Item - 2012.CC17.1

That City Council refer this item to the City Manager with the request that:

a.          The City Manager establish and consult an expert fact-finding panel to review and assess the available evidence regarding options for extending the Eglinton line eastwards from Laird to Kennedy and/or Scarborough Town Centre and make recommendations, such panel to be composed of the following:

i.          A prominent, trusted and neutral leader as Chair, to be selected jointly by the Mayor, the Chair of the TTC and the Chair of the Planning and Growth Management Committee;

ii.          one staff expert nominated by Metrolinx;

iii.         one staff expert nominated by the Toronto Transit Commission;

iv.         the Deputy City Manager responsible for City Planning and Transportation; and

v.         two other persons, to be selected by the Chair, who are not current or former employees of Metrolinx, the TTC or the City of Toronto and are not current or former elected officials;

and

b.         The City Manager report back on the findings and recommendations of the expert panel to a special meeting of City Council to be called within 30 days.

That motion 1 by Mayor Ford be amended by adding to the mandate of the expert fact-finding panel, an evaluation of the feasibility of the following transit projects:

-           The Finch West LRT from the Spadina Subway extension to Humber College.

-           The Eglinton Crosstown LRT from Jane Street to Kennedy Station.

-           The Scarborough RT conversion to LRT from Kennedy Station to Sheppard Avenue, with an extension to the Malvern Town Centre as funds become available

-           Extension of the TTC Sheppard Subway line westward from the current Sheppard Station to the current Downsview Station, thereby relieving ridership pressure off of the eastern portion of the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway line.

-           Extension of the Sheppard LRT to end at the Toronto Zoo.

-           Extension of the TTC Bloor-Danforth Subway line from Kennedy Subway Station north-eastward to the Scarborough Town Centre.

-           Extension of the Eglinton Crosstown  line from Jane to Pearson Airport including a study of its alignment.

-           The construction of a Downtown Relief Line.

That:

1.         Toronto City Council affirm its support for the light rail transit priority plan for Toronto consistent with the Metrolinx “5 in 10” plan as presented to the Metrolinx Board at its meeting on May 19, 2010  and the early implementation of the following projects:

-         The Finch West LRT from the Spadina Subway extension to Humber College

-         The Eglinton Crosstown LRT from Jane Street to Kennedy Station

-         The Scarborough RT conversion to LRT from Kennedy Station to Sheppard Avenue, with an extension to the Malvern Town Centre as funds become available.

2.          Toronto City Council affirm its support for the continued discussions between Metrolinx and the TTC regarding the TTC delivery, operations and maintenance of the light rail transit priority projects on behalf of Metrolinx.

3.         Toronto City Council direct appropriate City staff to communicate to the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx its support for the continued discussions between Metrolinx and the TTC over the light rail transit plan and the early implementation of the priority projects by the TTC on behalf of Metrolinx.

4.         Toronto City Council authorize the City Manager and all appropriate staff to execute any and all agreements with Metrolinx for funding and implementation of the above.

5.         Toronto City Council authorize the Toronto Transit Commission to direct staff to enter into discussions with Metrolinx to study the future feasibility of the following transit projects:

-         Extension of the TTC Sheppard Subway line westward from the current Sheppard Station to the current Downsview Station, thereby relieving ridership pressure off of the eastern portion of the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway line.

-         Extension of the Sheppard LRT to end at the Toronto Zoo.

-         Extension of the TTC Bloor-Danforth Subway line from Kennedy Subway Station north-eastward to the Scarborough Town Centre.

-         Extension of the Eglinton Crosstown  line from Jane to Pearson Airport including a study of its alignment.

-         The construction of a Downtown Relief Line.

That in accordance with Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council reconsider the vote on motion 3a by Councillor Stintz.

That  in accordance with Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council reconsider the vote on motion 3a by Councillor Stintz.

That:

1.         City Council request the City Manager to establish an expert advisory panel regarding transit on Sheppard Avenue that will report back to a Special Meeting of Council no later than March 21, 2012.

The advisory panel will determine the most effective means of delivering rapid transit to the greatest number of riders with the funds currently allocated for a public transportation project on Sheppard and Council requests that the City Manager request the following participants for the expert advisory panel:

-            senior representatives from Metrolinx,

-            senior representatives from the Toronto Transit Commission,

-            senior representatives from the Toronto Board of Trade,

-            senior representatives from the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance,

-           David Crombie,

-           Eric Miller, and

-           Dr. Gordon Chong.

Amended by motion 5 by Councillor Wong-Tam, motion 9 by Councillor Lee, motion 10 by Councillor Milczyn, and motion 11b by Councillor Pasternak.

That motion 3b by Councillor Stintz be amended by adding the words "incorporating a gender and racial equity lens" after the words "The advisory panel" and by adding the following participants to the expert advisory panel:

-           senior representatives from the Toronto Women's City Alliance

-           senior representatives from Social Planning Toronto

That City Council request Metrolinx to use the funds previously allocated for the Finch West LRT and redirect them to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Sheppard subway and for an upgraded bus route along Finch Avenue; City Council direct the City Manager to immediately enter into discussions with the Toronto Transit Commission, Metrolinx, the Province of Ontario and the Federal government on setting the stage for a further subway along Finch Avenue; and City Council affirm a commitment to a subway along Finch Avenue.

That motion 3b by Councillor Stintz be amended by adding the following participant to the expert advisory panel:

-           a representative of the Sheppard East Village BIA

That:

1.         City Council request the City Manager, the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, in conjunction with Metrolinx, to report to the TTC and City Council on a long-term transit strategic funding solution for future transit projects and include but not be exclusive to completing the Sheppard Avenue subway from Don Mills Station to Scarborough Town Centre and from Downsview Station to Yonge and Sheppard.

2.         City Council direct the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee on a strategic path for disposing of non-performing real estate assets used for TTC purposes, such report to address whether revenues from such disposals could be directed to funding the Sheppard Avenue subway plan, and the feasibility of allocating 20 percent of all net proceeds from the sale of City of Toronto assets to new subway and above-grade LRT construction.

3.         Should savings be realized on the Eglinton Cross Town line as a result of confirmation by City Council to have a portion of the Eglinton East line constructed at or above grade, City Council request the Province of Ontario and Metrolinx to apply approximately $650 million of the savings to the extension of the Sheppard subway east from Don Mills Station to Victoria Park as identified in the KPMG report entitled "Sheppard Subway Extensions: Analysis of Funding Options for Toronto Transit Infrastructure Limited and the City of Toronto".

4.         City Council request the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, to report to Council on the feasibility of allocating 20% of the TTC annual capital budget to the design and building of new subway and above-grade LRT track.

5.         City Council direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to report to Council on the implications of dedicating not less than 50% of the City's future annual surplus to the construction of new subway or above-grade LRT construction.

6.         City Council affirm a goal of creating no less than one kilometre of new subway or above-grade LRT routes on an annual basis.

7.         City Council request the Mayor to urge the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to work with the federal government on a national strategy for funding urban and regional transit.

8.         City Council request the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, to commence negotiations on a federal funding package for our next generation of urban transit.

That motion 3b by Councillor Stintz be amended by deleting the word "determine" and replacing it with the words "advise City Council" and by adding the words "and with projected funds" after the words "the funds currently allocated" so that it now reads as follows:

1.         City Council request the City Manager to establish an expert advisory panel regarding transit on Sheppard Avenue that will report back to a Special Meeting of Council no later than March 21, 2012.

The advisory panel will advise City Council the most effective means of delivering rapid transit to the greatest number of riders with the funds currently allocated and with projected funds for a public transportation project on Sheppard and Council requests that the City Manager request the following participants for the expert advisory panel:

-            senior representatives from Metrolinx,

-            senior representatives from the Toronto Transit Commission,

-            senior representatives from the Toronto Board of Trade,

-            senior representatives from the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance,

-           David Crombie,

-           Eric Miller, and

-           Dr. Gordon Chong.

That motion 6 by Councillor Mammoliti be amended by adding the words "and the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, be directed to report to City Council on the feasibility of immediate implementation of enhanced bus service on Finch Avenue utilizing queue bypass lanes as reported on at the May 11, 2011 meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission" after the words "upgraded bus route along Finch Avenue" so that it now reads as follows:

That City Council request Metrolinx to use the funds previously allocated for the Finch West LRT and redirect them to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, the Sheppard subway and for an upgraded bus route along Finch Avenue and the City Manager, in consultation with the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, be directed to report to City Council on the feasibility of immediate implementation of enhanced bus service on Finch Avenue utilizing queue bypass lanes as reported on at the May 11, 2011 meeting of the Toronto Transit Commission; City Council direct the City Manager to immediately enter into discussions with the Toronto Transit Commission, Metrolinx, the Province of Ontario and the Federal government on setting the stage for a further subway along Finch Avenue; and City Council affirm a commitment to a subway along Finch Avenue.