ActiveTO major weekend road closures to expand to Yonge Street on final two Sundays in September

Mayor John Tory announced today that the City of Toronto will expand ActiveTO major weekend road closures to include Yonge Street, between Davenport Road and Queen’s Quay, on the final two Sundays in September.

In partnership with Open Streets, the City will add part of Yonge Street to the popular weekend road closures initiative on Sunday, September 20 and Sunday, September 27. Roads will begin to close starting as early as 8 a.m. and be reopened by 3 p.m. each day. When all closures are in place, including Yonge Street, there will be more than 14 total kilometres of major roadway available for walking, running and biking on Sundays. The other weekend road closure locations typically include parts of Lake Shore Boulevard West and East and Bayview Avenue.

Since the spring, ActiveTO has successfully delivered a suite of initiatives that provide space for residents to safely physically distance while getting much needed exercise outdoors, helping residents remain healthy and contributing to positive overall sense of wellbeing. As families adjust to, among other things, the back-to-school routine, expanding opportunities under the ActiveTO umbrella provides more safe alternatives around the city to get outside and experience Toronto in different ways.

Vehicle access on these sections of roads will be closed and the City will actively manage traffic through signal timing adjustments on adjacent routes, as well as roadway signage to alert drivers. Motorists who normally travel northbound Yonge Street on Sundays should plan ahead and use alternate routes.

During the closure, a physically distanced activity is planned (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) as part of Open Streets. The Live Green Eco-Walk is a fun activity, administered in a safe, physically distanced manner, that involves finding decals on the street that use QR codes to link to a green fun fact about Toronto. Test your knowledge with a quiz at the end for a chance to win great prizes.

Toronto has hosted Open Streets road closures twice a year since 2014. Earlier this year, Open Streets was one of the many events cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Making Yonge Street available for the upcoming two Sundays through ActiveTO – Presented by Open Streets was made possible through the support of presenting sponsor, Coco Group, as well as contributions from CentreCourt, Menkes, and 8 80 Cities.

ActiveTO major weekend road closures are planned each weekend through the end of September.

Learn more about ActiveTO at http://www.toronto.ca/ActiveTO

Learn more about the Yonge Street expansion as part of ActiveTO at http://www.openstreetsto.org

Quotes:

“ActiveTO has been an important part of our restart and recovery planning. By giving people space to practise physical distancing while being outside for activity, we have been supporting fundamental public health advice while continuing to work to stop the spread of COVID-19. Council approved a common-sense, rapid approach to the cycling network in late May, we continue to make room for people, bikes and cars on neighbourhood streets, and I am pleased that through this partnership with Open Streets we will be expanding ActiveTO to Yonge Street on the last two Sundays in September.”
– Mayor John Tory

“Access to open, outdoor space is limited for those in the most densely populated areas of the city, and we all understand the negative impacts this dynamic can have on both mental and physical health. I applaud the Mayor, ActiveTO and Open Streets, for coming together to make this progressive initiative a reality. This will help unite Torontonians and will act as a catalyst to celebrate togetherness during these unique times.”
– Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 13 Toronto Centre

“Coco Group is proud to support the connectivity of municipal neighbourhoods, while promoting healthy lifestyles where people can enjoy moving around our city by bicycle, walking or taking transit.”
– Jenny Coco, CEO, Coco Group

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