The future of Yonge Street should be flexible
Vision for downtown artery requires it stay open to traffic with closures for special events
Yonge Street is often referred to as the longest street in the world. If you count Highway 11, as the Guinness World Records used to, it’s almost 1,900 kilometres long. If you only count Yonge Street proper, it’s actually about 86 kilometres.
Regardless of length, it is indisputably the most important and iconic street in Toronto — maybe even all of Canada. It is very much Canada’s Main Street.
The downtown section of Yonge is particularly important, as it is the heart of our city, literally and figuratively. The stretch of Yonge between College and Queen streets has long been central to Toronto’s economy and culture, and a place where Torontonians and visitors convene.
As Toronto has evolved, so has Yonge. The future of this vital artery is up for consideration right now, as we collectively determine its look and function moving forward.
The Downtown Yonge BIA has undertaken extensive work in this regard — “Yonge” is actually in our title, so obviously we care about the street a great deal — including a large public consultation called “Yonge Love.” Key priorities that emerged from these consultations included that Yonge be walkable, flexible and complete, as the centrepiece of a vibrant and inclusive neighbourhood.
Based on Yonge Love, as well as indepth discussions with our 2,000 member businesses and local residents, we have developed a set of principles we believe should be the foundation of Yonge development in the years and decades ahead.
Fundamentally, we see Yonge as a “flex street” — temporarily closed to vehicular traffic for major festivals, events and other activities to boost the economy, but otherwise open as a regular thoroughfare.
We do not support permanently closing sections of the street, as some advocates have aggressively proposed. Permanent closures would have serious negative consequences both operationally and economically. Eliminating vehicular traffic would be catastrophic for business, significantly curtailing the number of customers and their interactions in the area. Deliveries, waste management and other services for downtown businesses would be severely hampered. It would also exacerbate congestion on other downtown northsouth arteries, as well as the east- west streets intersecting with the closed sections.
Events and activities, by definition, take place during a finite time period. Yonge should be open for regular vehicular traffic at other times.
We are not advocating for the status quo. Our principles include a number of significant changes, including possibly reducing the number of lanes — one northbound, one southbound — and widening sidewalks to improve the pedestrian experience and enable seasonal patios.
Broader considerations also need to be part of the planning process, including upgrades to underground power and water systems and addressing ongoing community safety and cleaning issues.
There are many successful examples of the flex street concept, including Toronto’s own Market Street, Dundas Place in London, Ont., Exhibition Road in London, England, and New York City’s Summer Streets program. Designs for the future of Yonge Street should follow these examples, creating a street with the flexibility to ensure that downtown Yonge continues to be a great place to live, work, play, learn, shop and invest.
We’re only Yonge once. Let’s get it right.