Item - 2018.NY30.12

North York Community Council recommends that:   

1. City Council approve the alteration of Lawrence Avenue West from Dufferin Street to a point 70 metres east of Corona Street / Via Bagnato, providing a westbound transit queue jump lane/right-turn lane (buses excepted), generally as shown in Attachment 1 to the report (March 27, 2018) from the Acting Director, Transportation Infrastructure Management.entitled "Supplementary Report - Road Alteration – Lawrence Avenue West at Dufferin Street and Corona Street / Via Bagnato".

2. City Council designate the newly created westbound lane at Lawrence Avenue West and Corona Street / Via Bagnato as right-turn only, buses excepted. 

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to review the opportunity for a cycling facility on Lawrence Avenue West as identified in the Lawrence-Allen Secondary Plan, and to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee as part of the review of the Ten Year Cycling Network Plan in the first quarter of 2019.

4. City Council direct that the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the local Councillor, consider any local construction, including Allen Road closures and crosstown works when scheduling this project.

Transportation Services is requesting approval, on behalf of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), to alter Lawrence Avenue West from Dufferin Street to a point 57 metres (m) east of Corona St./Via Bagnato in order to provide an extended westbound  lane for right-turning traffic and through buses. Doing so will allow TTC vehicles to bypass general traffic in this area, improving service reliability. The change has been evaluated for benefits and impacts according to established criteria for queue-jump lane requests.

This lane can be accommodated by widening the south side of Lawrence Avenue by up to 2.0m, reducing existing lane widths, and extending existing turn lanes.

These modifications will not result in the loss of any travel lanes, as the current two eastbound and two westbound lanes will be maintained.

As TTC operates bus service on both Lawrence Avenue West and Dufferin Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Transportation Services is requesting approval, on behalf of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), to alter Lawrence Avenue West from Dufferin Street to a point 70 metres (m) east of Corona Street / Via Bagnato in order to provide a transit queue jump lane designated as an extended right-turn lane, buses excepted. This change would allow TTC buses to bypass lengthy queues of westbound through vehicles extending back from the Lawrence Avenue West / Dufferin Street intersection, reducing delays and improving service reliability.

Transportation Services, City Planning, and the TTC have evaluated the benefits and impacts of the proposed queue jump lane according to established criteria in the context of both existing conditions and planned changes in the area.

This lane can be accommodated by moving the existing curb on the south side of Lawrence Avenue by up to 2.2m, reducing existing lane widths, and extending existing turn lanes. These modifications will not result in the loss of any travel lanes, as the current two eastbound and two westbound lanes will be maintained.

The implementation of the Official Plan and Lawrence Allen Secondary Plan policies may require further changes to the right of way configuration at this location as future development occurs. 

As TTC operates bus service on both Lawrence Avenue West and Dufferin Street, City Council approval of this report is required.