Queen & Empire

Traffic volume14-hour count · Nov 19, 2024

This is a three-leg intersection with no north leg. Traffic is heaviest from the west: 3,867 eastbound vehicles entered from that leg, 48% of the total, against 539 from the south. Most cyclists arrived from the east (389 of 798). Evening rush dominates here: 1,133 vehicles in the peak hour from 4:45 p.m., against 819 in the morning peak from 8:15 a.m. Heavy vehicles made up 3.3% of traffic (typical: 3.2%). For scale, a typical counted intersection in Toronto sees 16,177 vehicles over 14 hours. The count is 23 months old; the City recounts intersections on an ad-hoc schedule, so volumes may have shifted since.

Peak hours: 819 vehicles in the hour from 8:15 a.m. and 1,133 from 4:45 p.m. (approach figures are vehicles entering from that leg over the whole count — one day's traffic, not an annual average).

Collisions 2016–2025 · within 65 m

The worst year was 2023, with 4 collisions; 2025 recorded 2. 2 collisions (9%) involved an injury; the citywide share is 15%. 3 drivers failed to remain at the scene — 13% of collisions, in line with the citywide 16%. 2 collisions involved a pedestrian or cyclist (9%) — a high share for a Toronto intersection. Since January 2026, 1 more collision has been reported; they sit outside the ranking window. The most recent report on file is from May 21, 2026.

No one was killed or seriously injured here in 2016–2025, the ten complete years the rankings use. 1 earlier KSI collision is on file, the last on Jan 23, 2007.

A collision counts when its recorded location is within 65 m of the centreline node, intersection-related or not. KSI = killed or seriously injured, the basis of the danger rankings; records can lag a year or more, so the current year is outside the window. How collisions are counted.

How fast traffic moves here

On Empire Ave between Eastern Ave and Graham Pl, 181 m from the corner, a 3-day count in April 2019 put the average speed at 25 km/h and the 85th-percentile speed at 34 km/h, with the fastest one in twenty at 37 km/h or more. That segment carries about 800 vehicles a day. The reading is 7 years old; the City counts on request rather than on a schedule. At the school-zone speed sign on Carlaw Ave (362 m away, 30 km/h limit), 21% of the 91,875 vehicles logged in August 2026 were doing 40 km/h or more — a high share for a school zone. 4 speed humps slow traffic on Empire Avenue between Easterm Avenue and Queen St E.

Speed sign

Carlaw Ave (southbound), 362 m — 30 km/h zone. Median 34 km/h, 85th percentile 41 km/h; 21% at 40 km/h or more. 91,875 vehicles logged in August 2026; runs weekdays, 7 am - 9 pm.

Traffic calming

Empire Avenue (Easterm Avenue – Queen St E): 4 speed humps

Midblock counts are automatic counters laid across the road for one to seven days; 85% of drivers were at or below the 85th-percentile speed. A reading is not the speed through the intersection itself, and posted limits are not in the count data. How speeds are read.

The crossing

pedestrian crossover

Not within a walk: a care or retirement home.

• Groceries and food30/30

  2 grocery stores within 300 m · 29 places to eat within 300 m

• Transit15/28

  6 stops within 300 m · 11 routes within 1 km

• Library and places to go7/14

  library 271 m away

• Parks and recreation10/10

  5 parks within 500 m · 1 community centre within 800 m

• Schools and child care7/8

  1 school within 500 m · 4 licensed child care within 500 m

• Crossing on foot5/10

  pedestrian crossover · traffic calming

Our own measure, not a licensed walkability rating: every point comes from a City dataset listed under Sources, and the six parts add up to the score. How the score is built · the full ranking.

Within a kilometre there are 16 RentSafeTO-registered apartment buildings — 937 rental units — 14 social or Toronto Community Housing. The nearest is 841 Queen St E (64 m, 36 units, 3 storeys, built 1988), which scored 69 out of 100 at its July 2026 RentSafeTO evaluation. One building of the 16 scored below 70; the average is 89, about the citywide norm.

16 registered buildings · 937 units · 14 social housing · tallest 22 storeys. The score is the City's RentSafeTO evaluation out of 100; buildings of three or more storeys and ten or more units are registered, condominiums and houses are not. Each building links to its full record on LandlordReport.

Ten thefts from vehicles and four bike thefts were reported around this corner in 2016–2025 — 2.3× the median for a Toronto intersection with any reported theft. The pace has been steady at around 1.4 a year. 90% of the vehicle thefts were from the street or other outdoor spots. Since January 2026, 1 more has been reported, the latest on Jun 7, 2026.

Police offset every occurrence to the nearest intersection before publishing, so these are thefts on the streets and premises around this node, not necessarily at the corner itself. Other offences are published by neighbourhood only — see South Riverdale.

• Traffic counts: City of Toronto, Traffic Volumes – Multimodal Intersection Turning Movement Counts, latest count Nov 19, 2024.
• Serious-injury collisions: City of Toronto / Toronto Police Service, Motor Vehicle Collisions involving Killed or Seriously Injured Persons, records through Oct 11, 2026.
• All collisions: Toronto Police Service, Traffic Collisions Open Data, records through Sep 30, 2026.
• Cameras: City of Toronto, Red Light Cameras.
• Speeds and calming: Midblock Vehicle Speed, Volume and Classification Counts; School Safety Zone Watch Your Speed Program (locations and monthly summary); Traffic Calming Database.
• Within a walk: DineSafe (Toronto Public Health), inspections Nov 2023 – Oct 2026; Park Washroom Facilities, Washroom Facilities in City Buildings, Automated Public Toilets, Park Drinking Water Sources; Licensed Child Care Centres; Ministry of Health Service Provider Locations (Ontario) — Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.; City of Toronto School Locations, Parks and Recreation Facilities, Library Branch General Information, Places of Interest and Attractions, Traffic Signals Tabular, Neighbourhoods.
• Apartment buildings: City of Toronto Apartment Building Registration and Apartment Building Evaluation (RentSafeTO), as compiled by LandlordReport (imported Sep 10, 2026).
• Thefts: Toronto Police Service, Theft From Motor Vehicle and Bicycle Thefts open data, occurrences offset by police to the nearest intersection, records through Jun 30, 2026.
• Ward and BIA: Wards and Elected Councillors (Ward 14 councillor), Business Improvement Areas.
• Getting there: TTC Routes and Schedules (GTFS), GO Transit GTFS, UP Express GTFS, VIA Rail GTFS, MiWay (Mississauga) GTFS, Durham Region Transit GTFS, Brampton Transit GTFS, York Region Transit GTFS, Bike Share Toronto, Cycling Network; Topographic Mapping – Physical Area of Parking Lots, Green P Parking with Parking Occupancy, City-Operated EV Charging Stations, Street Furniture – Bicycle Parking, Bicycle Parking Racks, High-Capacity Bicycle Parking, Indoor Bike Stations. Data provided with permission of Metrolinx where GO and UP Express appear.
• Coordinates: 43.66009, -79.34446 · centreline node 13465017.