Item - 2019.TE9.45

The Toronto and East York Community Council deferred consideration of the item until its November 5, 2019 meeting.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Commissioners Street, which is being rerouted along Villiers Street and Saulter Street South, City Council approval is required.

Waterfront Toronto, City of Toronto, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Toronto Port Lands Company (TPLC) have developed the Port Lands Flood Protection Project (PLFPP) to protect the Lower Don Lands and adjacent areas from potential loss of life and costly flood damage associated with a flood event, while triggering economic development.  The solution involves creating two additional outlets for the Don River, which ultimately will be surrounded by new parks, green space and public realm enhancements. Several roads within the Port Lands area will be impacted.

Ellis Don, a contractor hired by Waterfront Toronto, has submitted a proposal to implement PLFPP for the Lower Don Lands. An increase in the elevation of Commissioners Street by two metres is part of the proposal.

Transportation Services is requesting approval to close Commissioners Street from Cherry Street to 120 metres east of Don Roadway from October 30, 2019 to May 16, 2022. The exceptions are sections of roadway providing access to properties at 39 Commissioners Street and 275 Cherry Street.  The closure of these sections is deferred pending transfer of ownership and alternate access agreement with the property owners respectively.

Transportation Services is also requesting approval to close a section of Don Roadway from Villiers Street to Commissioners Street, from October 30, 2019 to May 16, 2022.

Villiers Street, running parallel to Commissioners Street will serve as an alternate route during the closure period.  In order to accommodate the additional traffic, Villiers Street will also have operational changes implemented.