Torontonians are one step closer to seeing the future of their most iconic street take shape, with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area's (DYBIA) recently published "Yonge Love" report providing an insight into the revitalization plan that will re-shape the Downtown stretch of world's longest street. With the area of Yonge stretching south from Davenport down to the waterfront set to be reinvigorated over the next five years, the report—drawn from extensive public consultations—gives a statistical breakdown of the street's current use as well as resident priorities for the area.
Looking north along Downtown Yonge Street, image by UrbanToronto Forum contributor cruzin4u
The most conspicuous and near-universal public demand for Yonge Street—and its immediate vicinity—calls for a more pedestrian-oriented streetscape, in line with the DYBIA's plans to reduce the width of the street from four lanes to two. The change would accommodate the street's widened sidewalks and patios, which would create a more iconic and inviting pedestrian hub, similar to the expansive shopping streets seen across many European cities.
A graphic detailing the findings of the report regarding Yonge Street's current use, image courtesy of DYBIA
With almost 600,000 people passing through Downtown Yonge Street on a daily basis (above), the street already serves as a prominent civic hub, though it currently lacks distinctive aesthetic quality and the sort of urban infrastructure befitting its status.
While the reduction of car lanes may have some effect on traffic along the street, the reduced noise of a smaller roadway would also serve to create a more pedestrian-friendly ambiance, which would likely prove a boon to the many businesses operating along the busy strip. According to the report, the most sought-after changes included pedestrian only use of the street on weekends (17%), more bike lanes (16%), and wider sidewalks (15%). The numbers reflect the single change that respondents saw as the greatest priority, with the graphic below providing a more complete rundown of the most popular initiatives:
The most sought after changes, image courtesy of DYBIA
According to the report, respondents also expressed a desire to see a more "human-scale" environment along Yonge, with more trees and a vibrant, welcoming streetscape "to invite residents, employees and visitors into [the] neighbourhood's public realm."
The DYBIA is taking a "complete streets" approach to Yonge, which accommodates the needs of all users—including cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers—in planning for the street's future. Among the other initiatives considered, the inclusion of pop-up galleries in vacant storefronts is a possibility, along with more frequent public markets.
A full copy of the report is available here.