Item - 2020.TE16.72

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Directed the General Manager, Transportation to undertake the reinstallation of updated, movable bollards by no later than the end of the third quarter of 2020 to the unnamed laneway that begins between 216 Ontario Street and 218 Ontario Street and extends westward to Seaton Street in consultation with Toronto Hydro, local residents, and the Ward Councillor.

At the beginning of May 2020, city contractors removed at least 8 concrete bollards, which have been in place for over 50 years, from an unnamed laneway that begins between 216 Ontario Street and 218 Ontario Street and extends westward to Seaton Street, without providing any notice to my office or the local residents and without any consultation.

These bollards were first identified as an issue during a safety walk that I co-hosted with the Cabbagetown South Residents’ Association on December 16, 2019, along with various stakeholders present including local residents, Toronto Hydro, Toronto Police 51 Division, and city staff from Transportation, Social Development Finance and Administration, and Shelter Support and Housing Administration. Residents noted that a few of the bollards were damaged and that the laneway had lighting issues. Toronto Hydro shared their concern that with the immovable concrete bollards, their vehicles are not able to conduct lighting maintenance in the laneway.

Transportation Services was asked to work with Road Operations to determine the history of the bollards and propose alternate solutions to enable Toronto Hydro access to maintain the street lighting. We anticipated that City staff would investigate the matter and return to the stakeholder discussion and my office with alternate solutions. Unfortunately, this step was missed and there was no follow-up.

Several residents have contacted my office alarmed that the concrete bollards were removed without consultation or replacements. They are requesting that the City replace the concrete bollards with updated, versatile and moveable bollards as soon as possible to maintain pedestrian safety, traffic management and flexible access for Toronto Hydro servicing.