Item - 2019.IE6.16

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1.   Requested that the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services in consultation with Transportation Services, the Resilience Office, the Environment and Energy Division, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, consider a proposal to provide enhanced local mobility infrastructure and stormwater protection along with supporting the Toronto Resilience Strategy along sections of Finch Avenue, Kipling Avenue and Jane Street in northwest Toronto through the concept of a mobility greenway.

Northwest Toronto’s people and businesses are a critical part of Toronto’s success. In addition to being home to two hundred thousand residents, the distribution, production and repair businesses in our Business Improvement Areas provide tens of thousands of jobs, while York University, Seneca College and Humber College support an educated and specialized workforce.

However, homeowners, businesses and institutions across northwest Toronto have suffered frequent damage from severe weather over the last twenty years. On August 19th, 2005, a storm lasting just three hours produced 153 mm of rain, destroyed part of Finch Avenue, forced the diversion of personal and commercial vehicles for months and cost hundreds of millions in disruption and damage. Apart from flooding, the growing cost of severe weather events in all seasons have highlighted the urgent need to seek financial efficiencies within the potential for climate mitigation and adaption to lower risk and promote resilient communities.

Toronto’s Resilience Strategy Goal B1 highlights the need for Toronto’s infrastructure to be climate change resilient. While large scale adaption and mitigation efforts have been focused on the Toronto Islands, Port Lands and other downtown locations, homeowners, residents and businesses across the City deserve to be protected from severe weather events. Action B1.5 commits the City to expand the network of green and blue infrastructure, by identifying opportunities to integrate raingardens into new ‘corridors’, soliciting philanthropic funds, and utilizing partnerships. Considering the extensive planned road work on Kipling Avenue, Jane Street and Finch Avenue, now is the time to consider how philanthropy and partnerships can aid in scaling up resilience efforts supporting multiple Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.

The 13-kilometer Indianapolis Cultural Trail, which is managed by a dedicated non-profit, is an example of what is possible. Built by leveraging tens of millions in philanthropic funds and government grants, the ‘Trail’, which provides a protected pathway between the road and the sidewalk, connects communities and utilizes about twenty-five thousand square feet of raingardens to guard against flooding while improving safety. Generating over one billion in economic impact over the last decade, businesses and residents have embraced the Trail’s connectivity, and its effect on local safety and security.

The Evergreen Brickworks, the Bentway, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and other similar projects have experienced considerable ongoing success in stewarding public land and leveraging philanthropic funds. It is critical that we consider this opportunity to efficiently implement and maintain green streets at reduced cost to the City, while increasing community safety, resilience and the ability of emergency services to swiftly meet local needs, rather than continuing to be stuck in traffic.