Item - 2012.TE12.1

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council permanently close, to vehicular traffic, a portion of Willcocks Street between St. George Street and Huron Street, shown as Part 1 on attached Sketch No. PS-2011-083, and portions of Gould Street and Victoria Street, shown as Parts 1 and 2 on attached Sketch No. PS-2011-105 (collectively, the "Highways"), attached to the report, dated December 12, 2011, from the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District.

2.         City Council enact a by-law substantially in the form of the draft by-law attached as Appendix "A" to the report dated December 12, 2011 from the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District.

3.         City Council authorize the City to enter into an agreement with Ryerson University and with The Governing Council of the University of Toronto ("University of Toronto") substantially on the terms and conditions set out in Appendix "B" and Appendix "C", respectively, to the report dated December 12, 2011 from the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, and on such other terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the General Manager of Transportation Services, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor, and that City Council authorize the General Manager of Transportation Services to execute such agreements on behalf of the City.

Public Realm staff has completed its assessment of two pedestrian zone pilot projects which were originally approved for a 12-month period in August of 2010 for Willcocks Street between St. George Street and Huron Street, and portions of Gould Street and Victoria Street. In view of the positive assessment results for these projects, Transportation Services recommends that the subject portions of the highways be permanently closed to vehicular traffic.