Item - 2020.TE21.39

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Authorized the closure of the south sidewalk and a three-metre-wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and a point 62 metres east from December 3, 2020 to May 31, 2022.

2. Authorized the closure of a one-metre-wide portion of the most northerly westbound curb lane on the first lane south of Mercer Street, east of Blue Jays Way, between Blue Jays Way Mercer Street and a point 62 metres east, from December 3, 2020 to May 31, 2022.

3. Designated the public lane system bounded by Blue Jays Way, Mercer Street, John Street and Wellington Street West as one-way eastbound/northbound.

4. Rescinded the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday at a rate of $4.00 per hour and for a maximum period of three hours, on the south side of Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and point 67.5 metres east.

5.  Rescinded the existing parking machine regulation in effect from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., Monday to Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Sunday, at a rate of $4.00 per hour and for a maximum period of six hours, on the south side of Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and point 67.5 metres east.

6. Rescinded the existing stopping prohibition in effect at all times, on the south side of Mercer Street, between a point 66.5 metres east of Blue Jays Way and a point 37.5 metres further east.

7. Prohibited stopping at all times on the south side of Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and a point 75.5 metres east.

8. Rescinded the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the north side of Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and a point 73.5 metres east.

9. Prohibited stopping at all times on the north side of Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and a point 73.5 metres east.

10. Directed the applicant to pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways weekly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

11. Directed the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkways have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

12. Directed the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

13. Directed the applicant to install appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

14. Directed the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

15. Directed the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

16. Directed the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

17. Directed the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

18. Directed the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

19. Directed that Mercer Street and the public lane system bounded by Blue Jays Way, Mercer Street, John Street and Wellington Street West be returned to pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

This staff report is about a matter that Community Council has delegated authority to make a final decision provided that it is not amended so that it varies with City policy or by-laws.

BJW Residences Limited Partnership is constructing a 47-storey residential development building at 99 Blue Jays Way. The site is located on the southeast corner of Blue Jays Way and Mercer Street.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the south sidewalk and a three-metre-wide portion of the eastbound curb lane on Mercer Street, between Blue Jays Way and a point 62 metres east, for a period of 18 months (i.e., December 3, 2020 to May 31, 2022) to accommodate a construction staging area.

In addition, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close a one-metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane on the first lane south of Mercer Street, east of Blue Jays Way, between Blue Jays Way and a point 62 metres east, for a period of 18 months (i.e., December 3, 2020 to May 31, 2022) to accommodate a construction staging area. As a result of the proposed staging area, the width of the laneway will be reduced to four-metres in width at its narrowest point. As a result, it is recommended that the laneway be designated as one-way eastbound/northbound traffic.

Pedestrian movements on the south side of Mercer Street abutting the site will be restricted and pedestrians will be directed to the north side sidewalk of Mercer Street. A temporary pedestrian walkway along the closed portion of the west sidewalk could not be installed due to insufficient roadway width to maintain both the temporary walkway and one-way traffic operation on Mercer Street.

Pedestrian operations on the east side of Blue Jays Way will be maintained in a 2.1-metre-wide covered and protected walkway within the existing sidewalk.

The construction staging area on Mercer Street will result in the loss of one eastbound traffic lane that is currently designated for on-street parking, resulting in the loss of approximately six parking machine spaces.