On July 7th, 2008 the Etobicoke York Community Council will consider the future of the 1950's era cloverleaf interchange of the South Kingsway and The Queensway. The plan they are considering however, though looks more like the past than the future. The interchange will remain intact with a few workarounds to attempt to address the safety issues and barriers faced by pedestrians, cyclists and transit users. A local citizen's organization T.U.R.N Toronto Urban Renewal Network lead by Marty Collier is working to see that doesn't happen and that the reconstruction of this intersection is in keeping with the change in direction our city has to make from a car centric urban infrastructure to one that will allow and encourage Torontonians to travel by bike, on foot and by transit.

The 1950's design creates many safety and access problems for cyclists, pedestrians and transit users as shown in this City of Toronto document posted on T.U.R.N's web site Pedestrian and Cyclist Access / Safety Concerns. This document was prepared as part of an Environmental assesment of the interchange. The result of that assessment was an alternative design that would address these issues. Known as the Link Road it was the technically preferred alternative among those studied and would result in removing 3 of the existing ramps, creating an at grade signaled intersection and improving conditions for cyclists, pedestrians and transit users. This alternative has been taken off the table and the current plan being considered will see city funds spent to resurface the ramps to extend their life.

T.U.R.N. is mobilizing people to get involved and support a redesign of the intersection that will be in keeping with the direction the City of Toronto is headed as described in its Official Plan, Climate Change Plan, Bike Plan and other local planning initiatives. You can see how you can get involved at their web page EYCC meeting July 7th, 2008.

It is interesting to note that just recently City Council voted to take the first steps in taking down some other 1950's style infrastructure, the eastern end of the Gardiner Expressway and the York street off ramp. Toronto Star:Ramp may be revamped - June 27, 2008. If the Councillors on the Etobicoke York Community Council (EYCC) vote to take the Queensway Kingsway off ramp back to the '50s, it will be intersting to see whether Mayor David Miller and City Council will endorse this decision or ensure the entire city continues on the road to a more sustainable, less car dependent future.