The Mimico Mobility Plan will see more protected bike lanes, narrower and more one-way streets to make it safer.
Some Mimico residents are telling City officials to slow down with a Mimico Mobility Plan to ease traffic in the area before it goes before community council for consideration this month.
City officials are moving ahead with a broad-ranging Mimico Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP) to slow down speeders and ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using local roadways.
The NMP will identify, prioritize and recommend short and long-term improvements to traffic operations in the Mimico area.
There was a meeting to update the community on December 11 and a public survey seeking views has ended. The plan goes before Etobicoke York Community Council later this month.
The Mimico Mobility Plan has drawn concerns from many residents as it goes before community council this month.
Alex Cameron said there should be another public meeting and a second survey should be conducted.
“The neighbours I have talked to are not in agreement on what steps should be taken,” Cameron said. “The dedicated cycle tracks and median on Superior Avenue between Lakeshore and Stanley are opposed by the residents.”
He said many residents are not in favour of two-way traffic on Mimico Avenue.
The plan if approved will mean no parking on Superior Avenue, more bike lanes, more planters and narrow lanes to slow things down.
Residents Jeff Harris and Jessica Tinianov wrote the proposed measures are long overdue.
“We positively support reduced speed limits, automated speed enforcement, improved intersection design and traffic calming measures,” they wrote. “We feel that some of the items in the proposals are not appropriate and require further consideration.”
The NMP is meant to improve road design to support road safety for all modes of transportation including vulnerable road users as seniors, school children, pedestrians and cyclists in Mimico, according to city officials.
It is designed to reduce traffic fatalities, reduce speeding and excessive traffic on local roads, enforce non-compliance with traffic regulations and signage and improve road and intersection designs that pose concerns.
More plants and planters are planned, along with speed bumps and automated cameras to slow down traffic to make it safer.
The city is recommending new cycle tracks with physical separation from vehicles and connections to existing bikeways on Stanley Avenue and the Martin Goodman trail.
Also being considered are speed bumps, reduced lane widths to reduce speeds and encourage driver alertness and the removal of three-hour free street parking on Superior Avenue between Stanley Avenue and Lake Shore Blvd. W.
The City is planning to replace the existing shared lane markings and install uni-directional cycle tracks and safety enhancements on Superior Avenue from Stanley Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard West. These changes will address excessive speeding, aggressive driving, and may also discourage non-local traffic on local streets.
More cycling networks are planned along with wider, well-marked intersections to make it safer.
“These were key concerns identified by the community in the first phase of engagement for the Mimico NMP,” according to a release.
Changes will include cycle tracks on each side of the street for safety, a painted median with planters which reduces lane width to help prevent aggressive passing, and introduces additional green space to the street.
Lanes will also be narrowed to reduce speeding without the need for many speed humps.