Our Approach
A Community-driven Proposal
The Mobility Greenway’s innovative concept is the product of seven years of community driven dialogue. As we continue to move the project forward, we are committed to showcasing the sustainable, accessible, and dialogic approach which we have always used. Working with our community partners, we will harness additional support to catalyze our efforts to create vibrant places in our suburbs that work for people of all ages.
Our Story
A WORLD CLASS PATHWAY
The Our Greenway plan will create a 40+ kilometer roadside and ravine linear park network across Toronto’s suburban northwest. The first of it’s kind in the world, our cutting-edge Mobility Greenway will support a range of personal and commercial mobility devices. People of all ages and abilities will be able to travel across the northwest quickly in comfort. Everywhere is now four times easier to reach – without needing a motor vehicle or taking transit!
new parkettes in underutilized spaces
The Mobility Greenway gives us the opportunity to animate underutilized spaces with the creation of mini-parkettes embedded along our arterial roads and ravine networks. These adaptable neighbourhood spaces will serve as pop-up markets, entertainment stations, or common areas featuring local food options. Crucially, these parkettes will be built to be hubs for community-driven programming and can be adapted as desired.
Present DESIGN: Safer, More Comfortable Design Needed!
The current Finch West redesign includes a low volume cycle track in the blind spot of trucks and oil tankers. We need a artertial road design that puts our people and our needs back in the picture, and well build and cared for pathways in our ravines. A low volume route just for cyclists will not serve our needs, neither the needs of our businesses, our youth and our entrepreneurs.
The wide and comfortable Mobility Greenway will become northwest Toronto’s ‘green spine’. The high volume Greenway’s raingardens will protect people and make local trips safe, comfortable and suitable for both business and personal needs, while stewarding donors' generous investments.
BUILDING A LIFELINE THROUGH GRIDLOCK FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
When Ambulance, Police and Fire Services are snarled in traffic, they are not responding to our critical calls or administering vital care. The Mobility Greenway’s rolled curb design will allow Police, Fire and Ambulance services to use the pathway to bypass heavy traffic while still keeping people of all ages and abilities using the path safe.
PREVENT FLOODING DURING SEVERE WEATHER
Northwest Toronto residents and businesses are no stranger to severe weather. Flooded basements and stalled traffic are a common hazard due to our increasingly heavy rains.
Metrolinx rightly notes, “For Metrolinx, improving resilience is a necessity, not an option. The operational, financial and public risks of inaction are unacceptable, while timely action could bring secondary benefits. GTHA residents and their communities expect Metrolinx to proactively consider the impacts of climate change when planning, building and operating infrastructure.”
Page viii, Metrolinx’s Planning for Resiliency: Toward a Corporate Climate Adaptation Plan (2017)
The Mobility Greenway’s carefully engineered raingardens (low impact development) uses plants, trees and a mix of permeable surfaces and soil to ensure community resilience and deliver the primary and secondary benefits we deserve.
Designed to be eligible for the Federal Government's merit based Disaster Mitigation and Adaption Fund, this project's sizeable benefits can come at minimal cost to both Torontonians and the Province.
ADDRESSING OUR MENTAL HEALH AND SOCIAL ISOLATION CRISIS
Social isolation is deeply damaging to our health, well-being and quality of life. We know that seniors and people on lower incomes are the most vulnerable to mental health challenges. Reconnecting people with their communities provides economic, safety and health benefits while respecting taxpayers. The Mobility Greenway addresses our mental health and social isolation crisis head on by creating a vibrant green space network which also connects people to key local employment and social opportunities.
GIVE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS A MOBILITY LIFELINE
Local businesses, which already operate on tight cash flows, need more cost effective and sustainable ways to carry goods and move people. Cargo cycles can meet these needs - if they can be accessed local businesses. Our commercial-grade Greenway will allow customers to easily reach their doors, while working with locals to ensure that businesses have the tools to offer easier and less costly delivery services. Young entrepreneurs will be able to put their skills to use and offer mobile services throughout the northwest, especially to the benefit of seniors who need the help!
