Item - 2020.IE17.6

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to include for consideration approximately $39 million dollars for the MoveTO interim pandemic congestion management plan initiatives in Transportation Services 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan.

2. Subject to the approval of the Transportation Services 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan and funding requirements for the MoveTO interim pandemic congestion management plan initiatives, City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate and execute any non-competitive agreements with TransCore ITS, LLC, as the sole supplier to meet the prequalification requirements of Request to Prequalify No-1205-17-5043, that are necessary for the design, supply, delivery, implementation and support of a traffic adaptive signal control system solution in the amount not to exceed $23,753,471.34 net of Harmonized Sales Tax ($24,171,532.44 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) for up to five (5) years, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate and execute a software end user licence agreement with Transport for NSW for which TransCore ITS, LLC is an authorized sub-distributor, and which provides central server software and field computer software, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Director, Environment and Energy, to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the second quarter of 2022 on a proposed transportation demand management strategy consistent with the targets established by TransformTO.

5. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to ensure Vision Zero principles are a key consideration in the determination and prioritization of measures to be implemented under the MoveTO Interim Action Plan.

6. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, consider, at the appropriate time, adding Yorkville to the Construction Hub pilot program.

7. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to include the additional area bounded by Queen Street West, Bathurst Street, King Street West, and University Avenue in the proposed Lakeshore Corridor Construction Hub described in Appendix 7 to the report (October 22, 2020) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

8. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Budget Committee for consideration during the 2021 budget process on the feasibility of having a COVID-19 strategy for the winter maintenance of laneways and pathways in our park and trail systems.

9. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to review the criteria and installation decisions for signal placement with Councillors and to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on an annual basis to provide an update on the MoveTO 2021-2025 plan, such update to include the deployment and impact of the selected locations for signal placement.

MoveTO 2021-25 is an interim action plan to accelerate a portion of the broader Congestion Management Plan with specific focus to modernize and build resilience into the City of Toronto's transportation system through the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and into the recovery period. MoveTO involves using both piloted and proven techniques and technologies to manage the unpredictable patterns of motor vehicle, pedestrian, and cyclist traffic along key corridors and intersections. The measures proposed in MoveTO are to be accelerated for implementation over the next two years in particular.

In March of 2020, the City's transportation system experienced the largest drop in transportation demand since traffic volumes have been recorded. As the COVID-19 pandemic was declared and the City as well as the Province moved into states of emergency, demand for travel on the City's streets fell by more than half. Over the summer and through the various stages of the Provinces re-opening, traffic volumes have begun to increase again. These dramatic changes in demand disrupted decades-long patterns of growth and congestion, requiring a strategic review of operational capabilities to navigate the uncertainty and fluctuations in the number of vehicles on streets and the modal choices of travellers as demand recovers.

Building off of the foundation put in place through the City's Congestion Management Plan, and in alignment with Vision Zero and the Freight and Goods Movement Strategy, the MoveTO strategy proposes targeted actions to more effectively manage the transportation system. These initiatives can begin in 2021 at an estimated cost of $38.8 million over five years to be included in Transportation Services 2021-2030 Capital Budget and Plan and include the following:

- "Smart" traffic signals: These automatically adjust signal timing based on actual traffic demand and respond to varying volumes and unpredictable traffic patterns. Staff propose Smart Traffic Signals be installed at 500 locations over the next five years, with a focus on major arterials parallel to expressways and other corridors with irregular traffic patterns.

- "Intelligent" intersections: A set of technologies that will allow the intersections to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists and form the backbone of a modern multi-modal data and analytics system. Staff propose that intelligent intersections be installed at 100 locations over the next two years, with a focus on urban environments in locations with high multi-modal activity.

- Advanced Transit Signal Priority: A system that detects buses running behind schedule and extends green times when necessary to accommodate. Staff propose that the first 100 priority locations be installed over the next two years and a strategy be developed to enable Advanced Transit Signal Priority at all 2400 signals within the City.

- Continuation of the Construction Hub Pilot Program: A program to effectively manage access to the right-of-way with an emphasis on Vision Zero principles, while developing traffic management and communications plans to help mitigate the congestion-related impacts associated with unavoidable road closures. Staff propose the extension of the existing Yonge/Eglinton Hub and the addition of three new locations (Downtown Hub, Lakeshore Hub and East Harbour Hub) in 2021.

- Transportation Demand Management Strategy: A set of measures to encourage individuals to make specific transportation choices that serve to benefit the overall system. Staff propose to build on the existing Smart Commute program to provide additional supports to employers and to develop a strategy to improve the toolset available to the City of Toronto and boost the depth of engagement with major employers.
 

In 2017, Transportation Services issued a Request to Prequalify to prequalify providers for a smart signal technology pilot to seek a new smart signal system where traffic signal timing changes based on actual traffic demand. Two suppliers were selected for the pilot deployment in 2018 and both smart signal technologies were evaluated in 2019. Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System deployed by TransCore was the only successful solution for future upgrades and expansion. TransCore is the only authorized sub-distributor for Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System in North America. Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System software ownership and intellectual property rights are retained by Transport for NSW.

Accordingly, this report seeks authority from City Council for the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate and enter into any non-competitive contracts with TransCore ITS, LLC, that are necessary for the design, supply, delivery, implementation and support of a new traffic adaptive signal control system solution (smart signal system) for up to five years, for the total amount not to exceed $23,753,471.34 net of HST ($24,171,532.44 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries).

Collectively, these strategies within the multi-modal MoveTO Interim Action Plan will reduce travel times and improve travel reliability for vehicles, improve safety and optimise movement for pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, improve transit operations, coordinate construction activities to minimize impacts to the transportation network and improve safety, and support employers in their role to reduce travel demand and greenhouse gas emissions.