Item - 2020.TE14.38

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the closure of the north sidewalk on College Street, between a point 57 metres east of University Avenue and a point 66 metres further east, from April 6, 2020 to January 31, 2021.

2. City Council authorize the closure of the bike lane and a portion of the westbound curb lane on the north side of College Street, between a point 50 metres east of University Avenue and a point 86 metres further east, from April 6, 2020 to January 31, 2021.

3. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

4. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

5. City Council direct the applicant to sweep the construction site daily and nightly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

6. City Council direct the applicant to pressure wash the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways weekly, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

7. City Council direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

8. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local business improvement areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

9. City Council direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

10. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

11. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

12. City Council direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

13. City Council direct that College Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on College Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

EllisDon Corporation is constructing a 13-storey institutional building (the new University of Toronto Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre) at 112 College Street. The site is located on the north side of College Street, east of University Avenue.

Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the north sidewalk and a portion of the westbound curb lane on College Street for a period of 10 months (i.e. April 6, 2020 to January 31, 2021) to accommodate a construction staging area.

Although Transportation Services is technically requesting approval to close the sidewalk, bike lane and a portion of the westbound curb lane in their current location on the north side of College Street to accommodate construction staging operations, traffic lanes abutting the site will be realigned to maintain one westbound traffic lane, two eastbound traffic lanes, plus a bike lane and temporary walkway.

Pedestrian operations on the north side of College Street will be maintained in a covered and protected walkway within the closed portion of the existing bike lane. Bike operations on the north side of College Street will be maintained within the closed portion of the westbound curb lane. Existing pedestrian and bike operations on the south side of College Street will be maintained.