Item - 2016.EX13.9

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council advise Metrolinx of the following list and ranking of public realm improvements along Finch Avenue West that should be obtained using the Public Realm Amount allocated to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, and which will be incorporated in the project-specific output specifications as mandatory elements of the LRT project:

a.  provision of three traffic lanes in each direction under the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge east of Weston Road (rather than a reduction to two lanes in each direction), together with the provision of a box culvert tunnel through the embankment of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) rail line, on the south side of Finch Avenue, as in Attachment 2 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to accommodate a multi-use path at least 3.5 metres in width, the design of which is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services and Canadian Pacific Railway.

b.  provision of a continuous multi-use path having a width of at least 3.5 metres, to be located on the south side of Finch Avenue between Weston Road and Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road, as in Attachment 3 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, the design of which is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services, and will include:

i.  a grade-separated crossing, in a tunnel at least 3.5 metres in width, of the eastbound to southbound Highway 400 on-ramp (Attachment 3);

 ii.  an at-grade crossing of the eastbound to northbound Highway 400 on-ramp, including relocation of this ramp to be adjacent to the northbound off-ramp from Highway 400 (Attachment 3), provided that such a relocation is approved by the Ministry of Transportation;

iii.  a signalized crossing of the northbound off-ramp from Highway 400 at Finch Avenue (Attachment 3);

iv.  a signalized crossing of Signet Drive/Arrow Road on the south approach only (Attachment 3);

v.  signalized crossings of Weston Road and Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road on all four approaches of both intersections (Attachment 3); and

vi.  a physical barrier between the multi-use path and traffic lanes where the multi-use path is immediately adjacent to traffic lanes.

         c.  provision of bicycle lanes separated from vehicular traffic on both sides of Finch Avenue between Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road and Tangiers Road, and between Weston Road and Highway 27, in a manner that is acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Fire Chief and General Manager, Fire Services. The separation will be accomplished through the construction of an elevated and curb-protected cycle track, either at the same elevation as the adjoining sidewalk or at an intermediate level between the roadway and sidewalk using a mountable curb, as may be deemed appropriate at each location.

2.  City Council advise Metrolinx of the following list and ranking of public realm improvements along Finch Avenue West that should be obtained using the Public Realm Amount allocated to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, and which will be identified in the Request for Proposals as discretionary elements of the LRT project.

a.  provision of the following multi-use paths and trail connections, all of which are to be acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, as warranted in each circumstance.

i.  between two existing multi-use paths in the Black Creek Ravine on the north and south sides of Finch Avenue, construct a box culvert under Finch Avenue that will provide a direct trail connection, or provide an extension of the multi-use path on the south side of Finch Avenue with a minimum width of 3.5 metres along its entire length to an existing signalized intersection across Finch Avenue, as in Attachment 4 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B;

ii.  between Finch Avenue and the existing multi-use path in the hydro corridor to the north, located along Norfinch Drive boulevard and the western boundary of the Finch West LRT Maintenance and Storage Facility, as in Attachment 5 to the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, and

iii.  connections where feasible to potential new bike trails running south from Finch Avenue, east and west of Weston Road.

b.  provision of streetscape and public realm enhancements identified in the Finch West Streetscape Plan (currently being undertaken by Metrolinx and the City) and streetscape guidelines developed jointly by the City and the Emery Village and Duke Heights business improvement areas that exceed current City standards, and all of which are to be acceptable to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in the following priority ranking:

 i.  tree planting infrastructure;

ii.  street lighting poles and fixtures;

iii.  street furniture;

iv.  pavement and markings that contribute to the identity of business improvement areas;

 v.  aesthetic enhancements to the multi-use path tunnels under the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge and the eastbound to southbound Highway 400 on-ramp;

vi.  aesthetic enhancements to the Highway 400 Bridge, provided such improvements are acceptable to the Ministry of Transportation; and

vii.  aesthetic enhancements to the vehicular portion of the Canadian Pacific Railway Bridge.

3.  City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, in consultation with the Director, Major Capital Infrastructure Coordination:

a.  to determine whether the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount submission is fair and reasonable, and provides good value to the City for the Public Realm Amount, and on that basis to determine whether to accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal; and

b.  if the determination is made to not accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal, to negotiate alternative public realm improvements with Metrolinx that are consistent with the recommendations of the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B.

4.  If the determination is made to accept the winning bidder's Public Realm Amount proposal, City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to negotiate and enter into any agreements, amendments and renewals with Metrolinx as may be necessary, in accordance with the Master Agreement and the recommendations of the report (February 24, 2016) from the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, in respect of the use of the Public Realm Amount in accordance with the winning bidder's submission.

5.  City Council authorize and direct the Toronto Parking Authority, in support of the Public Realm Amount strategy set out in this report, to acquire a property located at the southeast corner of Finch Avenue West and Arrow Road (near Highway 400) for municipal parking and ancillary uses including proposed Bike Share Toronto infrastructure, and to permit construction of a possible gateway feature for the Emery Village Business Improvement Area. Acquisition will be on terms and conditions to be negotiated by the President of the Toronto Parking Authority, at fair market value plus associated costs such as land transfer tax, title insurance and other fees, and approved by the Toronto Parking Authority Board. The City Solicitor is authorized to complete the purchase transaction, deliver any notices, pay any expenses and amend the closing and other dates, on such terms and conditions as the City Solicitor may determine.

6.  City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Director, Major Capital Infrastructure Coordination to report to City Council on a priority list of Public Realm Amount candidate projects for the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit (LRT) project once Metrolinx advises the City of the procurement schedule for that project.

This report seeks authority for the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to inform Metrolinx of the City's preferences for investment of the Public Realm Amount allocated by Metrolinx to the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

This report seeks authority for City divisions and the Toronto Parking Authority to implement a number of complementary measures that will improve the streetscape and public realm along Finch Avenue West concurrently with the introduction of the Finch West LRT project.

The Master Agreement between the City, Toronto Transit Commission and Metrolinx (executed in November 2012) prescribes the role of each party to plan, design and construct the Metrolinx Rapid Transit Program (the "LRT Program") which includes the Finch West LRT. The Master Agreement states that a Public Realm Amount (the "PRA") will be provided by Metrolinx to plan, design and construct capital improvements on the City's property and right-of-way that will be impacted by construction of the LRT Program. The improvements must be requested by the City and meet eligibility requirements prescribed by Metrolinx.

The Master Agreement states that the value of the Public Realm Amount is 1.5 percent of the construction cost of the LRT Program as defined by Metrolinx. In May 2014, City Council determined that it was appropriate to allocate the Public Realm Amount proportionally between the LRT projects that were planned on Eglinton, Finch and Sheppard based on the length of each transit corridor. Accordingly, the value of the Public Realm Amount for the Finch West LRT is approximately $18 million ($2012).

Proposed uses of the Public Realm Amount on Finch Avenue West represent streetscape and public realm enhancements that will address specific needs and opportunities determined by City staff, and include in order of preference:

a.  Right-of-way improvements to preserve six traffic lanes under the CP Rail Bridge west of Highway 400, rather than a reduction to four lanes as shown in the approved Environmental Project Report (the "EPR");

b.  Right-of-way improvements for enhanced pedestrian and cycling infrastructure through the Highway 400/Finch Avenue interchange between Norfinch Drive and Weston Road;

c.  Right-of-way improvements for enhanced cycling infrastructure on both sides of  Finch Avenue between Norfinch Drive/Oakdale Road and Tangiers Road, and between Highway 27 and Weston Road;

d.  Improved pedestrian and cycling connections to existing multi-use paths that run north and south from Finch Avenue West at Black Creek Ravine, and between Finch Avenue West and the existing multi-use path in the hydro corridor to the north through the Metrolinx Maintenance and Storage Facility; and

e.  Enhanced streetscape details and aesthetic improvements along the corridor, which may include upgraded Business Improvement Area infrastructure.

Metrolinx intends to issue a request for proposals early in 2016 for a private consortium to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT project. With reference to that process and schedule, this report seeks authority from City Council to prescribe the foregoing list and ranking of Public Realm Amount candidate projects for inclusion in the Metrolinx procurement documents.

Following the precedent that was established in prescribing the City's preferred uses of the Public Realm Amount for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project, some of the preceding objectives will be mandated by Metrolinx to be incorporated in the proposals of all bidders. This condition applies to some of the Public Realm Amount requests by the City that have significant design implications (to be discussed below). The balance of the City's preferred uses of the Public Realm Amount will be presented to bidders as discretionary elements of their bids.

The recommended uses of the Public Realm Amount cited above (and to be provided by Metrolinx) do not preclude: (i) the City; (ii) related organizations including the Toronto Parking Authority; and (iii) business improvement areas, from making other investments to improve the streetscape and public realm to mitigate impacts of the LRT project or enhance utilization of the new transit infrastructure. This report sets out several opportunities that are being implemented by the City and others.