Item - 2024.IE13.2

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the installation of the eglintonTOday Complete Street Project on Eglinton Avenue from Bicknell Avenue to Mount Pleasant Road, and direct the General Manager Transportation Services to determine the implementation timeline in coordination with Metrolinx and Toronto Transit Commission to ensure it is optimally aligned with the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (ECLRT), to minimize negative traffic impacts due to construction, and to minimize the traffic impacts from the continued operation of existing TTC surface bus routes in the new Complete Street configuration prior to the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit.

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

a. Croham Road from Eglinton Avenue West to Bowie Avenue, contra-flow bike lanes;

b. Glen Cedar Road from Eglinton Avenue West to Dewbourne Avenue, contra-flow bike lanes; and

c. Jimmy Wisdom Way from Eglinton Avenue West to Hopewell Avenue, bicycle lanes and contra-flow bike lanes.

3. City Council delegate, despite any City of Toronto By-law to the contrary, to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until November 1, 2027, for the purposes of implementing and then addressing operational and safety issues that may arise in relation to the projects identified in Recommendation 1, 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 1 to the report (April 19 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and that such by-laws submitted be made permanent on November 1, 2027.

4.  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.

5. City Council amend the traffic and parking regulations required in Chapter 950, as generally described in Attachment 2 - Technical Amendments to the report (April 19 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, to implement the eglintonTOday Complete Street Project.

6. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection Eglinton Avenue West and Croham Road.

7. City Council reduce the speed limit from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on Eglinton Avenue from a point 277 metres west of Bicknell Avenue to Mount Pleasant Road.

8. City Council approve one (1) new temporary position to oversee the delivery and monitoring of the eglintonTOday Complete Street Project, and associated streetscape plan project delivery, with the duration of the temporary position to be up to three years in length be added to the 2024 Council Approved Operating Budgets of Transportation Services as follows: $96,000 gross, and $0 net, all funded in the approved 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to develop a plan for snow clearing suitable for the new Complete Street configuration with consideration for pedestrian safety, delivery areas and on-street parking spaces, in consultation with the Eglinton Business Improvement Area Alliance.

Jacquelyn Hayward, Director, Planning, Design and Management, Transportation Services, gave presentation on eglintonTOday Phase 1 Complete Street Project: Bicknell Avenue to Mount Pleasant Road.

With Metrolinx's construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit nearing completion, Transportation Services has been preparing to complete roadway resurfacing of the Eglinton Avenue corridor, including the installation of the eglintonTOday Complete Street Project between Bicknell Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road - marking the end of over a decade of construction.

The City-Council endorsed Eglinton Connects plan articulates a vision for Eglinton Avenue as a complete street with wide sidewalks, raised bikeways, motor vehicle parking and rapid transit, and is aligned with the City's Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, TransformTO Net Zero Strategy and Cycling Network Plan policy goals.

The eglintonTOday project seeks to build on the transit investment in order to achieve key elements of the Eglinton Connects vision. The project design was developed with two years of public, business, and resident group feedback, extensive traffic analysis, and a context-sensitive approach making the street safer, more inviting, and attractive, while maintaining access for people who drive.

As part of this project, three north-south local bikeways connecting Eglinton Avenue and nearby trails are proposed on Croham Road, Glen Cedar Road, and Jimmy Wisdom Way.

The purpose of this report is to seek Council authority to install 8.06 centreline kilometres of new complete street features including bikeways along with the resurfacing of Eglinton Avenue. The proposed bikeways will close the gaps between the existing disconnected cycle tracks built at the frontages of 9 above-ground Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit stations, and west of Bicknell Avenue and between Avenue Road and Holly Street, and provide connecting local cycling routes, on the following streets:

- Eglinton Avenue: Bicknell Avenue to Mount Pleasant Road (cycle tracks, Wards 5, 8, 9, and 12)

- Croham Road: Eglinton Avenue West to Bowie Avenue (contra-flow bike lanes, Ward 8)

- Glen Cedar Road: Eglinton Avenue West to Dewbourne Avenue (contra-flow bike lanes, Ward 12)

- Jimmy Wisdom Way: Eglinton Avenue West to Hopewell Avenue (bicycle lanes and contra-flow bike lanes, Ward 8)

The project proposes to implement complete street features including cycle tracks, curb extensions, pedestrian head start signals, and public realm upgrades on Eglinton Avenue between Bicknell Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road by reassigning some of the existing vehicular space to accommodate parking, bikeways, seasonal patio extensions, and other complete street features, and to fit within the existing curb to curb space:

- Between Keele Street and Caledonia Road, two westbound motor vehicle lanes and one eastbound motor vehicle lane are proposed to be maintained, generally with on-street parking on one side.

- Between Caledonia Road and Oakwood Avenue, one motor vehicle lane in each direction are proposed to be maintained with parking on both sides.

- Between Oakwood Avenue and Spadina Road, two westbound and two eastbound motor vehicle lanes are proposed to be maintained in the peak hours, with off-peak parking allowed in both curb lanes.

- Between Spadina Road and Mount Pleasant Road, one westbound and one eastbound motor vehicle lane with parking on one side is proposed to be maintained to match the Metrolinx delivered section between Yonge Street and Avenue Road.

If the continuous cycle tracks are not approved for installation, Transportation Services would recommend that the short segments of disconnected cycle tracks already built in front of the underground stations be closed. Without connecting bikeways, these short segments have limited utility for people cycling and would require people cycling to merge in and out of higher speed motor vehicle lanes, resulting in safety issues and confusion around where people cycling should be on the road.   

Subject to approval from Council, Transportation Services would implement the complete street project between Bicknell Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road starting in summer 2024, in conjunction with road resurfacing, sidewalk repair, and TTC bus stop changes to prepare for the opening of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit.

In the vicinity of the Eglinton Avenue and Allen Road intersection, the complete street project for the section between Old Park Road / Glen Cedar Road and Marlee Avenue would be implemented only after adjustments are made to improve traffic operations at the intersection.

There are five Business Improvement Areas within the project limits. The Business Improvement Areas are at the initial stages of planning for near term streetscape enhancements. Business Improvement Area streetscape plans will identify elements such as parkettes, gateway features, enhanced pedestrian infrastructure, green infrastructure, street furniture, lighting, activation strategies, branding opportunities, bicycle parking and maintenance and management guidelines. 

Transportation Services has identified funding to support the delivery of the Business Improvement Areas' key streetscape enhancement projects and has committed to leading a multi-divisional team to leverage resources and identify opportunities to implement elements of the Business Improvement Area streetscape plans. Given the time required for the Business Improvement Areas to complete streetscape plans, design, and construction tendering, delivery of priority streetscape enhancements is anticipated to begin at the earliest in 2026.

As part of this report, Transportation Services is continuing to utilize the streamlined reporting process for by-law amendment submissions associated with cycling infrastructure projects approved by Council for implementation. Once projects are approved by Council, the streamlined process involves delegation of authority to submit bills directly to Council for a discreet period of time (approximately two years after project implementation is anticipated) which enables Transportation Services to make minor adjustments to constructed conditions without delay and based on local Councillor and public feedback, such as parking adjustments to improve sightlines, adjustments or addition of accessible loading areas, and similar modifications.

It is proposed that later in 2024, Transportation Services would begin the design and public consultation on the second phase of the eglintonTOday project between Mount Pleasant Road and Brentcliffe Road, with a report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on recommendations for Phase 2 anticipated in 2025.

The estimated cost to implement the road resurfacing, sidewalk improvements, bikeways, and other complete street features as well as one position recommended in this report is $7,500,000. Funding is available for these capital projects categorized as a service improvement and enhancement in the approved 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services.

A new temporary full-time equivalent position is proposed for addition to the approved 2024 Operating Budget. The position, along with its associated cost of $96,000 gross and $0 net, will be fully funded in the approved 2024-2033 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services.

The annual funding required to maintain the new cycling infrastructure once constructed is expected to be approximately $88,000 for sweeping and $184,000 for winter maintenance. Funding for this maintenance can be accommodated within the approved 2024 Operating Budget for Transportation Services. Funding required for ongoing maintenance costs would be considered as part of future operating budget submissions for Transportation Services.

The addition of approximately 165 Pay and Display on-street parking spaces proposed in the report would increase Toronto Parking Authority's annual net revenue by an estimated $163,000.  

All costs associated with the necessary signage changes will be assumed by Transportation Services. All costs associated with the installation of parking machines will be assumed by the Toronto Parking Authority.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial implications as contained in the Financial Impact Section.