Item - 2025.NY23.26

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council prohibit southbound left-turns, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays (bicycles and Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted), at the intersection of Brentcliffe Road and Eglinton Avenue East.

2. City Council prohibit southbound left-turns, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays (bicycles and Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted), at the intersection of Don Avon Drive and Eglinton Avenue East.

3. City Council direct Transportation Services to sign “No Eastbound Access to Eglinton Avenue from Brentcliffe Road and Don Avon Drive, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday”, north of Eglinton Avenue East on Bessborough Drive, Donlea Drive, Hanna Road, Rumsey Road, Sutherland Drive, Laird Drive, and Don Avon Drive.

4. City Council direct Transportation Services to monitor the traffic volumes on Donlea Drive and the intersection of Brentcliffe Road and Eglinton Avenue East within six (6) months of the approval of the above recommendations, or three (3) months after the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit.

5. City Council direct Transportation Services to continue to explore all available options to reduce congestion at the Eglinton Avenue East and Brentcliffe Road intersection, particularly in the eastbound direction.

In recent years, road redesign for the Metrolinx Crosstown Light Rail Transit and lane realignment at the intersection with Brentcliffe Road have significantly reduced capacity on Eglinton Avenue East in Ward 15. Since December 2024, various measures, especially traffic light adjustments at Leslie Street and Work Zone Construction coordination, have provided some relief. However, congestion still results in lengthy back-ups almost every workday, plus whenever incidents or lane restrictions due to construction add traffic volume onto Eglinton Avenue East west of Laird Drive.

The situation has become untenable for many constituents on nearby residential streets, especially Donlea Drive, which runs parallel to Eglinton Avenue East. Traffic apps like Waze and Google Maps direct traffic, including trucks, onto local roads, blocking driveways, impeding access for emergency vehicles and leading to unsafe driving behaviour.

The situation is dire, and residents support implementing additional congestion mitigation measures to address traffic infiltration, including turn prohibitions. Transportation Services staff have reviewed the recommendations.