Bike lane fight brewing in north Yonge project

Tory opposes plan favoured by local councillor, city staff that would reduce car lanes

Mayor John Tory opposes removing two vehicle lanes on a six-lane stretch of north Yonge St. as part of a plan to build separated bike lanes and wider sidewalks, despite city staff and the local councillor saying that’s the best way to improve the area.

Tory’s continued opposition to the “Transform Yonge” plan, after city staff looked at alternatives, is frustrating Councillor John Filion, Ward 23 Willowdale.

“Downtown North York should be more than a sea of highrises with six lanes of highway running down the middle,” said Filion, who will make his case to the public works committee Friday. “This area has been neglected for far too long. The city needs to invest in creating a beautiful (main street) that connects the buildings and the people who live in them.”

The $51.1-million plan would see Yonge from Sheppard Ave. to just north of Finch Ave. get: separated bike lanes on both sides; wider boulevards; better pedestrian crossings; and a landscaped centre median. To make room for cyclists and more sidewalk, one vehicle lane in each direction would be removed between Sheppard and the Yonge intersection with Hendon Ave. on one side and Bishop Ave. on the other.

Last February, a majority of council members including Tory voted to pause the project. Amid concerns over increased gridlock, city staff were asked to explore the option of keeping all vehicle lanes and putting the bike lanes on one of two nearby streets, Beecroft Rd. or Doris Ave.

In a new report, city staff say that, of those two alternatives, Beecroft makes the most sense but the original “Transform Yonge” plan, with bike lanes on Yonge, is superior and the Beecroft option would add $20 million to the cost. On CP24 Monday, Tory said he supports remaking north Yonge but wants the bike lanes on Beecroft. Ignoring the report’s main finding, he focused on public consultation notes in the appendix saying some residents are concerned about traffic impacts of losing two vehicle lanes.