Item - 2011.PW5.1

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council endorse the direction and implementation of the Mayor's Bike Plan comprising a 100 km network of off-street bike trails and completion of critical on-street bike lane connections where the community supports them and where they do not impede traffic flow, including a separated bike lane network downtown; and direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, accordingly on the following specific measures leading to achievement of the Plan:

a.         Report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the Fall 2011 on specific links and installation priorities of a multi-year Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan;

b.         Proceed with the installation of separated bike lanes on Bloor Street East, from Sherbourne Street to Broadview Avenue, in 2011;

c.         Proceed with the detailed design and consultation process for developing separated bicycle lanes on Sherbourne Street with the goal of implementing them in 2012 in conjunction with the planned capital work on Sherbourne Street;

d.         Proceed with the detailed design and consultation process for developing separated bicycle lanes on Wellesley Street with the goal of implementing them in 2012;

e.         Direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to assess the feasibility of separated bike lanes on Adelaide Street and/or Richmond Street, from Bathurst Street to Sherbourne Street, and separated north-south bicycle lanes in the most suitable route within the corridor from Peter to Simcoe Streets, connecting the existing Beverley Street bicycle lanes to the Waterfront, as part of a larger overall transportation operations study of this area and report to the September 2011 meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on Terms of Reference for the study; and

f.          Not proceed further at this time on work on the Bloor-Danforth Bikeway Environmental Assessment and direct that staff refocus the current available resources on achieving the elements outlined in this recommendation.

2.         City Council approve the installation of bicycle lanes on Dawes Road, from Danforth Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue.

3.         City Council approve modifications to the bicycle lanes on Dupont Street at the approach to the intersection with Lansdowne Avenue, to move the beginning of bicycle lanes from a point 30 metres east of Lansdowne Avenue to a point 70 metres west of Lansdowne Avenue.

4.         City Council provide direction regarding the installation of approved bicycle lanes on Bloor Street West, from Mill Road to Beamish Drive.

5.         City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to proceed with the removal of existing bicycle lanes on Pharmacy Avenue, from Denton Avenue to Alvinstone Road.

6.         City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to proceed with the removal of existing bicycle lanes on Birchmount Road, from Kingston Road to St. Clair Avenue East.

7.         City Council request the General Managers of Transportation Services and Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in partnership with Hydro One, to report back on the feasibility of establishing a bikeway path across the existing Hydro Parkettes across Ward 17 as part of the Bikeway Trails Plan to be submitted to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the fall of 2011.

8.         City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to commence the design phase for separated bike lanes on Harbord - Hoskin and Beverley that includes community and stakeholder consultation and consideration of the availability of parking on local side streets, with a report back to the May 2012 meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

9.         City Council approve the following modifications to the bicycle lanes on Rogers Road:

a.         provide short term (15 minute maximum) parking between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday), along the south curb of the street, from a point approximately 7 metres west of Bronoco Avenue to a point approximately 30 metres east thereof; and

b.         remove 6 metres of on-street parking (equivalent to one parking space) along the south curb of the street immediately west of McRoberts Avenue, in order to provide a westbound left turn lane from Rogers Road to McRoberts Avenue.

10.       City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, and the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, to consult with Issie Chackowicz, the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, cycling organizations and other stakeholders on ways and means to develop more robust cyclist training programs, including the development of a training facility to support cyclist training programs, and report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in May 2012.

11.       City Council rescind its decision related to the bicycle lanes on Jarvis Street.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee:

1.         Requested the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with local Councillors Ana Bailão, Cesar Palacio and Gord Perks, and the local community, to submit a report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee addressing the issues related to the Dupont Street bicycle lane between Lansdowne Avenue to the Underpass immediately west of Osler Street.

2.         Requested the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to consult with Metrolinx staff about the feasibility and costs associated with the north-westerly extension of the bike trail in the West Toronto rail corridor and to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the results of these discussions, including any cost-sharing arrangements between the City and Metrolinx.

3.         Requested the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on the required process to build a bicycle trail from Redway Road to Bayview Avenue.

4.         Requested the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to investigate and evaluate north-south streets for implementation of separated bicycle lanes as an alternative to John Street, in consultation with the Entertainment District BIA and the cycling community.

5.         Requested the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the October 5, 2011, meeting of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on a pilot project for separated bicycle lanes on Richmond Street to inform the larger overall transportation operations study of the area, for implementation in the Spring of 2012.

6.         Referred the following motion by Councillor Grimes to the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, for a report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in October 2011:

“That City Council direct the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, to:

a.         design and install standard bike lanes on Portland, from Queen Street to Front Street and from Telegram Mews to Dan Leckie Way south to Queen's Quay;

b.         design and install standard bike lanes on Wellington from Simcoe to Portland Street and to bring forward whatever changes may be recommended as part of the implementation study to adjust Wellington and make it two way through the corridor;

c.         design for implementation, separated bike lanes on Simcoe Street from Queen's Quay to Elm Street and to propose appropriate changes to the one way direction of the street between Front and Queen Street.  Additionally staff are asked to propose changes to the intersections of Richmond and Simcoe and Queen and Simcoe to make them safer for cyclists and pedestrians to cross;

d.         design and install a northbound separated contra flow lane on Dennison Avenue between Dundas and Wales Avenue;

e.         design and bring forward bike lanes for Rees, Bremner, Navy Wharf Court, Blue Jays Way and Peter Street connecting to Beverley Street by way of Soho and Phoebe, and to propose solutions to make the Queen, Peter and Soho intersection safe for pedestrians and cyclists to cross.”

This report responds to a request by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, at its meeting of April 26, 2011, that the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services report on:

-           the development and implementation of the Mayor's Bike Plan during the current term of Council;

-           the development and implementation of a continuous Separated Bike Lane Network in the downtown during the current term of Council;

-           the status of the Bloor-Danforth Environmental Assessment Study; and

-           any other outstanding matters relating to bike lanes.

The Mayor's Bike Plan consists of two main components – a 100 km network of off-street bike trails and completion of critical on-street bike lane connections where the community supports them and where they do not impede traffic flow. A preliminary plan for designing and constructing the major bikeway trails over the next several years has been developed. A multi-year Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan, designed to achieve the 100 km network of off-street trails, will be submitted to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in the Fall 2011. Staff are continuing to assess the feasibility and impacts of implementing the critical on-street bike lane connections.

In addition, a preliminary assessment of 14 km of separated bicycle lanes in the downtown area has been completed and the results are presented in this report.  Based on the findings of this preliminary assessment, it is recommended that separated bike lanes be implemented across the Bloor Viaduct in 2011 by utilizing the existing designated bike lane alignment from Sherbourne Street to Broadview Avenue. This route was selected as the first location for the installation of separated bike lanes because it does not require the removal of any traffic lanes or parking.

It is important to understand, however, that the implementation of other separated bicycle lanes will, in most instances, result in a reduction of vehicle traffic or parking capacity. It is with this understanding that this report seeks authority to undertake further in-depth assessment, including a comprehensive consultation and design process, to evaluate the different design options for this separated bicycle lane network, and to identify impacts and recommend potential mitigating measures. Subject to the findings of this additional assessment and consultation, it is recommended that separated bike lanes be implemented on Sherbourne Street and Wellesley Street in 2012. Furthermore, it is recommended that a transportation operations study be undertaken to assess, among other things, the feasibility and impact of separated bike lanes on Richmond and/or Adelaide Streets, between Bathurst and Sherbourne Streets, and north-south bike lanes in the corridor from Peter to Simcoe Streets. It is recommended in order to achieve and focus on implementation of the elements addressed in this bike plan that the work on the Bloor-Danforth Bikeway Environmental Assessment previously authorized by City Council, not proceed further at this time and the currently available resources be directed toward delivering the cycling facilities set out in this report.

This report also recommends approval of a new bike lane on Dawes Road and minor modifications to the existing bike lane on Dupont Street. Staff also seek Council direction on requests from local Councillors to rescind approvals for bicycle lanes that have not yet been implemented on Bloor Street West and to remove bike lanes that have already been implemented on Pharmacy Avenue and Birchmount Road. An update of the operation and impacts of the Jarvis Street bike lanes that were installed in 2010 is also provided.