Goals
- Rebalance the street, giving each mode of transportation its fair share.
- Create a more welcoming, pleasant main waterfront boulevard with access to the water’s edge.
- Attract new business and promote tourism.
Involvement
Public Agencies
Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Hydro,Toronto Water, Enbridge, Bell Canada, Rogers, Cogeco, and Allstream
Citizen Associations
Waterfront Toronto engaged with local residents and businesses throughout the design and construction process.
Designers and Engineers
West 8, DTAH, BA Group Municipal Services, ARUP, MMM Group, and James Urban and Associates
Lessons Learned
Public consultation was a hallmark of this project from its very beginning. Waterfront Toronto held almost 100 public meetings and stakeholder-consultation meetings over the course of this project.
As construction on linear projects in dense urban neighborhoods is always difficult, Waterfront Toronto worked closely with stakeholders during construction to keep a two-way line of communication open. This
effort included monthly meetings with community representatives and weekly construction notices. Managing the needs and schedules of multiple stakeholders and utilities required an unusually high level of inter-agency coordination.
Protecting landscaping features while still making space for all necessary utilities proved a difficult but worthwhile exercise. When conflicts arose over the location of underground infrastructure and services, Waterfront Toronto developed creative solutions to ensure that both public realm and essential utilities could coexist.
Key Elements
Creation of a pedestrian promenade along the waterfront.
Creation of a two-way, off-street cycle track.
New street furniture installed.
New trees planted.
Taxi and loading bays accommodated.
Widened sidewalks.