Item - 2021.IE20.16

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that: 

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delegate to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2025, inclusive, the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic any highway or portion of highway for a period up to and including 365 consecutive days but ending no later than December 31, 2025, inclusive, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Code Chapter 937, as required for the purpose of construction of the Toronto Transit Commission's Easier Access Phase Three Projects, and City Council exempt the General Manager of Transportation Services, in carrying out this delegated authority from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to provide that the current delegation to Community Council to temporarily close local roads, collector roads, and minor arterial roads does not include closures delegated to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in carrying out the authority in Part 1 above.

The purpose of this report is to delegate authority to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2025, inclusive, to temporarily close to vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic any highway or portion of highway, with the exclusion of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, up to and including 365 consecutive days, but ending no later than December 31, 2025, inclusive, as required for the purposes of the Toronto Transit Commission's Easier Access Phase Three Projects, in order to meet their intention to meet Accessibility for Ontarians Disability Act requirements by making all transit stations accessible by 2025. This report seeks authority to make associated amendments to Code Chapter 937 and City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures.

Without the extension of this authority, approximately 64 reports will be required seeking Council approval to grant road/lane closures lasting more than 30 days. The scope of the Toronto Transit Commission Easier Access Phase Three projects necessitates numerous concurrent and consecutive lane closures that will extend beyond thirty days during a multi-year construction period. Delegating this authority to the General Manager, Transportation Services, will significantly reduce the administrative burden on City of Toronto staff and enable them to focus on working with Toronto Transit Commission, the contractor, local ward councillors and the community to maximize the effectiveness of traffic management and construction scheduling, while minimizing the chance of project delay.