Item - 2025.EX20.10

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, in consultation with relevant City Divisions, Waterfront Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission, to develop a Phasing and Delivery Plan with updated project costing for the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit to confirm the delivery approach and identify recommendations for early phase transit improvements in advance of the full construction of the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit, using existing funds previously approved by City Council.

2. City Council approve advancing the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit Queens Quay East Extension design between Parliament Street and Cherry Street, beyond 60 percent design, as required, using existing funds previously approved by City Council, to facilitate project coordination with the Gardiner-Lake Shore East Realignment project.

3. City Council direct the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer to inform the Provincial and Federal Governments of the City's funding commitments to the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit and request their financial support to fully fund the entire project.

4. City Council endorse the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit project as a priority project for funding under the Canada Public Transit Fund and City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, in consultation with the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to take any necessary steps to work with the Provincial Government to prioritize the entire project for funding under the Canada Public Transit Fund.

5. City Council delegate standing authority to the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, or designate, to sign and submit all documentation required to obtain the necessary permits and approvals under all applicable provincial and federal laws required to deliver the Waterfront East Light Rail Transit.

6. City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, in consultation with relevant City Divisions, the Toronto Transit Commission and Waterfront Toronto, to report back to City Council in first quarter of 2026 with updates on:

a. the completion of 60 percent detailed design progress for Segments 2, 3 and Early Works, including on the cost estimate and funding requests, as required;

b. Phasing and Delivery Plan, including assessing opportunities for early phase transit improvements and for advancing Segment 1 through design and to procurement;

c. recommended property acquisitions, as required;

d. project coordination with major interfacing projects, including the Inner Harbour West Tunnel, Gardiner-Lake Shore East Realignment Project, Hydro One Cherry Street Bridge and Cherry Street Signal Tower;

e. design advancement of the Queens Quay East Extension, relating to project coordination with the Gardiner-Lake Shore East Realignment project;

f. Traffic Management Plan; and

g. intergovernmental discussions including the Canada Public Transit Fund.

7. City Council forward the Item to the Toronto Transit Commission Board and the Waterfront Toronto Board for information.

The Waterfront East Light Rail Transit (WELRT) is a City of Toronto priority transit project. According to growth projections, when fully built, this 3.8-kilometre planned transit line will provide over 50,000 daily trips, bringing higher-order transit to support an estimated 100,000 residents and 50,000 jobs along its alignment. The WELRT will provide improved transit options to the Central Waterfront, Lower Yonge, East Bayfront, Quayside, Keating Precinct, and the Port Lands communities, and is an integral part of the future development on Ookwemin Minising (formerly known as Villiers Island).

The WELRT design is comprised of three segments (See Attachment 2 – Figure 1).

1. Segment 1 provides the required capacity and operational improvements to the Union Station Loop and enables existing streetcar routes and the WELRT connections to Union through enhanced LRT portals on Queens Quay West.

2. Segment 2 includes the Queens Quay portion from Bay Street to Cherry Street, operating at street level through a dedicated transit right-of-way.

3. Segment 3 extends the 504A King Street streetcar route south along Cherry Street from the Distillery Loop, extending south across the Cherry Street rail bridge to a loop on Commissioners Street in the Port Lands. This segment will connect to the new river valley and parks being developed in the Port Lands and the planned communities within Ookwemin Minising.

The WELRT also includes the Yonge Street Slip Infill and Queens Quay Extension (collectively referred to as Early Works in this report), which will enable future construction of the project. In November 2023, under EX9.14, City Council approved advancing the 60 percent design for Segments 2 and 3 and Early Works. Segment 1 remains at 30% design until the Phasing and Delivery Plan (as recommended below) provides advice on advancing this segment.

This report provides an update on design advancement of the WELRT Segment 2 and 3 and Early Works. The report also outlines the risks and mitigations presented by interfacing projects, including the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard East Reconfiguration (Gardiner Section 5), Inner Harbour West Tunnel and Metrolinx projects.

This report seeks Council authority to:

-Undertake a phasing and delivery plan (Phasing and Delivery Plan) that will confirm the delivery approach for the full LRT and options for early phase transit improvements in advance of the full construction of the WELRT;

-Sign the Statement of Completion to conclude the Transit and Rail Project Assessment Process (TRPAP) for submission to the Province, to meet regulatory requirements for the WELRT;

-Request that the Province and the Federal Government provide their share to fully fund the project; and

-Endorse the WELRT as a City priority project for funding under the Canada Public Transit Fund (CPTF).

Subject to Council approval of the recommendations in this report, City staff will report back in Q1 2026 with updates on:

-60% detailed design progress for Segments 2, 3 and Early Works, including an updated cost estimate and funding requests, as required;

-Results of the Phasing and Delivery Plan, including assessing opportunities for early phase transit improvements and for advancing Segment 1 through design and to procurement;

-Recommended property acquisitions/agreements;

-Project coordination with major interfacing projects;

-Update on the traffic management plan to address and mitigate the impacts of WELRT construction on road users, the public and to coordinate construction staging with other projects in the area; and

-Discussions regarding intergovernmental funding.