Item - 2015.HL4.4
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Board of Health on June 1, 2015 and was not adopted.
HL4.4 - Rapid Health Impact Assessment on the Alternative Solutions for the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard East Reconfiguration
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Not Adopted
- Wards:
- 28 - Toronto Centre-Rosedale, 30 - Toronto-Danforth
Board Decision
The Board of Health did not adopt this item, as the motion to adopt the item as amended lost.
Origin
Summary
The way cities are built shapes the lives and health of the people who live in them.
At its meeting of May 13, 2015, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee considered the report from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard East Reconfiguration Environmental Assessment (EA) and Integrated Urban Design Study - Updated Evaluation of Alternatives. The report identified two alternatives – Remove and Hybrid – as viable alternatives for the configuration of this important transportation corridor in the City. The Committee recommended that City Council make a decision on a preferred Gardiner East Environmental Assessment (EA) alternative.
Phase One of the EA evaluated alternatives using four lenses: transportation and infrastructure, urban design, environment and economics. At the request of the Chair of the Board of Health (BOH), Toronto Public Health (TPH) undertook a rapid Health Impact Assessment (HIA) by adding a health lens to the findings of the Alternative Solutions Evaluation – Interim Report – Addendum prepared for the EA to assess the relative impacts on health of the two alternatives.
There are many factors to consider when deciding the preferred option for the reconfiguration of the Gardiner Expressway. TPH's HIA indicates that the Remove alternative is expected to provide more health benefits overall and fewer adverse health impacts compared with the Hybrid alternative. Phase Two of the EA will consider alternative designs for the preferred solution. Including a health lens in the second phase will help ensure that potential health benefits are realized and negative health impacts minimized for either of the options selected.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-80375.pdf
(May 6, 2015) Appendix 1 - Memorandum from Councillor Mihevc, Chair, Board of Health
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-80373.pdf
Appendix 2 - Comparison of Health Impacts of the Remove and Hybrid Alternatives
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-80374.pdf
Communications
(May 29, 2015) Letter from Toon Dreessen, President, Ontario Association of Architects (HL.New.HL4.4.2)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/comm/communicationfile-52922.pdf
(June 1, 2015) Letter from Andrew Judge, President, The Toronto Industry Network (HL.New.HL4.4.3)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/comm/communicationfile-52924.pdf
(June 1, 2015) Letter from Murtaza Haider (HL.New.HL4.4.4)
Speakers
Murtaza Haider, Regionomics Inc.
Steve Barnes, Director of Policy, Wellesley Institute
Councillor Vincent Crisanti
Councillor Stephen Holyday
Motions
That the Board of Health request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report directly to City Council on the land use planning implications of both options for the Gardiner Expressway from the perspective of the Official Plan, best practices in similar cities that are pursuing active and healthy city objectives, and Active City: Designing for Health principles.