Item - 2010.PW32.9

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council approve the installation of bicycle lanes on the following roadways:

a.         Bay Street, from Queens Quay West to Front Street West and from Dundas Street West to College Street;

b.         Lansdowne Avenue, from Bloor Street West to Dupont Street;

c.          Rathburn Road, from Mimico Creek to Kipling Avenue;

d.          Spadina Crescent, from Spadina Avenue South to Spadina Avenue North;

e.         York Mills Road, from Scarsdale Road to Lesmill Road;

f.           Westhumber Boulevard, from Martin Grove Road to Kipling Avenue; and

g.         Ellis Avenue, from Morningside Avenue to The Queensway.

2.         City Council approve modifications to the existing bicycle lanes on Annette Street between Runnymede Road and Westholme Avenue, and between Beresford Avenue and Runnymede Road, to provide additional parking along the north and south sides of the street, respectively.

3.         City Council approve modifications to the existing bicycle lanes on Pharmacy Avenue, to move the start of the bicycle lanes from a point 30 metres south of Alvinston Road to Alvinston Road.

4.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to undertake a pilot project to install and evaluate protected bicycle lanes on University Avenue and Queens Park Crescent between Queen Street West and Wellesley Street West / Hoskin Avenue, for a period not to exceed 12 weeks between July and September 30, 2010, in consultation with the Ward Councillors and a Stakeholder Advisory Group established for the sole purpose of the pilot project.

5.         City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the results of the evaluation of the University Avenue/Queens Park Crescent protected bicycle lane pilot project.

6.         City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to develop and implement the detailed design for the above noted bicycle lanes, including amendments to traffic and parking regulations, in consultation with the Ward Councillors.

7.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction of all necessary bills.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee:

1.          deferred the installation of bicycle lanes on Brunswick Avenue, from College Street to Bloor Street West, for further community consultation.

2.          requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the following proposals for the installation of a bike network in the downtown core:

a.         separated bicycle lanes on the west side of Sherbourne Street from Elm Avenue in Rosedale, just north of the Sherbourne Street bridge, all the way to Queens Quay;

b.         creating the above separated bicycle lanes as a continuous (i.e. no gaps) network, protected from traffic by bollards and with bicycle traffic signals, like in Holland, where required;

c.          commiting to snow removal from this core network of bicycle lanes and the adjacent sidewalks;

d.         a timetable for completion of the East Don Regional Trail for inclusion in the capital budget; and

e.         other options for expanding the bike network while improving bike safety:

-            through separation of bikes on roadways by allowing bikes on sidewalks; and

-           looking at other jurisdictions where this is done, such as Seattle, and consider a pilot project.

3.         referred the submission (April 20, 2010) from Yvonne Bambrick, Executive Director, Toronto Cyclists Union, to the General Manager, Transportation Services, for consideration as part of the 2011 Bikeway Network Program.

4.          requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on a reporting system to collect data on cycling/pedestrian conflicts.

The Manager, Cycling Infrastructure and Programs, Transportation Services, gave a presentation to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the 2010 Bikeway Network Program. 

The Transportation Services Division's 2010 Bikeway Network Program focuses on expanding both the on-street bikeways in the downtown area and the off-street bikeway trails in the North York and Scarborough Districts. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the 2010 Bikeway Network Program; to obtain authority for installing several new bicycle lanes; and to make minor modifications to the existing bicycle lanes on Annette Street and Pharmacy Avenue.  In addition, Transportation Services is seeking authority to undertake a pilot project to install and evaluate protected bicycle lanes on University Avenue and Queen's Park Crescent, between Richmond Street West and Wellesley Street West / Hoskin Avenue.

The affected Ward Councillors have been consulted regarding the bicycle lanes proposed in their respective Wards.