In support of the Bloor Complete Street project

Dear Etobicoke-Lakeshore residents,

Many of the issues facing our City today did not emerge overnight. They are the result of making choices that made sense for the present, but did not anticipate what our communities would need in the future.

Today, the rate of growth has outpaced what our city’s infrastructure was designed for. Etobicoke-Lakeshore is one of the fastest growing wards in Toronto. We’ve grown by more than 24,000 residents over the past ten years, and there are roughly 67,600 new units in the development pipeline now – 15,800 of which have first Planning approval.

We need to build infrastructure that both catches up to current needs, and plans for future growth, to:

1. Meet the needs of our growing communities.
   Today: Last year, Toronto was ranked 30th most congested out of 390 global cities, and the 3rd most congested in North America. There is no room for more roads, and no room on our roads for more cars.
   Tomorrow: We have thousands of new units in proposed developments along Bloor, and a provincial mandate to build density around major transit stations. Residents moving into these new units will need safe and accessible transportation options, like cycling and walking.

2. Contribute to our climate goals through active transportation.
   Today: Transportation produces ~36% of Toronto’s emissions, mostly from driving and idling personal vehicles. In 2019, City Council declared a climate emergency.
   Tomorrow: TransformTO, the City’s climate action strategy, sets an ambitious goal for residents to walk, bike, or take transit for 75% of school and work trips under 5km by 2030. As we strive to move towards a more sustainable future, reducing our reliance on cars is essential.

3. Make sure our city is accessible + safe for everyone.
   Today: Over the past 10 years, there have been 48 major collisions along Bloor from Runnymede Rd to Resurrection Rd, with 55% involving pedestrians and cyclists. Sadly, a senior pedestrian was killed in a collision at Bloor and Aberfoyle earlier this year.
   Tomorrow: The number of people in Toronto aged 65 and over is expected to double by 2041. Purposeful and predictable complete street design features – like increased visibility, curb extensions, separated lanes, and reduced speeds – will protect our most vulnerable road users and help us meet our Vision Zero goals.

Going ahead with the Bloor Complete Street project is not only the responsible choice, it is an urgent choice.

I appreciate the feedback and engagement from residents along Bloor who have most directly experienced the growing pains of installation. I am confident that in the next year – once the project is complete, traffic is monitored, and changes are made – that this new infrastructure will be a positive change for residents and businesses in this area.

I am committed to holding a Town Hall in 2024, once installation is complete, to bring together residents, businesses, and City staff to make sure this project serves our changing community today, and lays the groundwork for a connected, active, and safe transportation network in Etobicoke-Lakeshore tomorrow.

What happens now?

I have been working closely with the Bloor Complete Street project team to ensure your feedback is reflected in the design. I want to express my sincere appreciation for the hard work our City staff have done to record and address community feedback to date, and for their ongoing commitment to ensuring this project meets our residents’ diverse needs.

Project installation is on track for completion in December 2023. Over the next year, I have ensured that the City will:

• Observe new travel behaviour along the corridor and on parallel streets.

• Conduct traffic counts on affected streets to evaluate before & after conditions.

• Continue to collect, record, and analyze feedback.

• Make evidence-informed upgrades and improvements.

I encourage you to share your perspective with my office ([email protected]) and the project team ([email protected]), especially if you:

• have constructive criticism about specific areas of concern along Bloor.

• have questions about the project installation and design.

• want to share your appreciation for the project team’s hard work and dedication!

I also encourage you to speak with your friends and neighbours about this project. My staff have heard from many residents with a range of perspectives. While I appreciate that this can be a divisive issue, I strongly believe in the value of working together and learning from each other’s experience and expertise.

Yours in community service,

Amber Morley
City Councillor, Ward 3 Etobicoke-Lakeshore