Transportation Impacts of the proposed development at 1327 - 1339 Queen St E
This is Part One of a series, a review of the document:
1327 - 1339 Queen Street East Proposed Mixed-Use Development
Urban Transportation Considerations
A Transportation Impact Study
by BA Consulting Group Ltd. - March 2014
This series of reviews of the document attempts to put the development proposal into the context of a near-future neighbourhood characterized by higher population densities and the necessary ancillary transportation infrastructure required to support this intensification.
This required character - known as Complete Streets, or Sustainable Development or Livable City Building - is City of Toronto policy2. It envisions a multitude of ways in which to increase the number of trips accomplished on a finite street grid - already at it's maximum capacity over long stretches of the day throughout the year in the area of this proposed development.
I note that retail portion of the proposed development is considered Ancillary and, at less than 2,000 m3, no parking is required and none is provided, for either for cars or for bicycles. Foot traffic is envisioned as the sole mode share method for accessing these retail establishments.
On the one hand this lack of any kind of parking for the retail in this proposal seems to reflect an enlightened understanding of the Avenue-based retail business market. Several recent studies have shown that the vast majority of customers get to local retailers by means other than a car3.
On the other hand - this local-market catchment-area understanding also brings to the fore an idea contained within the Livable City Building doctrine - that of creating People Places along our Avenues - and this opportunity is missed in this development proposal.
People Places can be accomplished by building deeper sidewalks accompanied by green space set-backs from the property line. This provides more room for people - a space where people feel comfortable to linger and sit and talk - spaces that encourage a vibrant local culture and encourage local trip destinations suited to active transportation choices - like walking and, along with ample bicycle parking amenities, cycling.
That this development envisions no bicycle parking for the retail, no set-back for green space (that would replace the 5-7 metres of green space the development will remove from the existing built form), is regrettable and not in the spirit of a modern city building best practices.
The following video talks about how NY City is beginning to build a Liveable City - the elements of the video that speak to my point above does not include the bike lanes that were installed in this example - but rather the softening of the street edge to accommodate people. In the future in Toronto we may come to the realization that business will do better if we remove a parking lane (and a peak hour through lane) on Queen Street in order to install Bicycle Lanes; but that is outside the scope of this development application. But we can begin to create the future by adding people friendly places when we build new developments.
STREETFILMS - Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes
The Danforth Study - Toronto Centre for Active Transportation - August 2014:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.PW22.10
ii) National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) - May 13, 2014
NACTO Welcomes Toronto as First International Member City
http://nacto.org/2014/05/13/nacto-welcomes-toronto-as-first-international-member-city/
by Corinne Kisner
I BIKE TO - May 18, 2011 - by Herb
Cycle tracks are about complete streets: help calm traffic and create streets that include everyone
http://www.ibiketo.ca/blog/cycle-tracks-are-about-complete-streets-help-calm-traffic-and-create-streets-include-everyone
By Michael Holloway
ETCC member,
Sustainable Development Advocate
This is Part One of a series, a review of the document:
1327 - 1339 Queen Street East Proposed Mixed-Use Development
Urban Transportation Considerations
A Transportation Impact Study
by BA Consulting Group Ltd. - March 2014
(A Transportation Impact Study produced by BA Group Consultants for Rockport (Queen and Leslie) Inc., submitted to City of Toronto Planning, Development Applications, on March 10, 2014 with regard to a proposed development at 1327 - 1339 Queen St East Toronto, Ontario, Canada1.)
This series of reviews of the document attempts to put the development proposal into the context of a near-future neighbourhood characterized by higher population densities and the necessary ancillary transportation infrastructure required to support this intensification.
This required character - known as Complete Streets, or Sustainable Development or Livable City Building - is City of Toronto policy2. It envisions a multitude of ways in which to increase the number of trips accomplished on a finite street grid - already at it's maximum capacity over long stretches of the day throughout the year in the area of this proposed development.
2.0 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
I note that retail portion of the proposed development is considered Ancillary and, at less than 2,000 m3, no parking is required and none is provided, for either for cars or for bicycles. Foot traffic is envisioned as the sole mode share method for accessing these retail establishments.
On the one hand this lack of any kind of parking for the retail in this proposal seems to reflect an enlightened understanding of the Avenue-based retail business market. Several recent studies have shown that the vast majority of customers get to local retailers by means other than a car3.
On the other hand - this local-market catchment-area understanding also brings to the fore an idea contained within the Livable City Building doctrine - that of creating People Places along our Avenues - and this opportunity is missed in this development proposal.
People Places can be accomplished by building deeper sidewalks accompanied by green space set-backs from the property line. This provides more room for people - a space where people feel comfortable to linger and sit and talk - spaces that encourage a vibrant local culture and encourage local trip destinations suited to active transportation choices - like walking and, along with ample bicycle parking amenities, cycling.
That this development envisions no bicycle parking for the retail, no set-back for green space (that would replace the 5-7 metres of green space the development will remove from the existing built form), is regrettable and not in the spirit of a modern city building best practices.
BACKGROUND: What is a Liveable City?
The following video talks about how NY City is beginning to build a Liveable City - the elements of the video that speak to my point above does not include the bike lanes that were installed in this example - but rather the softening of the street edge to accommodate people. In the future in Toronto we may come to the realization that business will do better if we remove a parking lane (and a peak hour through lane) on Queen Street in order to install Bicycle Lanes; but that is outside the scope of this development application. But we can begin to create the future by adding people friendly places when we build new developments.
STREETFILMS - Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes
How do Complete Streets effect small business demand?
The Danforth Study - Toronto Centre for Active Transportation - August 2014:
"Most existing studies and reports on the subject of parking, transportation and business focus on the relationship between transportation mode of visitors/pedestrians to an area, the importance of parking to commercial areas, and the perceptions of merchants surrounding travel choices. Many reports are reinforced by common findings, which are relevant to our study on Danforth Avenue. Notably, it has been found that cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders are competitive customers who tend to spend more money on average than those who drive. Pedestrians who use transit, walk or ride a bike reportedly visit more often, and spend more money than those who drive (Arancibia, 2013; Clean Air Partnership, 2009, 2010; New York Department of Transportation, 2013; OTREC, 2013). This point is illustrated well by D Arancibia in a report titled Cyclists, Bike Lanes and On-Street Parking: Economic Impacts. In this report, the author states that cyclists “are skilled, selective, loyal, and spend more money where they shop than their driving counterparts. Cycling infrastructure is important to them, and therefore important for businesses who want to attract them (both as customers and as employees). Bicycle lanes and bicycle parking can increase the capacity of roads and the ability of people to shop simultaneously, all while improving various social and environmental aspects of a neighbourhood”(Arancibia, 2013)."
Notes:
1
City of Toronto Development Applications, 1327 Queen St E Ward 32 - Tor & E.York District, [► Supporting Documents] "Transportation Impact Study" - http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentApplications/associatedApplicationsList.do?action=init&folderRsn=3515067
2
i) City of Toronto TMMIS - Agenda Item History - 2013.PW22.10 "Complete Streets" - May 7, 2013http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.PW22.10
a) Background file 67628 - March 11, 2014 - "Approach to Developing Complete Streets Guidelines"
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2014/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-67628.pdf
ii) National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) - May 13, 2014
NACTO Welcomes Toronto as First International Member City
http://nacto.org/2014/05/13/nacto-welcomes-toronto-as-first-international-member-city/
by Corinne Kisner
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) announced today that the City of Toronto has joined as NACTO’s first International Member. In joining NACTO, Toronto further demonstrates the city’s commitment to sustainable transportation policies and livable city street design standards.
“I’m extremely pleased that the City of Toronto is the first international member to join this group of leading city transportation officials,” said Stephen Buckley, General Manager of Transportation Services for the City of Toronto. “NACTO has a proven track record in developing better urban transportation design, and I’m excited to see Toronto benefit from, and contribute to, the great innovations that NACTO is advancing.”
...
3
- The Danforth Study - Toronto Centre for Active Transportation - August 7, 2014 - Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business: A Study of Danforth Avenue in Toronto Danforth Neighbourhood - http://tcat.ca/node/2383
- Guardian UK - Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - by Michael Andersen
Four reasons US business leaders want to import Danish-style cycling
At long last, cycling is being supported by American business – not out of environmentalism but because it's delivering profit
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/reasons-business-leaders-danish-style-cycling
Sources:
"STREETFILMS - Complete Streets: It's About More Than Just Bike Lanes" found via,I BIKE TO - May 18, 2011 - by Herb
Cycle tracks are about complete streets: help calm traffic and create streets that include everyone
http://www.ibiketo.ca/blog/cycle-tracks-are-about-complete-streets-help-calm-traffic-and-create-streets-include-everyone
By Michael Holloway
ETCC member,
Sustainable Development Advocate
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