Item - 2015.TE7.120

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

A.  Requested the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, to:

1.  Undertake a traffic study of Spadina Avenue between Lake Shore Boulevard West in the south and the Metrolinx rail corridor in the north, including up-to-date pedestrian volumes across Spadina Avenue at intersections as well as observations of frequent mid-block crossing locations.

2.  Forward the traffic study results to the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.

3.  Report to the September 8, 2015, meeting of Toronto and East York Community Council on the traffic study results and the feasibility of installing:

a.  a new pedestrian crossing on the south side of the Spadina-Bremner-Fort York intersection; and

b.  any other safety measure that responds to the traffic study results.

B.  Requested the Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District, to:

1.  Review, in consultation with Transportation Services and Parks, Forestry and Recreation, relevant policy and the existing conditions for pedestrians in the CityPlace neighbourhood with a focus on Spadina Avenue and the new community facilities planned for Block 31 of the railway lands.

2.  Engage neighbourhood stakeholders, in consultation with the ward councillor, for feedback on existing pedestrian conditions and issues in the study area.

3.  Report to Toronto and East York Community Council by the November 10, 2015, meeting on:

a.  the results of this review;

b.  anticipated impacts on pedestrian safety and comfort of future growth and development in the neighbourhood (including the active development proposal at 23 Spadina Avenue) along with the addition of two schools, and community centre, and a childcare facility at Block 31;

c.  recommendations for improvements to pedestrian safety and comfort that anticipate the planned development of the area.

The CityPlace neighbourhood has experienced rapid growth over the past decade. Ten years ago, there were no buildings west of Spadina Avenue, and today the neighbourhood is nearly complete. In addition to a few more condo buildings, one key piece of the neighbourhood that has not yet been built is Block 31, which will include two schools with a total of 1,100 students, a new community centre, and a childcare facility.

With this growing population and a new community destination drawing in students and visitors from the surrounding area, we will see increasing pressure on the local roads of this dense vertical neighbourhood. It is crucial that we plan in advance to ensure that walking in CityPlace is attractive and safe.

Spadina Avenue is currently a major barrier and bottleneck for pedestrians travelling between the east and west parts of CityPlace on either side. There is only one pedestrian crosswalk at grade between the Gardiner in the south and the railway in the north, with an additional underpass via Northern Linear Park.

I am requesting that Transportation Services undertake a traffic study of Spadina Avenue, make updated measurements of pedestrian volumes, and report on the feasibility of adding another crosswalk to the Spadina-Bremner-Fort York intersection.

I am also requesting that City Planning review the wider context for pedestrians in CityPlace and anticipate the needs that will arise when Block 31 and the private developments are completed in a few years, so that we can stay ahead of any issues, and create an attractive and safe neighbourhood for residents and students to walk.