John Street Corridor Improvements - Status Update

Following a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study which developed and evaluated several different design options, City Council endorsed a Preferred Design for the John Street corridor in 2012. The Environmental Assessment Preferred Design recommended several significant street improvements, including: wider sidewalks; a narrower roadway; new street tree plantings; new custom street furniture integrated with public art elements; a distinctive paving treatment from building face to building face; combined roadway, pedestrian, and accent streetlighting; and a "flexible boulevard" along the east side of the street to accommodate loading and deliveries, while maintaining an expanded sidewalk. Enabling infrastructure work to facilitate the John Street Corridor Improvements project has begun - from 2018 to 2024, significant utility construction work was undertaken to bury the overhead hydro infrastructure, relocate a major gas main, and construct a shared utility trench. The full reconstruction of John Street is anticipated to start in 2028 and be completed in 2031. Current construction cost estimates are significantly higher than previous construction cost estimates and exceed the City's capital budget currently allocated to the project by approximately $16 million. City staff are exploring opportunities to reduce construction costs as well as opportunities to identify additional funding sources to bridge the gap in order to ensure the project can advance to construction in coordination with other area construction projects. In Spring 2026, Transportation Services will be implementing targeted interim repair improvements at the King Street West and John Street intersection, due to the condition of the roadway and boulevard. This intersection is a key location with expected high pedestrian and vehicle traffic volumes during FIFA World Cup 26 TM and Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) events planned to occur later in 2026.