Toronto just voted to bring more car-free streets to the city

Toronto city council has voted in favour of a motion that recommends creating more car-free public spaces and identifying candidate streets for seasonal and year-round pedestrianization next year.

The motion, set forward by Councillor Josh Matlow and seconded by Councillor Chris Moise, passed in a 16-6 vote on Thursday.

"The enormous popularity of street festivals in Toronto demonstrates that Torontonians are eager to enjoy pedestrian streets and the food, entertainment, and social opportunities they provide. These events are drawing increasingly large crowds, signalling strong public demand for pedestrian-oriented experiences," the report reads.

"Pedestrian streets deliver significant economic benefits and have been successfully implemented in cities around the world, including places like Paris and Copenhagen, and as close to home as Montreal."

Dan Seljak and I got together on Baldwin Street to hear from residents about creating vibrant Pedestrian Streets in Toronto (like cities around the world already enjoy).

Please sign the petition to help make it happen at: https://t.co/Fl5MmUv0kX pic.twitter.com/HacKOVNVZc

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) June 23, 2026

The motion directs staff to create a citywide Pedestrian Streets Program, establish the criteria for selecting candidate streets, assess programs in comparable cities like Montreal and New York, and incorporate findings and lessons from the Church Street Pedestrianization Pilot, which officially kicked off last week.

Councillor Matlow also cited a Toronto Destination Master Plan report from April, which found that Toronto lags behind other peer cities in both walkability and street-level vibrancy.

The pilot program, which spans two blocks from Wellesley Street to Alexander Street and runs until Aug. 21, drew inspiration from Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest in Montreal. While initially estimated at $150,000 for nine weeks, the pilot has gone over budget to $500,000 due to increased security costs.

"Torontonians and tourism experts are calling on the city to expand pedestrianization options, and we should listen by taking concrete steps to make this happen," the motion continues.

"While there are important considerations around impacts to congestion, public safety, and responsible management, these can be effectively addressed – like many cities around the world already do."

Staff were asked to report back in advance of the 2027 budget process on the resources required to implement future seasonal or year-round pedestrianization projects, and to report back in the first quarter of 2027 with an implementation plan for that summer.