b'subway and light rail system it has longTHE LANDSCAPE needed. But critics have wonderedWILL LOOK SIMILARwhether the province can deliver inMany experts think that, ultimately, ABOUT 1 MILLION time to accommodate the influx ofthe Toronto of the near future new Torontonians expected in theMORE PEOPLEwont look all that different. The coming years. Since Premier Doug FordWILL LIKELY PACKdowntown core will have more announced the Ontario Line in 2019,skyscrapers. The expanding public its opening has been pushed back fourINTO TORONTOtransit network will create more years to 2031 and its price tag has nearlyPROPER, A SURGEsecondary hubs. And warming doubled, according to reports. temperatures may change the THAT WOULD BEnature of the citys natural spaces.CARS WILL STAY PARKEDUNPRECEDENTEDBut the Jetsonian future of flying AT HOME cars and police robots probably isnt To keep streets moving and to combatIN ITS HISTORY in the cards, laughs Badminton.gridlock, the citys master plan willToronto itself will not look and discourage driving, especially in thefunction so differently. Were not downtown core. Major thoroughfares will be redesignedgoing to tear down sections of the city.to give priority to streetcars, cyclists and pedestrians.He hopes Toronto can continue to build on the Officials expect more streets to begin to look like theculture, street life and sense of community that Danforth and the stretch of Yonge between Bloor andmakes it so unique. For me, the potential is the Davisville, where half the roadway has been replacedpeople. As we grow we need to connect more and with a bike lane and restaurant patios. ignite collaborative programs to keep lifting the That could ultimately make Toronto a much nicercity up.place to live for the millions who call the city home,Although a major transformation isnt expected, according to Badminton. climate change will have some influence over the We should focus on street-level services and placesdesign of Torontos homes. City officials are aiming to for people to congregate, he adds. slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings by 80 per cent and make all new THE WEATHER WILL GET A BIT WILDER construction near-zero in terms of emissions. In the years to come, Toronto will likely become hotterTo that end, we are already seeing some government and wetter, with one study predicting it will feelgrants available for those looking to make energy like Washington, D.C. by 2050. The changes couldefficiency upgrades to their homes. In the years ahead, unfortunately leave the city more prone to flash floods,we could see a scenario when Torontos homes will heatwaves, ice storms and tornadoes. Which in turnbe adapted for the hotter, wetter weather thats in could have a negative effect on worker productivity andour future, says Khanna. This could mean rooftops impact critical infrastructure. are dotted with solar panels, smart thermostats are Whatever Toronto is in 2050, its going to be a muchcommonplace and towering trees line many blocks, harsher environment, says Sanjay Khanna, a Toronto- shielding homes from the sun and reducing the need based futurist and corporate consultant. for air-conditioning. [Well require] an attitudinal shift as we faceA greener, more sustainable city requires innovation, tougher conditions and well need to find a way to becreative solutions and planning. All positive changes more altruistic. that we cant wait to see in the coming years.GTA PORTSUBWAYGROWTH1 LATION: LANDS EXPANSION:CHART 0 REVITALIZATION: 15POPUthousands -of homes expectedstop Ontario Line million to be built to openBY 2046 AFTER 2030 BY 2031A Heaps Estrin Publication BEYOND 25Beyond_FEB23_FutureCity_FINAL.indd 25 2023-01-24 5:53 PM'