Item - 2023.IE4.3

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the installation of the following bikeway projects on:

a. Bloor Street from Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road, uni-directional cycle tracks;

b. Gladstone Avenue from Dundas Street to Peel Avenue, contra-flow bike lane;

c. Gerrard Street from Parliament Street to Sumach Street, bi-directional cycle track;

d. Sumach Street from Wellesley Avenue to Gerrard Street, contra-flow bike lane;

e. Sackville Street from Wellesley Avenue to Gerrard Street, contra-flow bike lane;

f. Ontario Street from Carlton Street to Aberdeen Avenue, contra-flow bike lane;

g. Sheppard Avenue from Clairtrell Road to Leslie Avenue, uni-directional cycle tracks;

h. Superior Avenue from  Lake Shore Boulevard and Stanley Avenue, uni-directional cycle tracks;

i. Dundas Street from Hiltz Avenue to Alton Avenue, uni-directional cycle tracks; and

j. Dundas Street from Rhodes Avenue to Coxwell Avenue, uni-directional cycle tracks.

2. City Council delegate, despite any City of Toronto By-law to the contrary, to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2025, for the purposes of implementing and then addressing operational and safety issues that may arise in relation to the projects identified in Recommendation 1 above, the authority to implement changes and process and submit directly to Council any necessary bills for by-law amendments to the schedules to City of Toronto Code Chapters on the streets and within the parameters as identified in Attachment 2 to the report (May 19, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, such the by-laws submitted be made permanent on December 31, 2025.

3. City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect to Council's decision, including the introduction in Council of any and all bills that may be required.

4. City Council authorize the General Manager of Transportation Services to install a new traffic signal at Dufferin Street and Peel Avenue.

5. City Council amend cycling, traffic and parking regulations required in Chapter 886, Chapter 910 and Chapter 950, as generally described in Attachment 3 - Technical Amendments to the report (May 19, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, for previously approved projects by City Council that have been enacted in phases aligned with the timing of implementation of the appropriate segments of the respective projects over 2022 to 2023 and by-law accuracy.

6. City Council authorize the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards or General Manager of Transportation Services to exempt curb lane café permit areas on Bloor Street West between Runnymede Road and Resurrection Road from the requirements of § 742-10.4. B(6) and B(7) and  § 742-10.4 C(1) and C(3) of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, during construction along Bloor Street West for the Complete Street Extension Project from August 7, 2023 to October 15, 2023, inclusive, but require any affected permit holder to do the following during that period:

a. install a temporary ramp in their permit area which provides for safe access to the permit area from the sidewalk in accordance with the requirements of § 742-10.4 C(2).

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. Through this report, Transportation Services is seeking authority for a number of bikeway projects that are proposed to be installed in the near term (2022-2024) for which design and consultation have been completed. New bikeways are proposed through the Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension, Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections, Cabbagetown Cycling Connections, Sheppard Avenue East Complete Street and Superior Avenue projects.

This report seeks Council authority to install 8.6 centreline kilometres (km) of new bikeways on the following streets:

- Bloor Street West: Runnymede Road to Resurrection Road (cycle tracks, Ward 3 and 4)

- Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections project (Ward 9) including:

- Gladstone Avenue: Dundas Street to Peel Avenue  (contra-flow bike lane)

- a new traffic signal at Dufferin Street and Peel Avenue

- Cabbagetown Cycling Connections project (Ward 13) including:

- Gerrard Street: Parliament Street to Sumach Street (bi-directional cycle track)

- Sumach Street: Wellesley Avenue to Gerrard Street (contra-flow bike lane)

- Sackville Street: Wellesley Avenue to Gerrard Street (contra-flow bike lane)

- Winchester Street: Parliament Street to Ontario Street (contra-flow bike lane)

- Ontario Street: Carlton Street to Aberdeen Avenue (contra-flow bike lane)

- Sheppard Avenue: Clairtrell Road to Leslie Avenue (cycle tracks, Ward 17)

- Superior Avenue: Lake Shore Boulevard and Stanley Avenue (cycle tracks, Ward 3)

Further, this report seeks Council authority to make by-law amendments associated with improvements to 0.10 centreline km of existing cycling infrastructure on the following sections of Dundas Street East as part of other capital works:

- Hiltz Avenue to Alton Avenue (bike lanes to cycle tracks, Ward 14)

- Rhodes Avenue to Coxwell Avenue (bike lanes to cycle tracks, Ward 14)

As part of this report, Transportation Services is proposing to improve and streamline the current reporting process for by-law amendment submissions associated with cycling infrastructure projects that have been approved by Council for implementation. Once projects are approved by Council, a streamlined process would involve delegation of authority to submit bills directly to Council for a discreet period of time after project implementation which would enable Transportation Services to be more nimble, and unlock the ability for staff to make minor adjustments to constructed conditions without delay and based on local Councillor and public feedback such as parking adjustments to improve sight-lines, adjustments or addition of accessible loading areas, and similar modifications.

The changes proposed as part of the projects identified above 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.

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

- Peel Avenue and Gladstone Avenue (traffic and parking by-laws, Ward 9)

- Dundas Street and The Kingsway (traffic and parking by-laws, Ward 2)

- Havelock Street, Bartlett Avenue, Gladstone Avenue and Lindsey Avenue (bicycle and traffic and parking by-laws, Ward 9)

- Huntingwood Drive (traffic and parking by-laws, Ward 22)

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