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The Mississauga Official Plan identifies Dundas Street as an Intensification Corridor, Higher Order Transit Corridor, and, west of Confederation Parkway, a Primary On-Road/Boulevard Cycling Route. It's one of Mississauga's most important arteries, and along the 17-kilometre corridor stretching from Oakville to Toronto, a great many land uses abut the street. You'll find high and low-density housing scattered among parkland and gas stations at some intersections, while big-box stores, strip malls and fast food outlets anchor acres of parking at other junctions.
To manage the future growth expected to take place along this corridor, the City of Mississauga is developing a long-term Master Plan. With primary focus on land use, transit, public realm alterations, and key intersections highlighted on the map above, Dundas Connects looks to:
- Test multiple rapid transit scenarios along the Dundas Corridor and recommend the option that optimizes anticipated demand and growth potential;
- Identify changes to land use that support intensification and transit-supportive development;
- Identify the location of the Dixie-Dundas Community Node currently outlined in the Official Plan;
- Update the boundaries of Provincial Special Policy Areas (including flood prone areas) and identify any mitigation measures to support intensification and higher-order transit; and
- Estimate the cost of implementing the study's rapid transit proposals and recommend possible financial tools.
Residents are now being asked for their ideas, opinions and knowledge to help inform the basis for the Dundas Connects plan. A round of five public meetings along the corridor will begin this week, with the first being held Tuesday afternoon:
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Location: South Common Community Centre
Arbour Green Room
2233 South Millway
Time: 4 – 6:30 p.m.Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Location: University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)
Davis Building
Faculty Club
1867 Inner Circle
Time: 4 – 6:30 p.m.Date: Thursday, April 21, 2016
Location: Huron Park Community Centre
Iroquois Room
830 Paisley Boulevard West
Time: 1:30 – 4 p.m.Date: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Location: Thornwood Public School
Gymnasium
277 Mississauga Valley Boulevard
Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m.Date: Thursday, April 28, 2016
Location: St. John’s Dixie Anglican Church
Parish Hall
719 Dundas Street East
Time: 4:30 – 7 p.m.
If you're unable to make it to a public meeting, the creative juices have already begun flowing online, where numerous commenters have submitted their ideas for an improved Dundas Street. An idea to 'urbanize Dundas' has received the most traction so far, receiving six votes of approval. It calls for a stepping back from the suburban structure and public realm of Mississauga, instead opting in favour of a more urban character that stresses pedestrian and cyclist connectivity, beautiful public spaces and a thriving environment for independent stores, restaurants and businesses. In an effort to battle gridlock, others call for a light rail transit link to Toronto via Kipling Station, or at the very least, a dedicated busway. Some form of higher-order transit is anticipated along Dundas, as the MiWay route currently serving the street is the system's second busiest, with over 20,000 riders every day.
Specialized expertise will be provided throughout the engagement process by a dedicated consultant team led by AECOM and supported by SvN and Swerhun Facilitation. The final Master Plan will be brought to City Council for approval in late 2017. Until then, you can find out more about the plan and get involved by submitting your own ideas by checking out dundasconnects.ca.
