Item - 2012.PW19.11
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 27, 2012 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on November 14, 2012 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on November 27, 2012.
PW19.11 - Streetcar Tracks and Cyclist Safety
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on November 27, 28 and 29, 2012, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize and direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Toronto Transit Commission, to develop and implement a “streetcar tracks and cyclists” safety strategy that would include, but not be limited to:
a. communicating safety tips when cycling near streetcar tracks;
b. collecting and analyzing data on streetcar track-cyclist crashes;
c. conducting a Pilot Project to evaluate the effectiveness of pavement markings and/or signage to guide cyclists safely across streetcar tracks; and
d. communicating safety concerns with motor vehicle drivers.
2. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to have the on-line data collection platform operational by Spring 2013 and launch the pilot project by the Summer of 2013 in consultation with the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee.
3. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the first quarter of 2013 on a plan to remove or cover decommissioned streetcar tracks on Wychwood Avenue and Kipling Avenue by 2014.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-51593.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(November 12, 2012) Submission from Councillor Mike Layton, on behalf of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee (PW.New.PW19.11.2)
(November 13, 2012) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (PW.New.PW19.11.3)
(November 13, 2012) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (PW.New.PW19.11.4)
Communications (City Council)
(November 13, 2012) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (CC.Main.PW19.11.6)
(November 22, 2012) Letter from Hamish Wilson (CC.Supp.PW19.11.7)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the first quarter of 2013 on a plan to remove or cover decommissioned streetcar tracks on Wychwood Avenue and Kipling Avenue by 2014.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Nov-29-2012 6:01 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - PW19.11 - Mihevc - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 27 | Members that voted Yes are Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that voted No: 5 | Members that voted No are Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday, Denzil Minnan-Wong, David Shiner |
| Total members that were Absent: 13 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Mike Del Grande, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Ron Moeser, John Parker, James Pasternak, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
That:
1. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services include as part of the "streetcar tracks and cyclists" safety strategy, a strategy for communicating safety concerns with motor vehicle drivers.
2. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, have the on-line data collection platform operational by Spring 2013 and launch the pilot project by the Summer of 2013 in consultation with the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Nov-29-2012 6:03 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - PW19.11 - Layton - motion 2 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 28 | Members that voted Yes are Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that voted No: 4 | Members that voted No are Ana Bailão, Doug Ford, Rob Ford, Doug Holyday |
| Total members that were Absent: 13 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Mike Del Grande, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Ron Moeser, John Parker, James Pasternak, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Nov-29-2012 6:03 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - PW19.11 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 31 | Members that voted Yes are Ana Bailão, Michelle Berardinetti, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Doug Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Doug Holyday, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, Adam Vaughan |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Rob Ford |
| Total members that were Absent: 13 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Mike Del Grande, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Gloria Lindsay Luby, Giorgio Mammoliti, Ron Moeser, John Parker, James Pasternak, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
PW19.11 - Streetcar Tracks and Cyclist Safety
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:
1. City Council authorize and direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Toronto Transit Commission, to develop and implement a “streetcar tracks and cyclists” safety strategy that would include, but not be limited to:
a. communicating safety tips when cycling near streetcar tracks;
b. collecting and analyzing data on streetcar track-cyclist crashes; and
c. conducting a Pilot Project to evaluate the effectiveness of pavement markings and/or signage to guide cyclists safely across streetcar tracks.
Origin
Summary
This report responds to a request by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee for the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services to report on strategies to make inactive and active streetcar tracks safer for cyclists. The presence of streetcar tracks is a reality that Toronto cyclists have been dealing with for more than 100 years. The Toronto Transit Commission currently has approximately 300 km of active streetcar tracks and 3.5 km of unused tracks. Streetcar tracks – active or inactive – present a potential hazard to cyclists, especially when wet. When a bicycle wheel drops into the track flange it causes the cyclist to lose control of the bicycle’s steering and sometimes results in a fall.
When streetcar tracks become inactive, the City’s current practice is to maintain the track allowance in good repair until it can be removed cost-effectively during road reconstruction or resurfacing. Most of the current unused track is located on roads that are included in Transportation Services 10-year Capital Plan and are programmed to be removed over the next seven years.
Staff have completed a review and assessment of possible measures that could be implemented immediately to address this problem and have concluded that there is no “simple fix” that will prevent cyclists from getting their wheels caught in streetcar tracks. Further work is therefore required, including the conducting of a survey of cyclists to better understand the extent of the problem and the implementation of a pilot project of possible mitigating measures, in order to have the required information to develop a comprehensive and effective strategy. The strategy must focus on three key areas: improving cyclists’ awareness and skills in cycling near tracks; providing guidance to cyclists at key locations; and in the case of inactive streetcar tracks, systematically removing or overlaying the tracks in a cost-effective manner.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-51593.pdf
Communications
(November 12, 2012) Submission from Councillor Mike Layton, on behalf of the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee (PW.New.PW19.11.2)
(November 13, 2012) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (PW.New.PW19.11.3)
(November 13, 2012) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (PW.New.PW19.11.4)
Speakers
Councillor Joe Mihevc
Motions
That:
1. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services include as part of the "streetcar tracks and cyclists" safety strategy, a strategy for communicating safety concerns with motor vehicle drivers.
2. City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, have the on-line data collection platform operational by Spring 2013 and launch the pilot project by the Summer of 2013 in consultation with the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee.
3. The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the first quarter of 2013 on a plan to remove or cover decommissioned streetcar tracks on Wychwood Avenue and Kipling Avenue by 2014.