Item - 2020.TE20.62

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Directed the General Manager,Transportation Services review the intersection of Mill Street and Cherry Street to explore potential safety measures for pedestrians and report back in the first quarter of 2021. These safety measures can include but are not limited to:

a.    Zebra striping

b.    Additional traffic signs

c.    Review of the signalized intersection

d.    Traffic wardens

e.    Extending the ‘Senior Zone’ from The Esplanade

f.     Consider restricting right turns

g.    Automated Speed Cameras

2. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with contractors and developers in the area to provide additional flagmen at each construction site in the West Don Lands.

3. Directed the General Manager,Transportation Services in partnership with Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and any relevant city divisions to provide a corridor safety study of Mill Street, by way of Parliament Street to Bayview Avenue as well as Cherry Street by way of  Eastern Avenue to Mill Street and report back to the Toronto East York Community Council by the third quarter of 2021.

4. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services present on the findings from the Vulnerable Road User Review at the Toronto and East York Community Council December 2, 2020 meeting.

On November 4, 2020 a pedestrian was struck and killed at the corner of Mill Street and Cherry Street as she was crossing this intersection. Following protocol, Transportation Services staff will conduct a Vulnerable Road User review to assess and identify potential safety measures at this intersection. While we can not undo this tragic loss, the City of Toronto can review pedestrian safety improvements to support the vulnerable road users of this community.

This tragic incident and ones like it, are too often. Vehicles, including construction vehicles, speed down local roads without due caution. When there are many construction sites, and many construction-related vehicles, this becomes a greater issue. While the City of Toronto endeavours towards Vision Zero, there are clear gaps that need to be addressed to ensure the road safety of our neighbourhoods.

With several developments scheduled in the coming years, along Mill Street and nearby, each developer has the responsibility to ensure safety on their site, and adequate precautions for drivers as they maneuver local, unfamiliar roads. This can be facilitated by employing additional flagmen and using traffic wardens at key intersections.

Mill Street and Cherry Street is a complicated intersection with separated streetcar tracks, medians and four lanes of traffic. This is a transit priority signalized intersection. Due to the complexity of this intersection, it is critical that the design supports pedestrian safety while clearly indicating that this is a residential area and drivers need to proceed with care.

By reviewing this intersection and the subsequent corridors of Mill Street and Cherry Street, the City of Toronto can prioritize and support Vision Zero through a holistic look at this neighbourhood in transition.