Item - 2021.IE25.22

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with all relevant City divisions to address urgent cycling and user-safety improvements to the York Beltline Trail and Kay Gardner Beltline Trail, and report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter of 2022 on the following:

a. ensuring proper integration between access routes from the York Beltline Trail and Kay Gardner Beltline Trail to Crosstown Light Rail Transit stations;

b. addressing poor drainage and stormwater runoff issues;

c. exploring improvements to address safety problems where the York Beltline Trail and Kay Gardner Beltline Trail cross arterial and collector roads including:

i. sidewalk curb cuts at key locations where the trails intersect with City roads (i.e. Old Park Road, Ronald Avenue, Caledonia Road, and Marlee Avenue);

ii. installation of traffic signals and safety refuge islands, where appropriate; and

iii. changing the configuration of stop bars and pedestrian crosswalks to remove obstructions and make for easier pedestrian and cyclist movement;

d. removing trail clutter such as excessive bollards, garbage/recycling bins, and ensure safer storm drain covers;

e. improving signage and trail etiquette guidelines to make both more informative and user friendly to cyclist and hikers;

f. enhancing wayfinding signage on the trails, especially at the Allen Expressway barrier wall;

g. exploring improvements to connections between the different segments of the York Beltline Trail and Kay Gardner Beltline Trail, including on-street routing for cyclists and building walkway connections between the trails and important streets; and

h. immediately dealing with the hazardous condition at Elmridge Drive/Roselawn Avenue access to the York Beltline Trail.

The York Beltline Trail and Kay Gardner Beltline Trail form a critical east-west trail system running through the middle of Toronto and within Ward 8, running parallel to Eglinton Avenue West from Spadina Road to Caledonia Road.

Over the years, a number of safety improvements to the trails have been recommended by community members, local Councillors, and Cycle Toronto.

Many of these long-standing safety enhancement requests have not been addressed. Due to the dramatic increase in the use of the trails during COVID-19 and increased population in the community, it is crucial that these safety improvements be addressed as soon as possible.