Item - 2021.IE26.10

City Council considered Items IE26.9 and IE26.10 together.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council approve the ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion projects installed in 2020 currently in place as permanent bikeways, and in doing so, authorize the necessary by-law amendments to retain the following locations as permanent installations:

a. Bloor Street (cycle track from Avenue Road to Castle Frank Road);

b. Dundas Street East (cycle track from Sackville Street to Broadview Avenue);

c. University Avenue/Queens Park (cycle track from Adelaide Street West to Bloor Street West);

d. Huntingwood Drive (cycle track from Victoria Park Avenue to Brimley Road);

e. Danforth Avenue (cycle track from Broadview Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue);

f. Bayview Avenue (multi-use trail from Rosedale Valley Road to River Street); and

g. Wilmington Avenue (designated bicycle lanes from Finch Avenue West to Sheppard Avenue West).

2. City Council authorize the installation of bicycle lanes, or bicycle lane by-law amendments, on the following sections of roadway, as generally described in Attachment 2 to the report (November 18, 2021) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "Designated Bicycle Lanes":

a. Brown's Line (from a point 200 metres south of Dover Drive to Lake Shore Boulevard West);

b. Palmerston Square (eastern segment from Palmerston Avenue (south leg) to Palmerston Avenue (north leg);

c. Finch Avenue West (from a point 150 metres west of Chesswood Drive to Alexdon Road);

d. Winona Drive (from a point 8 metres south of Barrie Avenue and St. Clair Avenue West); and

e. Tecumseth Street (from King Street West to Tecumseth Place (north leg).

3. City Council authorize the installation of cycle tracks, or adjustments to cycle track by-laws on the following sections of roadway, as generally described in Attachment 3 to the report (November 18, 2021) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "Designated Cycle Tracks":

a. Runnymede Road (from St. Clair Avenue West to Liverpool Street);

b. Ordnance Street (from Strachan Avenue to a point 100 metres east);

c. Palmerston Boulevard (from Bloor Street West to College Street);

d. Port Union Road (from Lawrence Avenue East to Island Road);

e. Tecumseth Street (from Queen Street West to Adelaide Street West);

f. Tecumseth Street (from Wellington Street West to Niagara Street); and

g. Baby Point Road (from Jane Street to 15 metres to the west).

4. City Council authorize the installation or adjustments of contra-flow bicycle lanes, or bicycle lane by-law amendments, on the following sections of roadway, as generally described in Attachment 4 to the report (November 18, 2021) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "Contra-flow Bicycle Lanes":

a. Cambridge Avenue (from Danforth Avenue to a point 35 metres north);

b. Florence Crescent (from Pritchard Avenue to Eileen Avenue);

c. Palmerston Avenue (from Barton Avenue to Palmerston Square);

d. Palmerston Avenue (from London Street to Bloor Street West);

e. Palmerston Avenue (from Lane 1 S College E Euclid to 42 metres north of Dundas Street);

f. Palmerston Avenue (Dundas Street to Queen Street West); and

g. Tecumseth Street (Tecumseth Place (north leg) to Tecumseth Place (south leg).

5. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Palmerston Avenue and Dundas Street West.

6. Subject to approval of and in conjunction with the installation of traffic control signals at Palmerston Avenue and Dundas Street West identified in Recommendation 5 above, City Council authorize removal of the pedestrian crossover at Palmerston Avenue and Dundas Street West.

7. City Council authorize the reduction of the speed limit from 60 kilometres per hour to 50 kilometres per hour on Port Union Road between Island Road and Lawrence Avenue East.

8. City Council authorize the reduction of the speed limit from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on University Avenue / Queens Park Circle between Bloor Street West and Gerrard Street West.

9. City Council authorize the installation a sidewalk on the western segment of Palmerston Square using temporary materials until a permanent sidewalk is constructed in future years.

10. City Council authorize the amendments to traffic and parking regulations associated with Recommendations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 above, as generally described in Attachment 5 to the report (November 18, 2021) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, titled "Amendments to Traffic and Parking Regulations".

11. City Council amend traffic and parking regulations required in Chapter 910 and Chapter 950, as generally described in Attachment 7 to the report (November 18, 2021) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to ensure that the by-law amendments for the Davenport Road cycle tracks and The Esplanade-Mill Street cycle tracks previously approved by City Council are enacted in phases aligned with the timing of implementation of the appropriate segments of the respective projects over 2021 - 2023.

12. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to consider converting the Wilson Avenue diamond lane, between Transit Road and Wilson Heights Boulevard, to include cyclists and high-occupancy vehicles.

13. City Council request General Manager, Transportation Services to consider accelerating the planning and consultation work for a cycling route between Balmoral Park and Earl Bales Park recommended in the 10-year bike plan and outlined in the Cycling Network Maps, as shown in Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 to the Motion from Councillor Pasternak, on the following roads:

a. Almore Avenue from Faywood to York Downs Drive;

b. York Downs Drive from Almore Avenue to Armour Boulevard; and

c. Armour Boulevard from York Downs Drive to Bombay Avenue and to Avenue Road.

14. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment committee by the third quarter of 2022 on alternative routes for the Downsview Loop which eliminates the many obstacles facing the current proposal.

15. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, as part of the Palmerston / Tecumseth project, to work in consultation with the local Councillors and stakeholders such as the Palmerston Area Residents Association, to host an additional community meeting on the project in advance of installation to communicate and hear feedback on the approved design. 

16. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, to report back in first quarter 2023 with recommendations on the process and staffing changes required to have complete street designs considered for every major road rehabilitation project, including the necessary annual Key Performance Indicators to monitor progress.

Infrastructure and Environment Committee considered items IE26.9. and IE26.10 together.

The Cycling Network Plan and the associated Near Term Implementation Plan (2019-
2021), adopted by City Council in July 2019 seeks to build on the existing network of cycling routes to Connect gaps in the current network, Grow the network into new parts of the city, and Renew existing parts of the network to improve safety.

The 2021 Cycling Network Plan Update report, seeking Council endorsement of the 2022 – 2024 Near-Term Implementation Program, is presented for consideration at this Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

To accompany the 2021 Cycling Network Plan Update and 2022-2024 Near-Team Implementation Program, this report contains a summary of the initial group of bikeway projects that are proposed to be installed in 2022 and 2023 for which design and consultation have been completed. This report also includes recommendations on the future of the temporary 2020 ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion projects.

Transportation Services is seeking authority for the following proposed new bikeway implementation projects to be installed in 2022. The projects are included in the Cycling Network Plan.

This report seeks Council authority to install 3.8 centreline kilometres of new bikeways on the following streets:

- Palmerston Avenue/Boulevard/Square: Dupont Street to Queen Street West (contra-flow bike lanes and cycle tracks, Ward 10 and 11)

- Tecumseth Street: Queen Street to Niagara Street (contra-flow bike lane and cycle tracks, Ward 10)

- Florence Crescent: Eileen Avenue to Pritchard Avenue (contra-flow bike lane, Ward 5)

- Runnymede Road: Liverpool Street to St. Clair Avenue West (cycle track, Ward 5)

- Ordnance Street: Strachan Avenue to 100 m to the east (cycle track, Ward 10)

- Baby Point Road: Jane Street to 15 metres to the west (cycle track, Ward 4)
 

This report also seeks Council authority to amend the necessary designated by-laws to install the 1.9 centreline kilometres of new bikeways in 2022-2023, which were approved through an Environmental Assessment in 2014 on the following street:

- Port Union Road: Island Road to Lawrence Avenue East (cycle track and speed limit reduction, Ward 25)
 

The ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion program dedicated road space on a temporary basis to facilitate cycling for essential trips and physical activity in order to support the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was highlighted in the City of Toronto's Office of Recovery and Rebuild's COVID-19: Impacts and Opportunities Report, which indicated that transportation infrastructure and programs will be critical for Toronto's recovery to build back better.

Among the seven temporary ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion projects installed in 2020 and currently in place, there has been an increase in cycling volumes and an increase in safety with minimal travel time impacts for people driving. Each of these projects were identified as part of the 2019 Cycling Network Plan adopted by Council, and support the City's efforts to deliver on the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and the TransformTO Climate Action Strategy.

As such, Transportation Services recommends making permanent the following seven ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion projects installed in 2020, improved in 2021, and currently in place:

- Bloor Street: Avenue Road to Sherbourne Street (cycle track, Ward 11 and 13);

- Dundas Street East: Sackville Street to Broadview Avenue (cycle track, Ward 13 and 14);

- University Avenue/Queens Park: Adelaide Street West to Bloor Street West (cycle track and speed limit reduction, Ward 10 and 11);

- Huntingwood Drive: Victoria Park Avenue to Brimley Road (cycle track, Ward 22 and 23);

- Danforth Avenue: Broadview Avenue to Dawes Road, along with a 700 metre extension to - Victoria Park Avenue requested by Council in April 2021 (cycle track, Ward 14 and 19);

- Bayview Avenue: Rosedale Valley Road to River Street (multi-use trail, Ward 13);

- Wilmington Avenue: Finch Avenue West to Sheppard Avenue West (bike lanes, Ward 6).
 

By making the above ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion projects permanent, Transportation Services will have opportunities to improve the temporary infrastructure currently in place by enhancing the public realm, and adding accessibility and road safety features.

ActiveTO 2021 Cycling Network Expansion projects including Yonge Street between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue, and Bayview Avenue between River Street and Front Street will continue to be monitored and evaluated and a report with recommendations on these projects will be brought forward in early 2022.

A map of the cycling projects proposed in this report is included as Attachment 1. The changes proposed would improve safety and mobility options by providing improved cycling connections to transit, parks, local schools, businesses, and residences.  Pedestrian improvements such as curb extensions and new sidewalk installations have also been included in the projects, wherever feasible.

While there are varying impacts to traffic operations for motor vehicles, these impacts have been reviewed, analyzed and have been determined by Transportation Services to be acceptable in order to improve safety and comfort of all road users.

Finally, this report seeks to make minor housekeeping amendments to existing bikeways and their associated traffic and parking by-laws on the following streets:

- Brown's Line (bike lane by-laws, Ward 3);

- Cambridge Avenue (contra-flow bike lane by-laws, Ward 14);

- Finch Avenue West (bike lane by-laws, Ward 6);

- Davenport Road (traffic and parking, Ward 11);

- The Esplanade (traffic and parking, Ward 13);

- University Avenue (traffic and parking, Ward 10 and 11);

- Winona Drive (bike lane by-laws and traffic and parking, Ward 9 and 12).