I wanted to share an exciting update on the resident-led initiative to improve pedestrian access between Stephenson Avenue and the Danforth GO Station.
First, I'd like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported this project over the past year. Whether you signed the petition, completed the survey, attended the community meeting, shared ideas, or simply encouraged the project along the way, every contribution helped bring us to this point.
I'm pleased to share that Toronto City Council has now approved a motion directing City staff to undertake a feasibility study and initial design work for the proposed Stephenson Avenue to Danforth GO pedestrian connection. Funding has been secured for the study, work is scheduled to begin this year (2026), and City staff will report back to Council by mid-2027 with the findings, potential options, estimated costs, and recommendations for next steps.
This does not mean the pathway has been approved for construction. Rather, it is an important milestone that allows the City, in partnership with Metrolinx and adjacent landowners, to properly study what is possible from an engineering, accessibility, operational, and planning perspective. This is a significant step forward, and one that would not have happened without the incredible support shown by our community. I'd also like to thank Craig Ruttan and the team in Councillor Brad Bradford's office for working with the community and bringing this motion forward to City Council.
What happens next?
The feasibility study will now begin, and City staff will investigate the opportunities, constraints, and options for creating a direct pedestrian connection between Stephenson Avenue and the Danforth GO Station. As updates become available, I'll continue sharing them with the community. To make communication easier going forward, I've created a single mailing list that will become the primary place for future project updates.
I'll only send updates when there is meaningful news to share. Thank you again for helping move this community initiative forward. I look forward to keeping everyone updated as we continue through the next stage of the process.
Kind regards,
Dan Balcaban Resident-led Community Initiative Stephenson to Danforth GO Community Updates
A quick reminder that we still have a few spots available for tomorrow's Danforth GO Community Meeting.
* Comedy Bar Danforth (2800 Danforth Ave, at Dawes Rd) * Monday 8th June - Doors Open: 6:30 PM * Presentation Begins: 7:00 PM
We'll share updates on the proposed Stephenson Ave → Danforth GO pedestrian connection, review what we've heard through the petition and community surveys, and hear from Craig Ruttan (Chief of Staff to Councillor Brad Bradford) about City processes and next steps. Several Ward 19 Council candidates have also confirmed they will be attending as community members, providing an opportunity to introduce yourself and continue important neighbourhood conversations.
Extended the petition release date as we have a new form for a confirmed event on Monday June 8th forms.gle/hWxz2owCkXcH2oGW9 and the city is now surveying the property.
We call on the City of Toronto and Metrolinx to work together to:
Build a direct sidewalk path from Stephenson Avenue to the Danforth GO platform, running beside the renovated power station.
Install proper lighting and safety measures to ensure safe access for all pedestrians, including families, seniors, and those with mobility challenges.
Why This Matters:
🚶 Safety: Prevents dangerous crossings and improves visibility at night.
♿ Accessibility: Creates safe, barrier-free access for strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes.
🌍 Sustainability: Encourages transit use by making walking access easier and safer.
🏘️ Community: Strengthens neighbourhood connections and makes the GO station more accessible for everyone.
Call to Action (Closing):
By signing this petition, you are showing your support for a safer, more accessible community. 👉 Please also contact our local city councillor and Metrolinx community relations to let them know this issue matters to you:
Metrolinx Community Relations: TorontoEast@metrolinx.com
Together, we can make Danforth GO safe and welcoming for everyone.
After you complete the petition feel free to copy/paste the email below and send it to the councillor and Metrolinx:
Subject: Support for Safer Access to Danforth GO
Hello,
I am a local resident and I strongly support the creation of a direct, well-lit sidewalk path from Stephenson Avenue to the Danforth GO Station platform. The current access is unsafe:
Poor lighting on the stairs, especially at night
No safe crosswalk nearby
Heavy traffic risks for pedestrians, seniors, and families
Building this path would make our community safer, more accessible, and more connected, while encouraging more people to use transit.
Please prioritize this improvement for the safety and convenience of all residents.
Thank you, [Your Name]
New deadline: 07/31/2026 Signatures at the time of the change: 228
Are you available to attend the community meeting on June 8 regarding the proposed Danforth GO pedestrian connection and other local community concerns.
Monday, June 8 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Comedy Bar Danforth (2800 Danforth Ave)
Following the recent DECA meeting and the continued community feedback surrounding pedestrian safety, accessibility, and transit access concerns in the Main & Danforth area, I’m happy to share that our larger public community meeting is now confirmed.
Monday, June 8, 2026 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Comedy Bar Danforth, Mainstage
Over the past year, what started as a small community petition regarding a safer pedestrian connection to Danforth GO has grown into a much broader neighbourhood discussion involving residents, Metrolinx, Hydro One, community organizations, City representatives, and local stakeholders.
This meeting will include:
• A presentation and update on the proposed GO pathway connection • Community discussion and neighbourhood concerns • Accessibility and pedestrian safety updates • Open Q&A and community announcements
Ward 19 council candidates, media representatives, and invited stakeholders will also be attending. Please RSVP here so we can estimate attendance: https://forms.gle/ubpdigtj3DhtKkLp7
Thank you again to everyone who continues to support safer and more accessible community infrastructure in our neighbourhood.
What started as a petition and survey has now turned into a formal proposal that has been shared with:
Metrolinx leadership
The City of Toronto
The Councillor’s office
The MPP’s office
The Mayor’s office
Metrolinx has confirmed they are open to a pedestrian connection from Stephenson Avenue to the north Danforth GO platform if the City chooses to proceed.
That is a major step. Attached is the proposal showing what this could look like.
I will be announcing details very soon for our community meeting where we can come together and present a unified voice to decision-makers.
Thank you for being part of this, it truly shows what a community can do when we work together.
We call on the City of Toronto and Metrolinx to work together to:
Build a direct sidewalk path from Stephenson Avenue to the Danforth GO platform, running beside the renovated power station.
Install proper lighting and safety measures to ensure safe access for all pedestrians, including families, seniors, and those with mobility challenges.
Why This Matters:
🚶 Safety: Prevents dangerous crossings and improves visibility at night.
♿ Accessibility: Creates safe, barrier-free access for strollers, wheelchairs, and bikes.
🌍 Sustainability: Encourages transit use by making walking access easier and safer.
🏘️ Community: Strengthens neighbourhood connections and makes the GO station more accessible for everyone.
Call to Action (Closing):
By signing this petition, you are showing your support for a safer, more accessible community.👉 Please also contact our local city councillor and Metrolinx community relations to let them know this issue matters to you:
Metrolinx Community Relations: TorontoEast@metrolinx.com
Together, we can make Danforth GO safe and welcoming for everyone.
After you complete the petition feel free to copy/paste the email below and send it to the councillor and Metrolinx:
Subject: Support for Safer Access to Danforth GO
Hello,
I am a local resident and I strongly support the creation of a direct, well-lit sidewalk path from Stephenson Avenue to the Danforth GO Station platform.The current access is unsafe:
Poor lighting on the stairs, especially at night
No safe crosswalk nearby
Heavy traffic risks for pedestrians, seniors, and families
Building this path would make our community safer, more accessible, and more connected, while encouraging more people to use transit.
Please prioritize this improvement for the safety and convenience of all residents.
Thank you,[Your Name]
New deadline: 07/01/2026 Signatures at the time of the change: 200
In light of recent updates, the petition is being extended to allow more time for community members to express their ideas for adding new entry points to Danforth GO. Please also review the survey when you have a moment - forms.gle/PKV6B516nn9Je5sK7
Thank you so much for supporting the petition for safer access to Danforth GO. Your support has helped open conversations with the City, Metrolinx, and other agencies — and we’re now at the next important step.
I’ve created a short community input form to help shape a resident-led neighbourhood meeting focused on safety, accessibility, congestion, construction impacts, and GO station access. This will help show decision-makers what issues matter most to residents and how the community wants to be involved.
The more responses we gather, the stronger our case becomes. Please do share this link with your neighbours and anyone in our local area that is interested in being involved.
Thank you again for being part of this — momentum is building.
We are going to organize a community meeting for this and other reasons so I extended the time to keep the petition active and reduced the collection target to 300.
New deadline: 03/31/2026 Signatures at the time of the change: 192
