Item - 2023.TE4.51

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the closure of the north sidewalk and a 2.0 metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Strathmore Boulevard, between Donlands Avenue and a point 25 metres west, from May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

2. City Council authorize the closure of the west sidewalk and a 5.8 metre-wide portion of the southbound curb lane and adjacent lane on Donlands Avenue, between Strathmore Boulevard and a point 24 metres north, from May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023.

3. City Council direct the applicant to pressure wash or sweep (weather permitting) the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

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

5. City Council direct the applicant to continue 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.

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

7. City Council direct the applicant to continue to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and the 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.

8. City Council direct the applicant to continue to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Traffic Coordinator and the 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.

9. City Council direct the applicant to continue 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.

10. City Council direct the applicant to continue 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.

11. City Council direct that Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Boulevard be returned to pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

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

Donlands Station, located on the southwest corner of Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Boulevard, is being modernized to accommodate one at-grade elevator and one below-grade elevator at the main station. In addition, a second entrance/exit is also being added to the station that will be located on the east side of Dewhurst Boulevard south of Strathmore Boulevard, as part of the TTC's Easier Access Program and Second Exit Program. Due to tasks being completed on different schedules, separate reports were prepared for the Easier Access and Second Exit components associated with Donlands Station. This report deals with Phase 4 of the Easier Access project only, located at the main station.

As part of Phases 2 and 3 of the Easier Access project, at its meeting on May 5 and 6, 2021, City Council approved the closure of sections of the west sidewalk and southbound curb lane on Donlands Avenue, north and south of Strathmore Boulevard. In addition, the closure of sections of the north and south sidewalks, and of the westbound and eastbound curb lanes on Strathmore Boulevard west of Donlands Avenue, was approved.

As TTC is preparing to commence work on Phase 4 of project, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the following sidewalks and traffic lanes, from May 1, 2023 to September 30, 2023, to accommodate construction staging operations:

·  The north sidewalk and a 2.0 metre-wide portion of the westbound curb lane on Strathmore Boulevard, between Donlands Avenue and a point 25 metres west.

·   The west sidewalk and a 5.8 metre-wide portion of the southbound curb lane and adjacent lane on Donlands Avenue, between Strathmore Boulevard and a point 24 metres north.

Pedestrians on the west side of Donlands Avenue north of Strathmore Boulevard will be accommodated in a protected walkway, located within the southbound lanes of Donlands Avenue. Pedestrian access on the north side of Strathmore Boulevard will be restricted and pedestrians will be directed to the south-west corner of Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Boulevard, where a minimum sidewalk width of 1.8 metres will be maintained on both streets abutting the staging area.

Traffic lanes on Donlands Avenue will be realigned to provide one 3.5 metre-wide lane each for northbound and southbound traffic. Through traffic on Strathmore Boulevard will be closed, except for local traffic only. Strathmore Boulevard at its narrowest point will be reduced to a width of 7.9 metres, which will allow one lane for each direction for local traffic for the residential properties located on Strathmore Boulevard between Donlands Avenue and Dewhurst Boulevard. Strathmore Boulevard at Dewhurst Boulevard is currently fully closed to accommodate construction activities related to the Second Exit portion of this project.