rdaner
Senior Member
Thanks! This is great progress!
|
|
|
University Avenue (History and Future Redesign)
- Thread starter Junction416
- Start date
rdaner
Senior Member
Taken 5 June.
jje1000
Senior Member
I think that the consolidation of University Ave around Queen's Park would be more transformative in restoring the original site intent (the current conditions are awful as a pedestrian), while I have some questions about the viability of the linear park proposed south of College mainly due to the adjacent institutional land uses (not that it's a moot point anyways for the near future).
(TORONTO). Goad Map of Toronto Plate 26 - Huron St. to Church St. - UNIVERSITY/ QUEEN'S PARK / YONGE & BLOOR
Buy old Toronto maps and Goad maps online from D & E Lake Ltd. Shop online at www.delakeltd.com & www.delake.com Located in Toronto, Ontario at 239 King St. E. We specialize in rare books, antique maps & prints, Canadian art & International art, decorative-art, coins, antique map appraisals...
delakeltd.com
Last edited:
Northern Light
Superstar
This, more or less, is what was contemplated by the University Park proposal.
(No intent of putting Hoskin back through the park......)
But yes, removing the west side of Queen's Park Crescent entirely south of Wellesley and mostly or entirely south of Hoskin (a decision would have to be made on how to route the Harbord/Wellesley bus).
That said, the proposal is not currently moving forward, but it may, at some point in the future.
There are some complexities involved, not the least of which is whether Queen's Park Crescent East would have to be widened to handle two-way traffic, and how to have that road meet University Avenue, in its current and/or a new configuration.
TwinHuey
Active Member
I just stumbled across this thread.
May 6
May 6
jje1000
Senior Member
With the bike lanes, it seems like parts of University are permanently going down to a 4-lane road, which in turn may implicate that Queen's Park Crescent East may not need extensive widening if 4 lanes of vehicular traffic are consolidated onto it.
I could imagine that to bike lanes could instead a take a route west on a combined cycle pathway where Queen's Park Crescent West is currently situated, though it does produce a tricky intersection north of College where the bike lanes and lanes intersect around Queen's Park.
reinventingthewheel
Active Member
Introducing a new traffic signal only 70-80m north on of an existing one on a major thoroughfare does sound unreasonable if there's a better way.
Perhaps the bidirectional cycle path should remain on the west side approaching the College intersection. We could further setback the north side crosswalk, open up more space for north-bound cyclists waiting to cross to the west, and maybe introduce a corner island for protection. Something like this but across a wider boulevard:
Source: OTC Protected Intersection Guide (location unknown)
dougtoronto
New Member
Incredible shot. it really just highlights to me how desperately we need an adequate University Avenue and a Queens Park Circle that doesn't feel like a highway.
TwinHuey
Active Member
Thank you.
I got on site a bit too early. Waiting for the sky to darken before launching the drone, I spent time exploring the area. It was a Sunday evening so the traffic was light.
I was taken aback by the serene lushness of the setting. It's a beautiful park.
I was also curious what the Legislative building looked like from the north so I took this shot, not intending to post.
rdaner
Senior Member
Great shot!
reinventingthewheel
Active Member
Rode the new southbound cycle track on Saturday evening and I have some stills to share from riding footage. Few notes:
Passing Gerrard St:
Passing Elm St:
Bus stop approaching Dundas St:
- The track is still blocked off from College to Dundas as it needs about an inch of asphalt on top
- Drainage issues seen below should be mostly resolved by top coat
- Dundas to Queen is freshly paved and painted. No rebuild with curbs here but an upgrade in the form of concrete blocks (still to be installed) like Richmond/Adelaide
Passing Gerrard St:
Passing Elm St:
Bus stop approaching Dundas St:
jje1000
Senior Member
Has there been a planting plan released for the new bike lanes yet?
lead82
Senior Member
Those lanes look wide enough to drive a car through there. Are those standard size bike lane widths or something extra wide here?
Northern Light
Superstar
No.
Yes. They range from 2.5M - 2.8M wide. That's a solid 0.5M above what one would typically expect from a protected Cycle Track.
just east of the creek
Active Member
Hopefully they are projecting greater then 'normal' travel volumes. Again in Montreal I believe I have seen comparable widths and physical separations, certainly not everywhere. I know they exist, because once, on a dark, rainy night, I briefly entered the bike lane by mistake, and my vehicle fit. Someone may know more about the Montreal experience.
Another viewpoint (for me at least) is the level of 'protection' these widths allow. Cycling down University with the amateur G.P. drivers six inches away from my elbow does not inspire confidence, for me at least. I recently biked the short Speers Road (Oakville) bikeway to nowhere as it is taking heavy hits in certain quarters from underuse (almost no use may be more accurate) and although the planners may think that the cute green bollard thing, plus a few concrete parking ties, plus some paint is adequate, well not really, not for me anyways. Lots of heavy truck use and i was not really comfortable. By comparison, the Lakeshore (west of Dorval) has no physical separation at all, no paint indicating bike lanes. but it is a no parking zone, and the paved shoulders are not constrained by curbs (yet) so they can be quite wide at times, and your physical separation from traffic can be be quite comfortable.