Waterfront Toronto’s vision for Queen’s Quay and the East Bayfront has been eliciting enthusiasm since the winner of an international design competition was unveiled in 2006.
But the map showing how the lakefront between Spadina Avenue and Parliament Street will be configured was unveiled for public perusal only yesterday.
The scenario being recommended would turn the south side of Queen’s Quay into a “linear park,” with a wide pedestrian promenade shaded and separated from traffic by aisles of trees. The drawings show streetcars running down the middle of the avenue on a grassy right-of-way — a green touch still under discussion.
The existing four lanes of traffic would be reduced to just two lanes on the north side of the road. It’s still not known if those will run westbound, with eastbound traffic diverted to Lake Shore Boulevard, or if there will be a lane in each direction.
The “desperately required” redesign will cost $350 million, including $150 million for a new Harbourfront East transit line. A new underground streetcar entrance to Union Station to serve the eastern end of Queen’s Quay is being recommended between Freeland and Cooper streets.
If the environmental assessment goes as planned, construction would begin in fall 2010.
