Item - 2020.EY13.23

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to undertake a comprehensive area study of the Maple Leaf and Rustic neighbourhoods of Ward 5, roughly bounded by Falstaff Avenue and Floral Parkway to the north, Connie Street and Treelawn Parkway to the east, Lawrence Avenue West to the south and Jane Street to the west, including the intersection of Keele Street and Lawrence Avenue West, and report back on appropriate measures to address traffic infiltration, vehicular volume and speed as well as pedestrian and cyclist safety, with consideration to also include the future relocation of St. Fidelis Catholic Elementary School from 9 Bannerman Street to 155 Falstaff Avenue.

Traffic congestion in the Maple Leaf and Rustic neighbourhoods of Ward 5 has been an ongoing issue. Being within close proximity to both Highways 400 and 401, and with traffic congestion on the surrounding arterial roads Jane Street, Lawrence Avenue West and Keele Street, these neighbourhoods are often used as a cut-through.

Over the years, changes have been introduced in an attempt to alleviate traffic and speeding through the area. Examples include the installation of traffic calming, speed limit reductions and the addition of stop signs and turn prohibitions. These measures have not adequately addressed traffic concerns in this area; instead, the issues were redistributed to neighbouring streets.

In order to address the traffic concerns in the Maple Leaf and Rustic neighbourhoods, it is important that traffic issues are considered at the neighbourhood level as opposed to considering streets individually.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board has begun planning for the future relocation of St. Fidelis Catholic School from 9 Bannerman Street to 155 Falstaff Avenue. It is important that the future relocation of the school is considered in any traffic study of the area so that we can proactively plan for the traffic pattern changes that will inevitably result.