Item - 2023.TE6.54

The Toronto and East York Community Council:  

1. Authorized the installation of the Kensington Market Safe Streets Project and all required by-law amendments to Toronto Municipal Code Chapters 903, 910, 925, 950, as generally described in Attachment 1 to the report (June 6, 2023) from the Director, Project Design and Management.

2. Directed staff to form and work closely with a local stakeholder committee to consult on and propose to implement a time-restricted pilot project to test and evaluate a pedestrianised zone following construction of the capital works.

3. Directed Transportation Services and Engineering and Construction Services staff, in consultation with Economic Development and Culture, to work closely with the community and local businesses while completing detailed design, to develop a plan to:

a. minimize the construction disruption in Kensington Market;

b. ensure delivery and pickup access to each business throughout and following construction;

c. provide robust and regular notification to all businesses before and during the construction period; 

d. work closely with community and local businesses to minimize and to communicate any property, delivery, loading and other impacts; and

e. evaluate whether to reduce the speed limit from 40 kilometres per hour to 20 kilometres per hour on Nassau Street, between Augusta Avenue and Spadina Avenue.

4. Requested the Director, Project Design and Management, Transportation Services to include in the detailed design all reasonable measures to discourage non-resident through-traffic through Kensington Market.

5. Requested the General Manager, Economic and Community Development and Culture to take every reasonable step to assist Kensington Market businesses throughout construction.

6. Requested the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture report directly to City Council on any impacts on small business in the Kensington Market Safe Streets Implementation: Prioritizing Pedestrians in Kensington Market.

Kensington Market is a cultural, community and commercial centre and a destination with high pedestrian traffic and local business operations.

In 2024 and 2025, road rehabilitation and watermain replacement is programmed on several streets within Kensington Market due to the condition of the aging infrastructure:

- Augusta Avenue from College Street to Dundas Street West

- Baldwin Street from Augusta Avenue to Spadina Avenue

- Nassau Street from Bellevue Avenue to Augusta Avenue

- Kensington Avenue from Dundas Street West to Baldwin Street

- St. Andrew Street from Kensington Avenue to Spadina Avenue

The programmed work presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve safety and accessibility while supporting local businesses. Extensive feedback from local stakeholders and the public has been sought through three rounds of consultation between Fall 2021 and Spring 2023.

Transportation Services is recommending a design that will prioritize pedestrians while accommodating slow speed vehicle access for local residents and enhancing loading opportunities for businesses.

Key features include:

- Mid-block curb extensions to calm vehicular traffic and provide space for cafes, pedestrians and furnishings (bike parking, waste receptacles, etc.);

- Curb extensions and reduced corner radii at intersections wherever possible;

- Widened sidewalks on Augusta Street, Nassau Street and St. Andrew Street;

- A universally-accessible rolled curb installed on all streets;

- Concrete pavers on roadways that are permeable where possible to filter and reduce stormwater runoff;

- Dedicated Commercial Loading Areas - 160 metres of commercial loading area, providing twelve (12) spaces for large delivery trucks;

- Flexible Loading Areas - 234 metres of by-lawed no-parking areas that would allow temporary loading, deliveries and pick-up and drop-off, providing eighteen (18) spaces for large delivery trucks or forty-two (42 spaces) for passenger vehicles; 

- Reduced speed limits on all streets in the project area from 30 km/h to 20 km/h;

- More bike parking and Bike Share Toronto stations;

- Pedestrian-scale street lighting in partnership with the Kensington Market BIA; and

- Street trees added where possible. 

Transportation Services also proposes to pursue a pedestrianisation pilot project following the completion of construction. This would allow more time to consult with local businesses and residents, other City Divisions and the public to determine the best balance for Kensington Market that puts pedestrians first, while also keeping the Market accessible for businesses and local residents. Staff would form and work closely with a local stakeholder committee to consult on, implement and evaluate a temporary pedestrianised zone within Kensington Market. Consultation on the pedestrianisation pilot would begin in 2024 during the tendering and construction periods of the project.