Item - 2023.TM1.2

During the review of the Order Paper on March 29, 2023, City Council adopted a procedural motion to remove this Item from the jurisdiction of the Toronto and East York Community Council and bring it forward for consideration by City Council.

The Subcommittee on Metrolinx's Ontario Line Construction recommends that: 

1.  City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion reach out to the Provincial Minister of Transportation, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Metrolinx, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Ontario to:

a. ensure that the City of Toronto receives open communication on traffic management, pedestrian management and safety, and construction management for each station along the Ontario Line, as well as a line-wide strategy for these issues;

b. request information about a line-wide cooperative approach to City of Toronto projects and developments in order to ensure a minimal or more coordinated impact to local residents;

c. request that Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario work with the City of Toronto to collaborate and bundle major City of Toronto projects alongside Ontario Line construction;

d. request information on any expected or intended road, lane, or sidewalk closures due to construction of the Ontario Line;

e. request information on any expected or intended impacts to the Toronto Transit Commission’s streetcar, subway, or bus services during the construction of the Ontario Line;

f. request information on the location of a potential second entrance at the proposed Moss Park Station;

g. request that Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario jointly develop a plan with the Toronto Transit Commission for how shuttle busses and other transit diversions will operate during construction;

h. request whether proposed Ontario Line station names will be final, or if there will be a public consultation and naming process for each station going forward;

i. request information and commitment from Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario for the City of Toronto running and operating dedicated space at the proposed Corktown Station site for the purposes of more community, cultural and civic space;

j. request information about the building of affordable housing on Ontario Line stations, as well as access to community benefits agreements; and

k. request information and clarity from Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario regarding financial support and compensation for small businesses that will be impacted by the construction of the Ontario Line.

2. City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to report back on the status of Recommendation 1 above and any information provided to the May 2, 2023 meeting of the Executive Committee.

3.  City Council request the City Manager to report back on the details and breakdown of the Federal Funding Agreement with the Province for the Ontario Line, including requirements for affordable housing, requirements for community engagement, and current status of the agreement. 

4.  City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to report on:

a. the feedback received from Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas and impacted Business Improvement Areas on their experiences with the Ontario Line and what additional measures those stakeholders are requesting; and

b. a breakdown of the programs and supports that Economic Development and Culture, has provided to businesses along the Eglinton Crosstown and plans to provide for businesses along the Ontario Line.

5.   City Council request the City Manager, together with other relevant City Divisions, to report to the next meeting of the Executive Committee on which City divisions are currently involved in discussions with Metrolinx regarding the Ontario Line, and/or are involved in the construction, implementation, approvals, or community support of the Ontario Line. 

6.  City Council request the City Manager to instruct division staff to attend Metrolinx’s Construction Liaison Committee meetings as requested by the local City Councillors to ensure the City’s voice is represented in issues of joint jurisdiction. 

7.  City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to report back to the next meeting of the Executive Committee on:

a.  the status of the Item 2021.EX28.14 as approved by City Council at its December 15,16 and 17, 2021 meeting, including what actions the City of Toronto has taken to advance these requests as well as on the status of all other items approved by Toronto City Council regarding the Ontario Line; and

b.  the proposed structure and composition of Metrolinx’s Construction Liaison Committees, and outline the best practices in regards to the inclusion, role, and participation of local residents and stakeholders. 

8.  City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to work to ensure that detailed traffic management plans are shared with the City in addition to the local Construction Liaison Committees and report on measures that can be taken to secure this, including permit conditions and to report back with an update.

9.  City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to report back with standard options for preventing Metrolinx contractors from using City streets and permit parking areas for personal or construction vehicles outside of those areas specified in their permit.

10.  City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to continue to pursue options for keeping the 72 Pape Bus running on Pape Avenue both ways during construction and to continue to consult with the local Councillor and community before a final decision is made.

11.  City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, to report back:

a. on expected decibel and vibration levels for Ontario Line operations outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report;

b. on detail which companies make up the Connect 6ix and Ontario Transit Group consortiums; and

c. with a further breakdown of the finances for the in Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance contract for each of the components for design, build, operate and maintain.

12. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure and Development Services and the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services, to provide a status report to the July 11, 2023 meeting of the Executive Committee, as requested in Item 2022.EX34.4, on the planning for University Park, including a focus on the planning of the section of University Avenue between Richmond and Armoury streets and opportunities related to Metrolinx’s work on the Ontario Line and the rehabilitation of the University and Queen intersection.

13.  City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to submit to Metrolinx any Council-approved alternative locations for the Osgoode Hall Station based on further study of University Park.

14.  City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to report back on:

a. Metrolinx current tree replacement plans;

b. City requirements for submission of a replanting plan prior to the issuance of a removal permit;

c. what circumstances would trees be removed for Cash in Lieu;

d. the size of trees required to satisfy replanting requirements;

e. the City's replacement plans for trees removed for Cash in Lieu; and

f. expected future forestry impacts of the Ontario Line not currently under review by Urban Forestry.

15.  City Council request the Manager, Community Planning, Toronto East York District to report to the May 24, 2023 meeting of the Toronto-East York Community Council on: 

a.  the status of local benefits agreements for each of Metrolinx's Ontario Line contracts within the Toronto-East York boundary, including but not limited to: the size of the benefit, target benefactor, community partner, types of benefits and specific amounts; and

b.  the affordable housing requirements, on a station-by-station basis within the Toronto-East York boundary, including how they are being managed, who is engaged, and how decisions are being made.

16.  The Toronto and East York Community Council request the Deputy City Manager, Community and Social Services to report to the May 24, 2023 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council on:

a.  the impacts of the construction and operation of the Ontario Line on Fontbonne Ministries supportive housing tenants at 791 Queen Street East and what supports Metrolinx is providing for temporary relocation and/or permanent mitigation; and

b. Metrolinx's Tenant Relocation policy and rental replacement policy for units impacted by the Ontario Line, in particular Multi-Tenant Housing on Pape, and any other units lost in expropriations including second story apartments on main streets within the Toronto and East York District.

17.  The Toronto and East York Community Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council on a semi-annual basis.

The purpose of this report is to provide details on the current status of the Ontario Line project within the boundaries of Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC), including timelines, construction mitigation plans, and community engagement milestones.

The Ontario Line is a planned subway line connecting Exhibition Place in the west to the Ontario Science Centre in the east. The line will be approximately 15.6 kilometres in length and will include 15 stations along its route, connecting to other higher-order transit options including the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (at Science Centre Station), Line 1 (at Osgoode Station and Queen Station), Line 2 (at Pape Station) and to the GO network (at Exhibition Station and East Harbour Station), in addition to numerous TTC streetcar and bus routes. Construction of the Ontario Line officially began in December 2021 when Metrolinx broke ground by commencing early works at Exhibition Station. Metrolinx has since awarded the Rolling Stock, Systems, Operations and Maintenance contract in November 2022 and the Ontario Line South Civils contract also in November 2022. Major construction will begin as part of these contracts in 2023. The Ontario Line is planned for completion in 2031.

City staff have worked with Metrolinx to develop detailed construction mitigation plans based on the Traffic and Transit Management Plan submitted by Metrolinx. Full details of these plans were outlined EX28.14 - Ontario Line Downtown Stations - Temporary Road Closures and Community Impacts, adopted by City Council on December 15, 2021. The plans include measures to protect pedestrians and cyclists based on Vision Zero principles, maintaining business and transit access, minimizing noise and vibration, and providing ongoing oversight of construction staging sites and road closures.

City staff are also continuing to review tree permit applications submitted by Metrolinx to ensure that tree retention and protection is prioritized to the greatest extent possible. Replacement tree planting is a condition of permit issuance and sites will be restored with native trees and shrubs when construction is complete.

Metrolinx, as the lead for the Ontario Line project, is responsible for all community engagement and has conducted a series of public engagement activities focusing on specific neighbourhoods and activities across the alignment of the project, including within the boundaries of TEYCC.