EGLINTONconnects open house reveals separated bike lanes planned in street redesign

Text and photos by Joey Schwartz

What: Community consultation and planning open house to present the recommendations for the future of Eglinton.

When: Monday October 7th at George Harvey Collegiate Institute

Additional meetings Tuesday October 8 at Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, and Wednesday October 9 at Jean Vanier Secondary School (details)

EGLINTONconnects is a comprehensive planning strategy of the Eglinton corridor, developed to meet the challenges and realize the potential of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT - the cornerstone transit line of a planned network of 52 km of light rail rapid transit to be constructed over the next 10 years.

About 60 people showed up at the EGLINTONconnects public consultations on the Eglinton LRT at George Harvey Collegiate Institute on Keele Street, just south of Eglinton.

The designers' guiding principles follow from their acceptance of Complete Streets. What that means for cyclists is that separated bicycle lanes (cycle tracks) are part of the plan for almost the entire LRT route. The exception being in Scarborough, where a previous Environmental Assessment, completed in 2010, made provisions only for regular bike lanes.

The lanes will be painted green and may include some other treatments that signify its active transport status. Questions still exist about the lanes' width, but  overall, the audience members seemed to agree with the plans. The final report is expected to be presented to Toronto City Council next spring.

***

Joey Schwartz has been active in Toronto politics for almost twenty-years, in capacities ranging from serving on resident association boards, to running successful councillor campaigns. He's been cycling around Toronto for over 20-years, as both an utilitarian and recreational cyclist.

Related on the dandyBLOG

City plans to install bi-directional bike lane on Harbord in 2014

Roundup of the 2013 Complete Streets Forum

Going with the flow: a system of Contraflow lanes, bike lanes and sharrows planned for Shaw