City-Sized Replica on Our Site: Jennifer Keesmaat, Toronto's Urban Planner
In an insightful conversation, host Mikael Colville-Andersen of The Life-Sized City interviews Jennifer Keesmaat, the former chief city planner of Toronto, about inspirational stories from the partnered website. The interview is part of a series on The Life-Sized City, which focuses on urban planning and design.
Toronto, North America's fastest-growing city, faces numerous challenges when it comes to planning and re-designing streets for pedestrians. Narrow sidewalks, safety concerns for vulnerable road users, heavy motor vehicle traffic, speeding, and neighborhood cut-through traffic are some of the key issues.
One of the most pressing challenges is the narrowness of sidewalks, particularly on routes to schools, making pedestrian access difficult and unsafe. Road safety issues at intersections and along arterial roads also pose a significant threat, with conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles leading to vulnerability.
Heavy vehicle dominance on certain streets, such as Parkside Drive, results in little space for pedestrians, and sidewalks that fail to meet minimum width standards. Traffic volumes and non-local traffic using residential streets as cut-through routes to avoid congestion on major roads increase pedestrian risk in neighborhoods.
Drivers’ non-compliance with traffic laws, such as wrong-way driving and failure to stop at stop signs, and speeding, aggressive, and distracted driving, contribute to dangerous conditions for pedestrians.
To address these challenges, Toronto is employing various strategies. Sidewalk widening and pedestrian crossing improvements, as seen in the Rivertowne Road project, aim to enhance access and safety, especially near parks and schools. Traffic calming and street redesigns, including closing certain streets to motor vehicles, create safer, more seamless pedestrian connections.
Installing and making more visible speed camera signage is another strategy, though some advocates argue this is not sufficient without street design changes that physically reduce speeds. Community involvement and consultation are also crucial to address local issues and ensure redesigns respond to resident concerns.
Pilot and pop-up pedestrian-friendly infrastructure projects, such as those by the organization 8 80 Cities, demonstrate the benefits of street redesigns focusing on pedestrians and cyclists.
In conclusion, effective pedestrian-oriented street planning in Toronto requires a combination of physical infrastructure changes, enforcement, and community collaboration to mitigate traffic dangers and prioritize pedestrian space in a city growing fast and contending with urban sprawl.
The interview with Jennifer Keesmaat is set to take place around the world, and the audience can look forward to hearing more inspiring stories and insights about urban planning and design.
Amidst Toronto's ongoing struggle with urban planning and designing pedestrian-friendly streets, home-and-garden lifestyle improvements, such as sidewalk widening and traffic calming, play a substantial role in ensuring safety and accessibility for pedestrians. The life-sized city, as envisioned by urban planners like Jennifer Keesmaat, aims to prioritize pedestrian space, fostering a home-and-garden lifestyle that is both safe and enjoyable for residents.
