. Adequate width and<br />
attention to design are required for<br />
the crosswalk and cross ride to<br />
prevent conflicts among cyclists and<br />
more vulnerable pedestrians of all<br />
ages and abilities.<br />
LEFT-TURN QUEUE BOX<br />
Pavement markings indicating a safe<br />
and designated area for cyclist<br />
making a left-turn maneuver. May be<br />
accompanied by a right turn on red<br />
restriction if the queue box is in the<br />
path of vehicular right turns.<br />
BICYCLE QUEUE BOXES<br />
A marked area where most cyclists<br />
are anticipated to make two-stage<br />
crossings to make a left turn. For<br />
pedestrian safety and clear sightlines,<br />
avoid pushing crosswalks far back<br />
from the intersection.<br />
Skip lines indicate cycling infrastructure<br />
through an intersection.<br />
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Cyclists yield to pedestrians boarding a<br />
streetcar on Roncesvalles Ave. in Toronto.<br />
TRANSIT-RELATED FEATURES<br />
TRANSIT LANES<br />
Dedicated lanes for public transit,<br />
such as HOV or bus lanes and<br />
designated transitways for buses,<br />
streetcars or light rail vehicles. These<br />
enable greater frequency and<br />
reliability of transit service.<br />
TRANSIT STOPS (STOPS,<br />
PLATFORMS, AND CROSSINGS)<br />
Locations where transit riders wait<br />
for, board, and leave transit vehicles.<br />
Transit stops may be curbside or on<br />
platforms in the middle of the<br />
roadway. They may also include<br />
transit branding/signs, transit<br />
shelters/benches, wayfinding,<br />
schedule or real-time information<br />
and transit payment systems.<br />
TRANSIT QUEUE JUMP LANES<br />
Queue jump lanes are typically<br />
extended right turn lanes that<br />
provide opportunities for buses to<br />
move to the front of the queue.<br />
Considered where heavy volumes of<br />
mixed traffic negatively impact<br />
transit service, depending on space<br />
and impacts to other road users.<br />
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS<br />
Stopping, parking or turn restrictions,<br />
as this can improve performance of<br />
through movements for transit and<br />
other vehicles.<br />
BUS HELD UP<br />
BEHIND TRAFFIC<br />
QUEUE JUMP<br />
LANE ALLOWING<br />
BUS PRIORITY<br />
Before and after Queue Jump Lanes are<br />
added.<br />
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Pavement markings show the path vehicles<br />
should take through a skewed intersection.<br />
Before.<br />
After an intersection in Scarborough is<br />
normalized.<br />
c: google<br />
c: google<br />
OTHER INTERSECTION DESIGN<br />
STRATEGIES<br />
NORMALIZE OR RE-ALIGN<br />
INTERSECTIONS<br />
Reconfigure an irregular intersection<br />
(e.g., skewed, offset or complex) that<br />
is confusing to road users.<br />
LANE ALIGNMENTS<br />
The path of vehicles as indicated by<br />
pavement markings and the physical<br />
design and curvature of the road.<br />
The desired path for vehicles should<br />
be clear and easy to follow,<br />
especially where there are transitions<br />
in the number of lanes or where there<br />
are turn lanes.<br />
RIGHT-TURN CHANNELS (A.K.A.<br />
‘PORK CHOPS’ BECAUSE THEY<br />
LOOK TRIANGULAR)<br />
A triangular island used to channel<br />
turning traffic. These dedicated turn<br />
channels present safety concerns for<br />
all road users as they result in poor<br />
sightlines, and significant barriers to<br />
persons with disabilities. The City of<br />
Toronto’s policy is to remove right<br />
turn channels if possible and not to<br />
build new ones. Decisions to<br />
maintain existing channels require<br />
careful consideration and<br />
engineering judgment.<br />
HIGHWAY INTERCHANGES<br />
Interchanges intersect city streets in<br />
urban areas and must be designed to<br />
accommodate vulnerable road users,<br />
including pedestrians of all abilities<br />
and cyclists, to ensure safety,<br />
accessibility and connectivity with<br />
adjacent communities. Review best<br />
practices for context-sensitive design<br />
options for interchanges intersecting<br />
urban areas to support Complete<br />
Streets goals.<br />
GRADE SEPARATED FACILITIES<br />
Roads that run overhead or<br />
underground are called grade<br />
separated. Such facilities create<br />
significant barriers between<br />
neighbourhoods and for vulnerable<br />
road users. Review best practices for<br />
context-sensitive design options for<br />
addressing safety, multi-modal and<br />
placemaking needs so that grade<br />
separated facilities support<br />
Complete Streets goals.<br />
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Multiple users at a downtown Toronto<br />
intersection.<br />
Greening of an intersection in<br />
Scarborough.<br />
Zebra markings at an intersection in<br />
Etobicoke.<br />
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9.6<br />
9.6<br />
INTERSECTION SIGNALS AND<br />
OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROLS<br />
The City of Toronto uses various intersection signals and other<br />
traffic control devices to facilitate safe movement of all road users,<br />
guided by the recent Traffic Signal Operation Policies and Strategies<br />
(2015). These policies align with the complete streets approach and<br />
are based on industry standards, guidelines, and best practices,<br />
including the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 12, the Ontario<br />
Highway Traffic Act (HTA), the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control<br />
Devices (MUTCD) for Canada, and the Transportation Association of<br />
Canada (TAC) Guidelines.<br />
The choice of signal or device is<br />
often determined by technical<br />
warrants that get updated from time<br />
to time by the City to account for<br />
best practices. Technical warrants<br />
often use numeric inputs and data,<br />
such as volumes, collision history,<br />
conflict data/near misses, speed,<br />
delay and environmental/site audits.<br />
What follows is a list of examples of<br />
intersection signals and traffic control<br />
devices used in the City of Toronto.<br />
INTERSECTION SIGNALS<br />
PEDESTRIAN COUNTDOWN<br />
SIGNALS<br />
Device shows the number of seconds<br />
left for crossing a street. Pedestrians<br />
should begin crossing with the WALK<br />
signal and finish crossing by zero.<br />
LEADING PEDESTRIAN INTERVAL<br />
WALK signal is about 5 seconds<br />
ahead of the green traffic signal to<br />
give pedestrians time to become<br />
visible in the crosswalk to drivers.<br />
PEDESTRIAN PRIORITY PHASE<br />
(“SCRAMBLE”)<br />
Vehicular traffic is stopped on all<br />
approaches and pedestrians can<br />
cross in any direction, including<br />
diagonally. Typically used where<br />
there is a large volume of<br />
pedestrians, lack of space for<br />
pedestrians, and issues with wait<br />
times, crowding and safety.<br />
BICYCLE DETECTION AT SIGNALS<br />
Detection technology that allows<br />
cyclists to trigger a ‘green light’ at an<br />
intersection and not wait for a larger<br />
or heavier vehicle in order to<br />
navigate an intersection.<br />
BICYCLE SIGNALS (E.G., TRAIL<br />
CROSSINGS)<br />
Electronic signals for cyclists to guide<br />
and coordinate their movements with<br />
other traffic (e.g., cars, transit and<br />
pedestrians) and may indicate bicycle<br />
signal phases or other bicyclespecific<br />
timing strategies.<br />
LEADING CYCLING INTERVAL<br />
An advanced green for cyclists to<br />
give priority to bicycle movements at<br />
an intersection.<br />
TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROGRESSION<br />
Modification of signal timing to have<br />
coordinated ‘green lights’ for better<br />
traffic flow.<br />
TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY<br />
Modification of signal timing for<br />
transit vehicles such as extending<br />
‘green light’.<br />
BLANK-OUT NO LEFT TURN SIGN<br />
Electronic sign (a.k.a. LED Blank-Out<br />
Sign) that is well-illuminated to<br />
indicate time-of-day restrictions for<br />
left turns at intersections. Its purpose<br />
is to help drivers recognize turn<br />
restrictions to improve compliance<br />
and traffic flow.<br />
DEDICATED OR SEPARATED LEFT<br />
TURN SIGNALS<br />
Also called a fully-protected left-turn<br />
phase, vehicles may turn left only<br />
while facing a left turn green arrow,<br />
and have the right-of-way with no<br />
conflicting movements with other<br />
road users permitted.<br />
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Intersection Signals and Other Traffic Controls<br />
9.6<br />
A Leading Pedestrian Interval gives pedestrians a five second head start, making them<br />
more visible to turning motorists.<br />
OTHER TRAFFIC CONTROLS<br />
STOP SIGNS (OR STOP<br />
CONTROLS)<br />
A sign that indicates to vehicles to<br />
come to a complete stop (at the stop<br />
line or crosswalk) and wait until the<br />
way is clear before entering the<br />
intersection.<br />
PEDESTRIAN CROSSOVERS (PXOS)<br />
Designated areas for pedestrians to<br />
cross where there are no traffic<br />
signals. Drivers and cyclists are to<br />
watch for pedestrians at these<br />
crossings and must yield the right-ofway<br />
to pedestrians in the crosswalk.<br />
Pedestrian crossovers are indicated<br />
by signs, markings, and yellow lights.<br />
It is against the law to pass any<br />
vehicle within 30m of the pedestrian<br />
crossover.<br />
SCHOOL CROSSWALKS<br />
Designated areas for pedestrians to<br />
cross where there are no traffic<br />
signals, and located on the route to<br />
or in the vicinity of schools. School<br />
crosswalks are indicated by signs and<br />
markings, and/or where a school<br />
crossing guard is present.<br />
YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS<br />
A sign that indicates to vehicles to let<br />
pedestrians go first, and to stop and<br />
wait for any pedestrians to fully cross<br />
the road at the crosswalk.<br />
YIELD SIGN<br />
A sign that indicates to vehicles to let<br />
traffic in the intersection or<br />
approaching the intersection to go<br />
first, and to stop if necessary and<br />
proceed only when the way is clear.<br />
RIGHT TURN ON RED<br />
RESTRICTION<br />
A sign that indicates to vehicles that<br />
they are not allowed to turn right<br />
when facing a red traffic light. No<br />
Right Turns On Red are implemented<br />
for various safety reasons, including<br />
to reduce collisions of right-turning<br />
vehicles with vehicles proceeding on<br />
their green light, and also between<br />
right-turning vehicles and<br />
pedestrians crossing with their WALK<br />
signal.<br />
Signals and traffic control devices are<br />
often combined with physical, built<br />
environment features, such as<br />
rightsized traffic lanes, curb radii/<br />
extensions, and cycling facilities to<br />
create safer streets.<br />
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Intersection Signals and Other Traffic Controls<br />
9.6<br />
Seniors crossing at a major intersection in<br />
Scarborough.<br />
GENERAL GUIDANCE ON<br />
INTERSECTION SIGNALS AND<br />
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES<br />
When reviewing or making decisions<br />
about signals or traffic control<br />
devices, there are some key<br />
considerations to keep in mind for<br />
the safety and comfort of all road<br />
users regardless of age and ability:<br />
• Key principles of complete streets:<br />
Provide equitable consideration of all<br />
road users, and consideration of a<br />
street’s context in the design of the<br />
street and the selection of traffic<br />
control devices.<br />
• Safety first: Consider the use of a<br />
combination of physical design (e.g.,<br />
rightsized traffic lanes and corner<br />
radii) and traffic control features to<br />
achieve the desired ‘target speed’ for<br />
the street’s context.<br />
• Use future, not past data: Use<br />
projected future volumes and not<br />
past or existing data for all modes in<br />
the analysis and review of future<br />
infrastructure, new developments<br />
and environmental assessment<br />
studies.<br />
• Connectivity in Networks & Desire<br />
Lines: Understand existing and<br />
aspirational pedestrian and cyclist<br />
desire lines and active transportation<br />
networks to identify opportunities to<br />
introduce safe crossings, such as<br />
PXOs or Traffic Control Signals.<br />
• Spacing between controlled<br />
crossings: Consider land uses,<br />
density, pedestrian volumes and<br />
demographics when looking at<br />
spacing of controlled crossings. All<br />
pedestrians, especially persons with<br />
disabilities benefit from having more<br />
closely spaced crossing<br />
opportunities. The desire for widely<br />
spaced intersections for faster motor<br />
vehicle movements needs to be<br />
weighed against the impacts on<br />
safety, connectivity and accessibility<br />
of pedestrians and cyclists.<br />
• Adequate crossing times and walk<br />
speeds accounting for all ages and<br />
abilities: Consider how to best<br />
accommodate slow walkers through<br />
the provision of the shortest possible<br />
crossing distance and adequate<br />
signal time. Long crossing distances<br />
not only increase pedestrian<br />
exposure to risk of collision in the<br />
street, they also require longer signal<br />
cycles to give enough time to safely<br />
cross the street.<br />
• Reduce need to push buttons (use<br />
fixed-time mode): Fixed time or<br />
automated walk signals are<br />
appropriate in locations with<br />
moderate and higher pedestrian<br />
volumes, such as downtown and<br />
main street shopping areas, and in<br />
the proximity of pedestrian trip<br />
generators.<br />
• TTC or Fire pre-emption: Identify if<br />
there is currently or potentially the<br />
need to operate with TTC or Fire preemption<br />
and weigh the needs and<br />
benefits given the street context and<br />
network.<br />
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Intersection Signals and Other Traffic Controls<br />
9.6<br />
Street and intersection design must<br />
consider the roles of streets at different<br />
times of the day and night.<br />
• Coordinated signal timing: The<br />
purpose of coordinated signal timing<br />
is to help manage traffic flow along a<br />
corridor. In addition, balancing the<br />
traffic volumes between intersections<br />
helps to prevent or reduce queued<br />
up traffic. In real life conditions,<br />
however, there are numerous<br />
disruptions that may make it difficult<br />
to perfectly meter traffic.<br />
• Short signal cycles: In general, short<br />
signal cycles (60-90 seconds) are<br />
preferred as they provide predictable<br />
and regular crossings, and generally<br />
minimize overall delay for all users.<br />
While short cycles tend to encourage<br />
people to obey the signals compared<br />
with locations with longer delays, the<br />
short cycle length needs to be<br />
weighed against the safety benefits<br />
of separated signal phases, such<br />
having dedicated left-turn signals.<br />
• Different times of day and night:<br />
Consider the changing nature and<br />
role of a street throughout the course<br />
of the day, as demand may change<br />
by mode and by direction during<br />
different times. Traffic signal timing<br />
should be adjusted to meet various<br />
modal and directional demands to<br />
optimize people-moving capacity<br />
and convenience.<br />
MORE INFORMATION:<br />
• City of Toronto. Accessibility Design<br />
Guidelines. 2004.<br />
• City of Toronto. Complete<br />
Interchanges: Urbanization of Grade<br />
Separated Facilities. Anticipated<br />
2017.<br />
• City of Toronto. Criteria for<br />
Evaluating Request for Queue-Jump<br />
Lanes. Updates underway (in use<br />
internally).<br />
• City of Toronto. Curb Radii<br />
Guidelines. 2015.<br />
• City of Toronto. Traffic Signal<br />
Operations Policies and Strategies.<br />
2015.<br />
• “Highway Safety Manual.” American<br />
Association of State Highway and<br />
Transportation Officials. 2016.<br />
• Institute of Transportation Engineers<br />
and Congress for the New Urbanism.<br />
Designing Walkable Urban<br />
Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive<br />
Approach. 2010.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 11:<br />
Pavement, Hazard and Delineation<br />
Markings. 2000.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 12:<br />
Traffic Signals. 2012.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 15:<br />
Pedestrian Crossing Facilities. 2016.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18:<br />
Cycling Facilities. 2013.<br />
• National Association of City<br />
Transportation Officials. Urban Street<br />
Design Guide. 2013.<br />
• New York City Department of<br />
Transportation. Making Safer Streets.<br />
2013.<br />
• Transportation Association of<br />
Canada. Pedestrian Crossing Control<br />
Guide. 2012.<br />
• Welle, Ben. “Cities Safer by Design:<br />
Guidance and Examples to Promote<br />
Traffic Safety through Urban and<br />
Street Design”. World Resources<br />
Institute. 2015.<br />
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c. DTAH<br />
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166 C.1 Project Delivery Process<br />
168 C.5 Conclusion<br />
This section provides a summary of<br />
the overarching process for<br />
delivering street projects in Toronto.<br />
The conclusion outlines the intended<br />
outcomes and benefits of providing<br />
complete streets design guidance.<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
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Conclusion<br />
Project Delivery Process<br />
C.1<br />
C.1<br />
PROJECT DELIVERY PROCESS<br />
Figure C-1 shows the overarching process for project delivery. The<br />
process varies for different project types. However, each project<br />
generally follows a similar framework from initiation to completion.<br />
The Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines inform and guide staff and<br />
others involved in each of the stages of delivering street projects.<br />
PROJECT INITIATION<br />
Street projects are initiated for<br />
various reasons, such as for state of<br />
good repair, new developments,<br />
safety, or Business Improvement<br />
Areas. At the outset, staff will outline<br />
the needs, goals and budgets, take<br />
into account complete streets vision<br />
and goals, and consult the City’s<br />
plans, like the 10-year Capital Plan<br />
and area-specific plans.<br />
CONTEXT ANALYSIS<br />
A key step noted in Chapter 3 is<br />
gathering and reviewing all the<br />
background data to inform the<br />
street’s context and the project’s<br />
objectives. This work will likely<br />
involve reviewing area plans, site<br />
assessments, additional data<br />
collection and analysis, and<br />
consultation.<br />
PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND<br />
DECISION MAKING<br />
Once the project’s objectives are<br />
established, a complete streets<br />
decision-making framework can be<br />
developed to weigh the pros and<br />
cons of street design options. (See<br />
Chapter 3 for more guidance.)<br />
Design options are developed based<br />
on the understanding of the street’s<br />
context, a risk assessment of impacts<br />
on vulnerable road users, and<br />
complete streets guidance. An<br />
evaluation and documentation of the<br />
options is done and usually involves<br />
consultation on the evaluaton criteria<br />
and the options. Challenges will<br />
include dealing with trade-offs and<br />
coming up with creative solutions.<br />
Project costing and design<br />
adjustments are made as the street<br />
design and approvals are agreed<br />
upon by many parties and finalized.<br />
CONSTRUCTION DESIGN<br />
The agreed-upon street design is<br />
passed on to the engineering and<br />
construction teams for detailed<br />
construction engineering work.<br />
Engineers should consult client<br />
divisions and staff (e.g., Beautiful<br />
Streets, Cycling Infrastructure,<br />
Pedestrian Projects, Toronto Water,<br />
Urban Design, etc.) on the<br />
construction specifications and<br />
standards for complete street<br />
elements. It is costly to change<br />
designs at this stage, but minor<br />
changes may be necessary for review<br />
and refinement. Sometimes projects<br />
are deferred if the scope increases<br />
and more major changes require<br />
more time and resources.<br />
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Conclusion<br />
Project Delivery Process<br />
C.1<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
The detailed designs are completed<br />
and the project is usually contracted<br />
out for construction. Construction<br />
notifications and communications<br />
with the public are best practices.<br />
Both staff and contractors working in<br />
the City of Toronto must observe<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7:<br />
Temporary Conditions and the City’s<br />
work zone policies. Attention is<br />
required to safely and clearly<br />
accommodate pedestrians and<br />
cyclists in construction work zones.<br />
OPERATIONS AND<br />
MAINTENANCE<br />
Operation and maintenance needs<br />
should be considered throughout the<br />
planning and design process. Project<br />
outcomes should be monitored and<br />
lessons learned should be<br />
documented and shared. Where<br />
possible, measuring the performance<br />
of streets should be integrated<br />
before, during and after street<br />
projects are built.<br />
MORE INFORMATION<br />
• “Construction Standards –<br />
Engineering & Construction Services<br />
– Services.” City of Toronto.<br />
Accessed October 27, 2016.<br />
• City of Toronto. Guidelines for<br />
Covered Walkways. 2014.<br />
• City of Toronto. Guidelines for Work<br />
on Streets in the Area of Schools.<br />
2014.<br />
• City of Toronto. Standards for Cycling<br />
Safety in Work Zones. Anticipated<br />
2017.<br />
• Ministry of Transportation of Ontario.<br />
Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7:<br />
Temporary Conditions. 2014.<br />
CHAPTER 3<br />
PROJECT<br />
INITIATION<br />
CONTEXT<br />
ANALYSIS<br />
PRELIMINARY<br />
DESIGN<br />
+<br />
DECISION<br />
MAKING<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
DESIGN<br />
CONSTRUCTION<br />
ADMINISTRATION<br />
OPERATIONS +<br />
MAINTENANCE<br />
PLAN<br />
DESIGN<br />
BUILD + MANAGE<br />
1. Identify<br />
Context<br />
2. Establish<br />
Design Priorities<br />
3. Develop<br />
Decision-Making<br />
Framework +<br />
Metrics<br />
4. Assemble/<br />
Evaluate/<br />
Refine<br />
5. Finalize<br />
Preliminary<br />
Design +<br />
Document<br />
Repeat if<br />
Necessary<br />
COLLABORATION WITH CITY STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS AND PUBLIC<br />
Figure C-1: Toronto Complete Streets Project Delivery Process<br />
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Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Conclusion<br />
Conclusion<br />
C.2<br />
C.2<br />
CONCLUSION<br />
The goal of the Complete Streets<br />
Guidelines is to provide a primer on<br />
the important considerations in<br />
designing our streets to fully consider<br />
all uses and users of our streets. The<br />
guidance is meant to aid City staff<br />
and others to think of the important<br />
considerations in each of the steps in<br />
street design. By providing complete<br />
streets design guidance and setting<br />
out a multi-disciplinary approach to<br />
designing our streets, the potential<br />
outcomes and benefits are that:<br />
• Stakeholders will be more informed<br />
about street design considerations;<br />
• Street design processes will be more<br />
inclusive of the many stakeholders<br />
and citizens who are affected by<br />
street projects;<br />
• More consistency, clarity and<br />
transparency will be encouraged<br />
through documenting the evaluation<br />
of street design options and the<br />
rationale behind decisions made.<br />
The Guidelines contain a vision,<br />
goals and design guidance that align<br />
with the City’s current policies, and as<br />
such, will be updated every five years<br />
similar to Toronto’s Official Plan.<br />
Street design is an evolving practice.<br />
In the coming years, design<br />
strategies used elsewhere, and<br />
technologies that do not yet readily<br />
exist in Toronto, will affect how we<br />
plan, design, build and operate our<br />
streets. Street designers should stay<br />
up-to-date on the latest best<br />
practices to learn from research and<br />
designs from other jurisdictions to<br />
continue the improvements to our<br />
city’s street network.<br />
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Conclusion<br />
Conclusion<br />
C.2<br />
c: DTAH<br />
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Notes
Toronto Complete Streets Guidelines<br />
Notes
OUR STREETS<br />
ARE THE COMMON SPACE<br />
WHERE OUR CITY COMES<br />
TOGETHER.<br />
OUR STREETS<br />
THROUGH THEIR LOOK,<br />
FEEL, AND FUNCTION<br />
SHOULD DEMONSTRATE<br />
HOW WE WANT TORONTO<br />
TO BE AND TO CHANGE.