Item - 2019.TE11.66

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council rescind the existing southerly westbound double left-turn lane designation in effect at all times on Bremner Boulevard, between Spadina Avenue and a point 30.5 metres east.

2. City Council designate the southerly westbound lane on Bremner Boulevard, between Spadina Avenue and a point 30.5 metres east, for westbound left turns at all times.

3. City Council prohibit westbound left turns from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at the intersection of Front Street West and Blue Jays Way, Toronto Transit Commission vehicles and bicycles excepted.

4. City Council direct staff to not introduce a pedestrian crossing on the south side of Spadina Avenue and Front Street West at this time; and to coordinate the planning, design, and implementation of the south side crossing with the new Spadina-Front GO Transit station.

Over the last few years, in working with CityPlace residents and community stakeholders, we have identified a number of street safety concerns and have been working to implement improvements. One such improvement, which was approved by City Council in July 2018 (TE34.210), is to create a new pedestrian crossing at Spadina Avenue on the south side of the existing signalized intersection with Bremner Boulevard and Fort York Boulevard.

The Spadina Avenue/ Bremner Boulevard/ Fort York Boulevard intersection is a very busy intersection with many pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Currently, pedestrians looking to cross the eight lanes of traffic and two designated TTC streetcar tracks would have to do so only on the north side of Spadina Avenue. This creates dangerous conditions with pedestrians spilling on to the streets at the end of any sporting event or concert in the area, and every day it functions as a barrier dividing the CityPlace community.

In January 2020, two new schools and a childcare facility in the neighbourhood will open their doors to 1,100 students. In addition to the current demand of the intersection, hundreds of school aged students will be crossing the busy intersection on a daily basis to travel to and from school. Only a few months later, in spring 2020, the Canoe Landing Community Recreation Centre will be open and will add animation to the neighbourhood, as well as increase pedestrian traffic. This is why I passed a motion in October to Accelerate CityPlace Vision Zero Street Safety Improvements (TE 9.85) to ensure that the appropriate Vision Zero safety provisions were in place prior to the opening of the schools and community centre.

To date, the required lights and signal hardware have been installed and on the advice of Transportation Services staff, some technical changes to the lane designations and traffic regulations are necessary for the implementation of pedestrian crossing.