Toronto council defers the vote on the north Yonge St. remake

Before what would have been a very close vote, city council instead decided to wait until an undetermined future meeting to set the terms for a $51.5-million Yonge remake.

Thestar.com
March 27, 2018
David Rider

Six hours after the start of bruising debate and minutes before an expected vote, Toronto council punted a decision on how to remake north Yonge St. to an undetermined future meeting.

The 20-15 vote to defer final decision included support from Willowdale councillor John Filion, champion of the city staff-endorsed plan to put bike lanes on Yonge between Sheppard and Finch Aves., and Mayor John Tory, who fought that idea in favour of bike lanes on nearby Beecroft Rd.

The deferral motion from Councillor Joe Cressy, who supported Filion, directs city staff to research and report back on freshly aired TTC concerns that Yonge bike lanes could increase bus travel times near Finch station, bunch buses together and increase waits for riders.

An admittedly deflated Filion told reporters “the votes weren’t there” for majority support of the $51.5-million plan to replace two Yonge vehicle traffic lanes with protected bike lanes and improve the streetscape on widened sidewalks to turn the condo-lined corridor into a pedestrian destination.

Comments at council suggested Tory’s pricier plan -- to put bike lanes on Beecroft, keep six vehicle lanes to avoid any chance of increased gridlock, and improve the sidewalk where possible -- was destined to win by one or two votes. It’s also possible both options would have been voted down.

“It’s disappointing,” said Filion, who spent years building community support for the “Transform Yonge” plan that was championed by residents’ groups in his ward, urbanist Richard Florida, ex-mayor David Crombie and ex-chief Toronto planners Jennifer Keesmaat and Paul Bedford.

The Ward 23 councillor suggested the issue might not return until after the Oct. 22 municipal election, adding he hopes Torontonians elect a “more progressive” council that won’t be so worried about inconveniencing drivers primarily travelling to and from York Region.

City transportation staff told councillors both plans could improve street life on what many call a mini-highway, but rated the Tranform Yonge plan higher on streetscaping opportunities, pedestrian safety and conformity with council-endorsed “Complete Streets” guidelines.

Tory did not speak to reporters after the vote. Earlier, he said regular people -- not those with “fancy titles” -- warned him Yonge bike lanes would increase gridlock. That could cost the economy, increase car pollution, and rob commuters of precious time with their families, he said.

“I have to represent a balance of all interests and that includes making sure we address the needs of pedestrians, of business, of transit users... of cyclists,” the mayor told council, adding that motorists driving to and from the 905-belt are “not the enemy that’s invading the city.”

Tory plans to seek re-election this fall. A win for his plan, first advanced in recent weeks by Councillor David Shiner, could have triggered criticism that he was pandering to suburban drivers.