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NDOT staff outline downtown mobility lane network, funding and timeline for demonstration build
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Summary
Staff presented the Connect Downtown mobility lane plan, candidate alignments and potential physical treatments (including modular concrete barriers), said $3 million in Choose How You Move (Chime) funds are available for planning and design and that construction or demonstrable progress is targeted for spring 2027.
NDOT staff updated the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission on the Connect Downtown downtown mobility lane program, describing candidate alignments, potential treatments and the project timeline.
Staff said the mobility lane network is intended to serve a variety of wheeled mobility devices and to function within a multimodal Connect Downtown scope that also addresses transit priority, curb management and pedestrian improvements. Staff referenced national design guidance (NACTO) and described candidate treatments including wider lane footprints to accommodate cargo and adaptive bicycles and modular concrete edge treatments ("Toronto curbs") or concrete wheel stops as options for a protected, durable facility.
Funding and schedule: staff said the project has received about $3 million in Chime (Choose How You Move) funding for planning and design and that additional capital funding for remaining mobility lanes is under consideration in the capital spending plan; staff said they hope to issue a notice to proceed to consultants by the end of the year. They said the project is on a hard timeline to show measurable progress by spring 2027, with construction activity likely in 2026–2027 and a mix of temporary quick‑build and durable options under consideration.
Staff also described related Connect Downtown work: the Second Avenue conversion plan, adaptive signals, downtown bollard 'raptor' installations for temporary and emergency closures, bike and scooter corrals (previous downtown installation of roughly 140 corrals) and a proposed set of rideshare pickup/drop‑off zones to be activated during busy periods subject to operator commitments.
Commissioners asked about pedestrian space, enforcement and speed limits on streets proposed for conversion; staff said enforcement programs, mapping and coordination with parks and other agencies are ongoing.
