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Toronto City Council · 2025-02-05 · 2025.MM26.12

The filed record

Study of Redesign Options to Address the High Level of Congestion and Neighbourhood Traffic at the Intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and the Allen Expressway - by Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow

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The decision

2025-02-05 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on February 5, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to initiate a study to examine redesign options to improve the operation of the Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road intersection to address the current high level of congestion and neighbourhood traffic impacts, identify necessary resources to complete this work, and brief the local Councillors prior to reporting to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2026 with a progress update and a recommended workplan, such study should include options such as: a.

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an examination of the feasibility of including a pedestrian bridge or tunnel; b. expanding the mouth of the northbound Allen Road on-ramp; and c. any other physical modifications to the current intersection configuration. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to continue existing work to meet with and collaborate with the Stakeholder Advisory Group on additional short-term operational modifications to the intersection such as signal timing, increased signage and lane markings that will reduce congestion and improve safety through driver compliance and behaviour.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

The residents and businesses along Eglinton Avenue West and in the residential communities surrounding the intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and the Allen Expressway have endured traffic chaos, now into its 14th year of the ongoing Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown construction boondoggle which is billions of dollars over budget, more than four years late with still no opening in sight. Tens of thousands of vehicles a day use this intersection to commute to and from work in an extraordinarily unique situation where a major expressway empties out into the middle of our city creating congestion in what is in fact, a regional transportation asset that serves as the on-ramp to the Greater Toronto Area's entire network of 400 series highways for commuters from Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan and beyond.

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This intolerable congestion has also resulted in unprecedented traffic infiltration on local residential streets as these thousands of daily commuters seek short cuts from Eglinton Avenue or are being directed by Waze and Google Maps. The result has been dozens of drivers queued up on the local roads experiencing road rage and engaging in dangerous behaviors putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk as evidenced by the increased number of accidents. Furthermore, tens of thousands of desperately needed new homes and jobs will be created over the next 25 years in the Allen corridor at Downsview, Yorkdale, Lawrence Heights, the Glencairn study area and into the 905 regions. This motion directs Transportation Services to expedite the study of options to redesign the intersection which continues to be the main bottleneck and source of traffic congestion now that the Crosstown surface construction is complete, and the operation of the intersection has been handed back over to the City after more than a dozen years of Metrolinx control.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow, recommends that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to initiate a study to examine redesign options to improve the operation of the Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road intersection to address the current high level of congestion and neighbourhood traffic impacts, identify necessary resources to complete this work, and brief the local Councillors prior to reporting to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2026 with a progress update and a recommended workplan, such study should include options such as: a.

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an examination of the feasibility of including a pedestrian bridge or tunnel; b. expanding the mouth of the northbound Allen Road on-ramp; and c. any other physical modifications to the current intersection configuration. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to continue existing work to meet with and collaborate with the Stakeholder Advisory Group on additional short-term operational modifications to the intersection such as signal timing, increased signage and lane markings that will reduce congestion and improve safety through driver compliance and behaviour.

    On the record

    The item as the City filed it

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