The RSTC Vision:
The Road Safety and Transportation Committee (RSTC) is dedicated to improving the safety of the roads and transportation infrastructure within our neighbourhood. The RSTC is working with the office of University-Rosedale Councillor Dianne Saxe on traffic calming measures to promote road safety across the Annex.
The RSTC’s vision for healthy streets seeks to create a leading-edge, inner- city, safe and pedestrian/cyclist friendly neighbourhood that prioritizes community, active mobility, and connection, while absorbing increased density.
Current Work (2026): Traffic Calming in the Annex
With neighbourhood densification, the onset of downtown core traffic congestion and the popular use of mobile navigation tools such as Waze and Google Maps, there has been a steady increase in traffic volume and speed along the collector and minor streets of the Annex, as with most neighbourhoods across Toronto. In the Annex, concerns have increased about the subtle conversion of tight collector and minor streets into arterial-like roads, which is dangerous and detrimental to the intended use of those streets.
As identified in a public meeting held in October 2024 [see below “Past Work (2024)"], many Annex residents are concerned about the increasing east-west cut-through traffic patterns along two main streets – Lowther Avenue (from Avenue Road to Bathurst, via Lowther, Brunswick, and Barton), and Bernard Avenue (from Bedford Road to Bathurst, Bernard, Kendal, and Wells). As congestion increases along Bloor Street and Dupont, traffic apps direct drivers into the neighbourhood to save seconds or minutes, particularly in the westward direction.
With respect to arterial roads in and around the Annex, the ARA-RSTC will continue to lobby for measures that improve traffic safety and flow on Annex arterials, and for them to become calmer, complete streets. With respect to addressing cut-through traffic using collector and minor streets specifically, the ARA-RSTC is considering further options for traffic-calming improvements that discourage or lessen the impact of that traffic.
The ARA-RSTC is also looking at options for re-routing traffic flow to reduce the volume of cars in the neighbourhood, including one-way street conversions along Lowther and/or Bernard. Minor and collector roads are simply not designed for heavy traffic volumes. Safety is reduced, especially for children and the elderly. Additional tools that may reduce traffic volume include turn restrictions, modal filters, daylighting of intersections, and enforcement, to name a few.
To read the ARA-RSTC’s “Cut-Through Traffic Action Options,” click here.
Stay tuned!
A public survey on cut-through traffic concerns will be available in September/October 2026, followed by a public consultation meeting to consult Annex residents on the options put forward.
Past Work (2025):
To address road safety and traffic calming generally across the Annex, the ARA-RSTC has been working consistently with the community and the office of University-Rosedale Councillor Dianne Saxe and good progress has been made in terms of intersection, signage, and roadway marking improvements. Additionally, speed humps have been deployed along Wells Ave., and Lowther Ave., which provide some measure of control. These and other improvements are summarized in the “BIG WIN MAP” below.
With respect to traffic violation enforcement, the ARA-RSTC carried out an Annex wide “Traffic Violation Count” in the fall of 2025, which has been submitted to the City for action. To read the report click here.
The RSTC’s work during 2024 and 2025 has resulted in several big wins, summarized in the map below:
Past Work (2024):
In 2024, the RSTC developed an “Action Plan for Healthy Streets” (approved by the ARA Board, November 14, 2024). To read the plan click here.
Following an Annex-wide survey* and a public consultation meeting**, it is clear that the Annex community favours using a range of solutions to improve road safety.
All quantitative and qualitative responses have been summarized, and based on the input received, the RSTC has been able to formulate a three-pronged-approach generated from three distinct areas of concern: 1) Big Changes, 2) Quicker Fixes, and 3) Conduct.
* Read the full results of the RSTC Healthy Streets Survey (Sept. 13 - Oct. 18, 2024) click here.
** Read the complete summary of the Public Consultation Meeting (Oct. 15, 2024) - Open Space Conversation click here.
Our sincere thanks to all who participated in the above consultations - Your voice has impact!
Get in Touch!
If you would like to get in touch with the RSTC about (i) a particular road safety issue, (ii) questions/comments regarding the “Cut-Through Traffic Action Options”, (iii) more information about ongoing work, (iv) participating in the work of the RSTC, please send a message with subject line “Road Safety” to [email protected].