Minutes Confirmed on May 16, 2016

The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to install cycle tracks along Bloor Street as a pilot project for implementation and subsequent evaluation. Subject to Council approval, Transportation Services proposes to install the pilot project in late summer 2016.

A pilot project installation of cycle tracks along Bloor Street would provide an opportunity to evaluate the impacts and benefits of cycling infrastructure on this street and make adjustments, as necessary, to the design and operations of the pilot project configuration.

Transportation Services has recently completed a preliminary feasibility study to identify design options and associated impacts for bikeways along Bloor Street West between Shaw Street and Avenue Road, including the potential implementation of a cycling facility as a pilot project.

As part of the feasibility study, various design options were considered and a summary of the considerations are presented in this report.  Based on a review of design considerations and feedback from the public and stakeholders, the cycling facility is generally proposed as a cycle track, which features separation elements (a painted buffer, parked cars and/or flexi-post bollards) between the bicycle lane and the traffic lane, as well as between the bicycle lane and on-street parking.

The outcomes of the pilot project would help inform the development of future projects along Bloor Street such as upcoming planned roadwork, as well as a Major Corridor Study for cycling facilities along a longer segment of Bloor Street.  

Transportation Services proposes to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the third quarter of 2017 on the findings of the Bloor Street West pilot project evaluation.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the installation of bicycle lanes in the following locations, as described in Appendix 12 – Amendments to Bicycle Lane Designations, attached to the report  (March 30, 2016) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a.  Argyle Street, westbound curb lane between Ossington Avenue and 15 m east of Ossington Avenue;

b.  Dundas Street West, between Dupont Street and Dundas Street West;

c.  Ellis Avenue, between The Queensway and the Martin Goodman Trail;

d.  Dr. Emily Stowe Way, between College Street West and Grenville Street;

e.  Havelock Street, between Lindsey Avenue and College Street West;

f.  Howland Avenue Rail Underpass, between Bridgemen Avenue and 62m south thereof;

g.  Logan Avenue, between Bain Avenue and McConnell Avenue;

h.  Sheppard Avenue West bridge over Addington Greenbelt;

i.  St. Clair Avenue East bridge over Yellow Creek; 

j.  Sumach Street, between King Street East and Queen Street East; and

k.  Lansdowne Avenue, between College Street and Dundas Street West.

2.  City Council enact the traffic and parking regulation amendments associated with the above Recommendation 1 as described in Appendix 13 attached to the report (March 30, 2016) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

3.  City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect to the amendments in Recommendation 1 and 2 in the report (March 30, 2016) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, including the introduction of all necessary bills.

The purpose of this report is to obtain authority to extend the existing bicycle lanes on Dundas Street West, Argyle Street, Dr. Emily Stowe Way, Havelock Street, Lansdowne Avenue and Sumach Street and install a new bicycle lanes on Ellis Avenue and the Howland Avenue Rail Underpass as part of the 2016 Cycling Network Program.

In addition, authority is sought to convert the existing edge lines to bicycle lanes at the following locations: Logan Avenue next to Riverdale Park, Dundas Street West at Dupont Street, Sheppard Avenue West bridge over the Addington Greenbelt, and on St. Clair Avenue East bridge over Yellow Creek.

The affected Ward Councillors have been consulted regarding the bicycle lanes proposed in their respective wards.

At its meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2016 the Toronto Transit Commission Board considered the attached report entitled “TTC Bicycle Initiatives”.

The Board approved the recommendation in the staff report, as follows:

"It is recommended that the Board:

1.  Receive this report for information.

2.  Refer this report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee for consideration".

The foregoing is submitted for your further handling.

The purpose of this report is to advise of the results of Tender Call 2-2015, for the Ellesmere Pumping Station Power Generators Upgrade, in accordance with specifications as required by Toronto Water, and to request the authority to award a contract to A Plus General Contactor Corp., in the amount of $23,835,000 net of all taxes ($24,254,496 net of HST recoveries).

The purpose of this report is to advise on the results of Tender Calls No. 52-2016 and No. 85-2016 for the construction of watermain, sewers and roadways at various locations across the City of Toronto; request authority to award Contract No. 16ECS-LU-05SU to 2489960 Ontario Inc. in the amount of $21,384,609 net of HST and all applicable charges ($21,760,978 net of HST recoveries); and request authority to award Contract No. 16ECS-LU-06SU to Sanscon Construction Ltd. in the amount of $22,636,486 net of HST and all applicable charges ($23,034,888 net of HST recoveries).

The purpose of this report is to request the authority to amend Purchase Order No. 6038978 issued to CH2M Hill Canada Limited for professional services associated with contract administration and site supervision services during the construction of the North Toronto Wastewater Treatment Plant Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Tank – Implementation of Hydraulic Improvement and High Rate Treatment. An amendment to the Purchase Order is required due to the increased duration of the project resulting from the contractor's longer than expected construction schedule, and compounded by additional on-site requirements imposed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change; a temporary work stoppage due to extreme weather; and, the need to remove a significant amount of over-poured concrete and old construction shoring along the footing of the existing CSO tank.  The total Purchase Order Amendment being requested is $499,726 net of all taxes ($508,521 net of HST recoveries), revising the current contract value from $1,010,350 to $1,510,076 net of all taxes ($1,536,653 net of HST recoveries).

The purpose of this report is to advise on the results of Tender Call No. 362-2015 for the rehabilitation of the Humber Sanitary Trunk Sewer between MH320-024 and MH320-015 and the Chapman Sanitary Trunk Sewer between MH331-001 and MH320-021, and request the authority to award a contract to Southland Renda of Canada JV (Southland Renda) in the amount of $20,304,256 net of HST and all applicable charges ($20,661,611 net of HST recoveries).

The purpose of this report is to seek authorization for the General Manager, Solid Waste Management Services, and the Chief Corporate Officer to complete the transfer of lands required for the extension of Third Concession/Rossland Road (the Road) to the Regional Municipality of Durham (Durham Region), in the City of Pickering. 

The proposed road extension cuts through the southern buffer zone of the closed Brock West Landfill.  This initiative is a component of the Central Pickering Development Plan and Durham Region wishes to acquire these lands to allow for the development of needed regional infrastructure.

The City of Toronto is carrying out a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) that will evaluate alternatives for a grade separated crossing at Steeles Avenue East and the Stouffville GO Transit Rail Corridor. A widening of Steeles Avenue East from 4 to 6 lanes from Kennedy Road to Midland Avenue will also be considered.

The future implementation of this project will improve the movement of road and rail traffic in The Regional Municipality of York (York Region), the City of Toronto and along Metrolinx’s Stouffville GO Transit Rail Corridor. Recognizing the multitude of interests in both the Class EA and the implementation of the project, this report is requesting authority to negotiate, enter into and execute an agreement with York Region and Metrolinx for the cost-sharing of the Municipal Class EA.

The Coordinated Street Furniture Program is a partnership with Astral Out-of-Home to install, operate, and maintain over 24,500 pieces of street furniture over a 20-year period. The agreement with Astral began in 2007, and follows a fiscal year of September 1 to August 31. This report covers Year 8 of the agreement, for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The Agreement has resulted in the installation and maintenance of 16,855 elements to date, and has provided the City with more than $126 million in revenue.

As directed by City Council, the annual report outlines the revenues received by the City from the Program, an update on the rollout of the inventory of street furniture elements, and an overview of maintenance performance and issues. The deployment of new street furniture pieces is on schedule. Maintenance of street furniture continues to be a challenge, particularly cleaning vandalism and maintaining litter bins. Staff and Astral are working to continuously improve both effectiveness and response times for these issues.

Moving forward, staff are requesting funding for the purchase of private property where insufficient space exists for the installation of full transit shelters. Minor adjustments to the management of the publication box licensing program are also recommended.

The Emery Village Transportation Master Plan (TMP) (May 2009) was carried out to support the Emery Village Secondary Plan (ESVP) review and identifies incremental improvements to the road network in the Emery Village area, including Emery Village Road 2A.

Road 2A is a new road link between Finch Avenue West and Toryork Drive, west of Weston Road. This road will alleviate congestion at the Finch Avenue West/Weston Road intersection and provide improved access for heavy trucks to/from the industrial area in the northwest quadrant. Operational improvements to the Finch Avenue West/Weston Road intersection will also improve Metrolinx Finch LRT operations.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) was carried out in accordance with the requirements for Schedule 'C' Projects, completing Phases 3 and 4 in accordance with the Municipal Class EA. The recommended plan includes a new 20 metre (m) wide north/south public road right-of-way that consists of 2.9 m wide boulevards and 2.1 m wide sidewalks on both sides of the street. Road 2A will form a new signalized intersection with Finch Avenue West and a new stop-controlled intersection with Toryork Drive.

Based on preliminary estimates, the new road will cost approximately $4.3 - $4.9 million.  This includes design and construction costs, land acquisition costs and the costs required to reconfigure a portion of the City's Emery Yard that is impacted by the road alignment.

In addition to impacting the Emery Yard, the preferred alignment for Road 2A will require land acquisition from three private properties, one at Toryork Drive and two at Finch Avenue. For each, the impact is small and so only partial acquisitions from these properties is anticipated. The property impacts to the south side of Finch Avenue West are related to the implementation of the Finch West LRT project and would not be otherwise needed to accommodate Road 2A.

Funds for this project are not currently included in the approved 10-Year Capital Plan.

The Liberty and King Liberty Village areas of the City contain significant residential and employment lands and are experiencing strong growth. Congestion within this area of the City is increasing and improved accessibility and connectivity has been identified as a key need.

At its meeting of November 13, 2008, Planning and Growth Management Committee directed staff to undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) to secure planning approvals for the design and implementation of a local, east-west street north of the railway corridor in the Liberty Village area.

A Municipal Class EA has been completed and the recommended plan includes a new east-west street, extending between Strachan Avenue and Dufferin Street. The new street would be located north of the Lake Shore West GO Transit rail corridor and would improve accessibility to and from Liberty Village and connectivity throughout.

Based on preliminary estimates, the new road will cost approximately $68 to $75 million. This includes design and construction costs and potential property acquisition costs. Funds for the Liberty New Street are not currently included in the 10-year capital plan and, therefore, a financial strategy needs to be developed to identify various City and non-City funding sources.

Transportation Services is responding to a request from Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to the future installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Finch Avenue West and Fountainhead Road, in view of the future Finch West LRT in this area.

As part of the review of Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning Applications for

470 Sentinel Road and 1, 35 and 40 Fountainhead Road and 35 Fountainhead Road Draft Plan of Subdivision, necessary improvements to Fountainhead Road and Finch Avenue West were identified to accommodate increased traffic demands in the vicinity of this development, primarily, the extension of Fountainhead Road and the installation of a new full moves intersection with Finch Avenue West.

The installation of these traffic control signals will provide continued crossing facilities for pedestrians and improve the operation of the traffic control signals at the nearby intersection of Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road.

This report recommends the installation of traffic control signals along Victoria Park Avenue at the Gatineau Hydro Corridor Trail, located approximately 35 metres south of Biggin Court, in order to provide accessible crossing protection for cyclists and pedestrians using this multi-use trail to cross Victoria Park Avenue.

This report is submitted to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee as Victoria Park Avenue forms a shared boundary between North York Community Council and Scarborough Community Council.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities to allocate federal infrastructure funding to active transportation projects in the City of Toronto, such projects to potentially include the West Toronto Railpath and East Don Trail, among others.

Toronto is a city that moves. Public interest in active transportation alternatives, such as walking and cycling, is growing rapidly as residents seek out healthy, sustainable and affordable modes of getting around our city.

Federal infrastructure funding can help accelerate investments in active transportation projects in Toronto. It can also help us leverage valuable synergies with public transit and environmentally sustainable infrastructure spending.

The City of Toronto has identified a number of projects designed to grow, connect and renew cycling and multi-use infrastructure in our city.

The West Toronto Railpath extension and East Don Trail are two examples of municipal projects that would benefit from federal infrastructure funding. Currently in the detailed design phase, the West Toronto Railpath Extension is estimated to cost $23 million to build, with construction scheduled for 2017. Funding for construction of the extension is not currently assigned.

The East Don Trail, a multi-use trail system under study in a Schedule C Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA), is estimated to cost $26 million and is currently unfunded. Both of these projects would expand active transportation options for residents across Toronto.

In light of the Government of Canada's $5 billion commitment over the next five years to strengthening green infrastructure, additional funding for active transportation projects in Toronto would accelerate their implementation and thereby positively impact neighbourhood livability, congestion, public health and efforts to reduce emissions.

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, at its meeting on November 12, 2015 in considering a staff report titled "Pedestrian Crossing Protection – Victoria Park Avenue at Donside Drive” (PW9.8), requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report on the need and feasibility of a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signal at the Conroy Avenue intersection, located approximately 150 metres north of Donside Drive.

This staff report outlines the results of this assessment which concludes that based on current peak vehicular and pedestrian volumes, delays and conflicts at the Conroy Avenue intersection neither traffic control signals nor a pedestrian crossover is warranted at this time.  However, should pedestrian crossing volumes increase at this location in the future, the warrants for the provision of crossing protection could be reassessed at that time.

This report is submitted to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee as Victoria Park Avenue forms a shared boundary between Toronto East York Community Council and Scarborough Community Council.

In the recent weeks, my office has been contacted by a number of residents on Usher Avenue who were frustrated to learn that a sidewalk would be constructed on the south side of the existing road on Usher Avenue from Royal York Road to the Kingsway.

I have received a petition demonstrating that all of the homes affected on Usher Avenue are opposed to the installation of sidewalks. Please see the attached map for reference.

Despite the City's policy to build a physical environment that supports walking and accessibility, the City's policy in place since 2002, is also such that any proposed sidewalks can only be installed on an existing local street after the Ward Councillor completes a consultation of the neighbourhood and receives consensus to support the installation. Understanding that this is a collector road, the residents have been overwhelmingly clear that they do not support the installation. The neighbourhood is one that

It is of note that according to the 2016 Capital Works Program, no Transportation and/or Toronto Water Capital Work is scheduled for Usher except for the proposed sidewalk construction.

Your consideration in this matter is greatly appreciated.