Item - 2023.IE3.7

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the preferred strategy for travel network improvements in High Park as described in the report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to advance detailed design, costing estimates and consider funding strategies for the preferred strategy and advance implementation as part of the 2024 and future year budget processes.

3. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission Board to investigate the feasibility of improving routing and/or service frequency of transit service within and around High Park as part of the Toronto Transit Commission’s annual service planning process.

4. City Council authorize the traffic and parking regulations for the City Council approved High Park Movement Strategy, as generally described in Attachment 9 to the  report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services.

5. City Council authorize the amendments to City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 950 (Traffic and Parking), and By-law accuracy for the City Council approved High Park Movement Strategy, as generally described in Attachment 10 to the report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services..

6. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to develop and undertake a pilot program to support recreational cycling opportunities in High Park in 2023, informed by the parameters and principles outlined in the report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services, and in consultation with cycling groups and other park user groups in High Park.

7. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to extend the existing license agreement with the current High Park Trackless Train operator (Carla Construction & Maintenance Ltd.), through the end of the 2023 operating season, and to be further extended as required on one-year extensions for a further two seasons, to maintain service while the Request For Proposals for a new shuttle service solution aligned with the High Park Movement Strategy is completed.

8. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to consult with the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, and Director, Corporate Security, and other City divisions on appropriate long-term staffing arrangements to manage and enforce authorized vehicle access during road closures and other closures.

9. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to, consult with the Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, and President, Toronto Parking Authority, on potential alterations to the areas made available for parking of motor vehicles by park users on lands currently assigned for which Parks, Forestry and Recreation has been provided operational jurisdiction for operating parkland and recreation operations; and, to report back jointly with the City Manager to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on alternative arrangements concerning the use and nature of these lands, including but not limited to arrangements concerning the management thereof, or transfer of operational jurisdiction for these lands to the Toronto Parking Authority to be operated as parking facilities.

10. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to undertake ongoing monitoring of the preferred strategy and to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee upon full implementation and no later than 2027 to provide direction on further travel network changes and improvements, including the potential for full road closures at all times in High Park.

11. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to continue consultation with the Ward Councillor and park user groups as part of the detailed design and implementation process.

12. City Council approve full road closures at all times - Draft Strategy #1 in Attachment A to the report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services as the long term strategy for travel network improvements in High Park; as an interim measure, City Council approve area-based road closures - Draft Strategy #3 in Attachment A to the report (April 12, 2023) from the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Transportation Services; and direct the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to continue the full closure of High Park to private visitor vehicles on Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, exclusive of Spring Road parking lot, on an ongoing basis.

13. City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City Officials to take the necessary action to give effect to the recommendations above, including the introduction in Council of any and all Bills that may be required.

This report describes the preferred strategy for travel network improvements in High Park, which have been developed as part of the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS). Since March 2020, roads in High Park have been closed to visitor vehicles on weekends and holidays. The HPMS is a staff-initiated study that was launched in summer 2021 to evaluate the weekend road closures and address other mobility matters in High Park, focusing on existing paved areas. The goal of the High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) is to better serve park users and the surrounding community, while prioritizing improvements to safety, accessibility and the park's natural environment.

The High Park Movement Strategy (HPMS) is a multi-phased planning study co-led by the Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Transportation Services divisions. The outcome of the study is a comprehensive strategy to manage the mobility needs of park users. Early and ongoing engagement, research and analysis, and Council-approved plans and policies informed the development of the preferred strategy.

The preferred strategy would take bold, immediate-term actions to improve the travel network in High Park. The proposed changes acknowledge High Park's designation as a legacy park through the City's Parkland Strategy, serving as both a local amenity and regional outdoor destination and respond to the mobility needs presented by the many different activities and park user groups it supports.

The changes proposed in the immediate term are guided by area-based and time-based road closures. West Road and portions of Colborne Lodge Drive would be permanently closed to visitor vehicles at all times and dedicated to non-motorized travel. Full road closures within the park would continue year round on Sundays. Road closures would be supported by traffic calming measures and improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, transit and shuttle service, changes to parking, public realm and re-naturalization opportunities and a recreational cycling pilot.

Staff are not recommending that full road closures at all times be implemented as part of this phase of work. However, the preferred strategy recognizes the potential benefits of full road closures in High Park and upholds this approach as a desirable future goal for the City to pursue once key conditions are met. These conditions are described in this report and include improved transit and shuttle service within the park to provide affordable, accessible service to interior park destinations, and an automated gating solution to ensure safe and effective traffic operations at key entry and exit points.

This report recommends that staff report back following the full implementation of the preferred strategy to provide direction on further travel network changes in High Park, including consideration of further road closures.

The current travel network in High Park presents challenges for park users and City operations alike. The preferred strategy addresses this urgent need for comprehensive changes with a clear path to full implementation. A phased implementation approach would start with immediate changes that would be made in 2023 using existing resources with Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Transportation Services divisions. The remaining improvements require new physical infrastructure and new operating agreements, which must be supported by further work, including detailed design, costing and funding approvals. Subsequent improvements and longer-term opportunities identified in this report as part of the preferred strategy are currently unfunded and the development of a funding strategy is necessary for these unfunded priority capital projects to fully improve the travel network in High Park.

This report presents a rough order of magnitude costing estimate for the preferred strategy based on industry standard cost per metre calculations and other inputs. Following Council decision, detailed design and costing estimates will be developed as part of the next stage of work on implementation and will inform future budget submissions.