Item - 2022.IE31.12

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the installation of Gerrard Street Complete Street project and all required Chapter 886, 910, and 950 by-law amendments on the following sections of roadway, as generally described in Attachment 2 - Gerrard Street Complete Street By-Laws to the report (June 23, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a. Gerrard Street East (Sherbourne Street to Parliament Street); 

b. Gerrard Street East (Parliament Street to Blackburn Street).

2. City Council authorize the installation of Renewing Overlea Boulevard project and all required Chapter 886 and 950 by-law amendments, on the following sections of roadway, as generally described in Attachment 3 - Renewing Overlea Boulevard By-Laws to the report (June 23, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a. Gateway Boulevard (Don Mills Road (south intersection) to 100 metres to the east);

b. Don Mills Road (100 metres north of Gateway Boulevard (south intersection) to 20 metres to the south);

c. Overlea Boulevard (75 metres west of Thorncliffe Park Drive to Don Mills Road);

d. Thorncliffe Park Drive (125 metres south to 100 metres north of Overlea Boulevard (east intersection)).

3. City Council authorize the installation of Martin Grove Cycling Connections project between Eglinton Avenue West and Dundas Street West and all required Chapter 886 and 950 by-law amendments, as generally described in Attachment 4 - Martin Grove Cycling Connections By-Laws to the report (June 23, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a. Martin Grove Road (Eglinton Avenue West to point 115 metres south of Nottinghill Gate/Winterton Drive);

b. Martin Grove Road (Burnhamthorpe Road intersection to a point 92 metres north).

4. City Council authorize the installation of Shuter Street and River Street intersection project and all required Chapter 886, and 950 by-law amendments, as generally described in Attachment 5 - Shuter Street and River Street Intersection By-Laws to the report (June 23, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

a. Shuter Street (Sumach Street to River Street);

b. River Street (Wascana Lane to Shuter Street).

5. City Council amend cycling, traffic and parking regulations required in Chapter 886, Chapter 910 and Chapter 950, as generally described in Attachment 6- Technical Amendments to the report (June 23, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

6. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services to continue to conduct consultation on the proposed EglintonTOday Complete Street Project, taking into account the concerns of local community members that have arisen during the consultation process, and to use that consultation to inform the proposed design and implementation plan before seeking Council approval on the project.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Directed the General Manger, Transportation Services, to report on the status and planned expansion for safe bike locking infrastructure in suburban wards, when reporting on the next update of the Cycling Network Plan to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

The Cycling Network Plan and the associated Near Term Implementation Plan, adopted by City Council in December 2021 seeks to build on the existing network of cycling routes to Connect gaps in the current network, Grow the network into new parts of the city, and Renew existing parts of the network to improve safety. This report recommends a number of bikeway projects that are proposed to be installed in the near term (2022 to 2024) for which design and consultation have been completed.

This report seeks Council authority to install 3.33 centreline kilometres of new bikeways on the following streets:

- Gerrard Street East: Parliament Street to Blackburn Street (bi-directional cycle tracks, Ward 13);

- Don Mills Road: 100 metres north of Gateway Boulevard (south intersection) to 20 metres south of Don Mills Road  (bi-directional cycle tracks, Ward 15 and 16);

- Overlea Boulevard: Thorncliffe Park Drive (east intersection) to Don Mills Road (cycle tracks, Ward 15 and 16);

- Thorncliffe Park Drive: 100 metres north and 125 metres south of Overlea Boulevard (east intersection) (cycle tracks, Ward 15).

- Martin Grove Road: 83.5 m north of Eglinton Avenue West to 115 m south of Winterton Drive (cycle tracks, Ward 2); and

- Martin Grove Road: 100 metres north of Burnhamthrope Road and 50 metres south of Burnhamthrope Road (bicycle lanes, Ward 2).

This report also seeks Council authority to make improvements to 1.2 centreline kilometres of existing cycling infrastructure on the following streets:

- Gerrard Street East: Sherbourne Street to Parliament Street (cycle tracks to bi-directional (south side) and uni-directional (north side) cycle tracks, Ward 13);

- Gateway Boulevard (south intersection): from Don Mills Road to a 100 metres east of Don Mills Road (bicycle lanes to cycle tracks, Ward 16); and

- Shuter Street and River Street intersection (bicycle lanes to cycle tracks, Ward 13).

The changes proposed would improve safety and mobility options by providing improved cycling connections to transit, parks, local schools, businesses, and residences. Pedestrian improvements have also been included in the projects, wherever feasible, including curb extensions and new sidewalk installations, and motor vehicle lane adjustments.

In addition, this report provides a status update on the recommended strategy to implement the long-term vision for streetscape and cycle track improvements identified in the Council-approved Eglinton Connects Planning Study and Environmental Assessment. The report includes an update on work delivered by Metrolinx, a summary of findings from a preliminary design study, as well as recent stakeholder and public engagement feedback on a strategy for near-term delivery. Following updated community engagement and refinement of design recommendations, it is anticipated that Transportation Services will report to Infrastructure & Environment Committee and City Council in the first quarter of 2023 to seek authority to implement a complete street design of Eglinton Avenue between Keele Street and Mount Pleasant Road.

Finally, this report seeks to make minor housekeeping amendments to existing bikeways and their associated traffic and parking by-laws on the following streets:

- Davenport Road (traffic and parking, Ward 11);

- The Esplanade, Trinity Street, and Mill Street (traffic and parking, Ward 10 and 13); and

- York University Cycling Connections at Columbia Gate (bike lane, Ward 7).

A map of the bikeway projects proposed in this report is included as Attachment 1.