Recap from Last Week’s Eglinton-Allen Virtual Meeting

On Monday, March 23, more than 250 people took part in a virtual meeting regarding the Eglinton-Allen Intersection Study. While the meeting only briefly covered the eglintonTOday project which many cyclists are interested in, it thoroughly explained some of the interim measures taken to divert traffic away from nearby residential streets, as well as the intersection redesign process. Given the next Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting is scheduled for April 7, 2026 which will debate that intersection, let’s recap what happened from that meeting and where we go from here.

All images are from the City of Toronto's Eglinton-Allen March 2026 presentation slide deck

The first half of the meeting focused on neighbourhood streets and interim measures. In late 2025, the City of Toronto implemented changes such as turn prohibitions and do not enter signage at nine intersections as approved by City Council per the below slide.

Per some counts done in mid-January, the changes appeared to have been effective In reducing traffic volumes on most residential streets, though some arterials (and a few other streets) saw increases. Opinion on these changes was divided with those living on the target streets noticing significant benefits and those outside them less likely to do so. While there are some further improvements coming down the pipe including increasing the left turn signal phase from Bathurst onto Eglinton by three seconds, the need to fix the Eglinton-Allen intersection remains.

The second half focused on the Eglinton-Allen intersection itself. When the eglintonTOday project was brought up, the City was still noncommittal on when installation can begin on the parts outside of the Eglinton-Allen intersection; claiming they needed to wait for warmer weather first.

As for the intersection study itself, the first public consultation showcasing a long list of options is expected to happen May, while a follow-up consultation is expected in Fall 2026 or Winter 2027 where the preferred option will be presented. This means we cannot expect any bike lanes on the Allen to Bathurst stretch of Eglinton until at least 2027.

The City did give a preview of what some of the options could involve. However, the impression I got was they were a bit too carbrained for my liking. Some of the options included a four-lane ramp to allow simultaneous left and right turns, as well as a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians. One person in attendance suggested requiring pedestrians to use the tunnel, but that would be a slap in the face for people with disabilities.

Even though the IEC Agenda Item IE28.2 is to only receive the update on the Eglinton-Allen redesign study for information, advocates are still encouraged to e-mail iec@toronto.ca to demand a firm timeline for the installation of eglintonTOday from Keele to Mount Pleasant outside of the targeted intersection, as well as to expedite the intersection study itself. Even though certain parts of Eglinton such as near Caledonia are undergoing sewer repair work which should wrap up later this year, it’s important to expedite installation on the sections that can be done now! We only have a limited window of opportunity which we cannot afford to squander!