From City today:
News Release
July 7, 2014
Changes to Toronto's Simcoe Street to benefit drivers and cyclists
The City of Toronto has initiated road changes to Simcoe Street, including the creation of a new traffic lane and the installation of cycle tracks among other changes, in an effort to improve the movement of traffic for drivers and cyclists.
"Fighting traffic congestion and making our streets safer is a top priority of mine. I am confident that these changes will reduce delays for motorists and make our streets safer for cyclists as they move around the downtown core," said Mayor Rob Ford. "This initiative is the next step in our aggressive plan to fight traffic congestion and make it easier to get around our great city."
"The installations are just one more part of the City's overall congestion management plan that will help all road users move more effectively in this area," said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34 Don Valley East), Chair of the City of Toronto's Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
The changes will provide a safer bikeway connection between Queens Quay and the new cycle tracks that will be installed later this month on Richmond Street West and Adelaide Street West. The change to two-way traffic between Front Street West and Wellington Street West will help to improve the flow of northbound traffic from Simcoe Street to Wellington Street.
The following changes will be made to Simcoe Street, effective July 9:
• Between Front Street and Wellington Street, Simcoe Street will be converted to two-way operation for all road users. A new traffic lane will be created in the northbound direction in addition to cycle tracks (separated bike lanes) on each side of the street.
• Between Queen Street West and Wellington Street, Simcoe Street will remain one-way southbound for motor vehicles. However, cycle tracks will be installed in both directions on the street. The existing traffic signals will be modified to provide traffic signal displays for cyclists travelling in the northbound direction.
• An extra wide, shared curb lane will be provided in the southbound direction between Queen Street and Richmond Street and between King Street and Wellington Street to accommodate pickup and dropoff activity in those two blocks.
This news release is also available on the City's website:
http://bitly.com/1mBDBXi
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit
http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.