Item - 2019.IE6.14

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate, enter into, and execute an agreement with the Toronto District School Board for the provision of funding by the City of Toronto up to $350,000, and the Toronto Catholic District School Board for up to $200,000 for bicycle parking infrastructure, that the agreement be generally in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the March 19, 2018 report EX 32.22, and upon such additional terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

This motion recommends that City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to negotiate, enter into, and execute an agreement with each of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board pursuant to which the City of Toronto would transfer funds to each for the provision of bicycle parking on school properties.

The funding will be applied to the installation of bicycle parking at up to 300 schools in Toronto. Cycling to school reduces motor vehicle trips and improves student health and wellbeing. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) have set a goal of 7% of trips to school by bike by 2025.

The City of Toronto has received funding through the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling (OMCC) Fund to provide bicycle parking at Toronto schools under a Transfer Payment Agreement with the Province (OMCC Agreement). The OMCC Agreement requires that OMCC funding may only be used to support up to 80% of eligible costs for eligible projects and that the City is required to provide funding for at least 20% of the eligible costs. The City's matching funds are available within the 2019-2028 Capital Budget & Plan. OMCC funding expires at the end of 2020.

Subject to the execution of the required agreement with each of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board, funding for bicycle parking infrastructure would be provided by the City of Toronto to each school board. A portion (80%) of the funding provided by the City of Toronto to each of the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School board would come from the OMCC Fund in accordance with the terms of the City's Transfer Payment Agreement with the Province. The bicycle racks and other assets purchased through these agreements would be installed on school properties and these assets would be the responsibility of the respective school board. Any agreements would include an indemnity to the City of Toronto.

This motion is urgent in order to ensure the necessary agreements can be finalized, and the bicycle parking racks purchased and installed before the OMCC funding expires at the end of 2020.