Item - 2025.IE20.4

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delegate to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2026, inclusive, the authority to temporarily close to vehicular and pedestrian traffic any highway or portion of highway for a period up to 365 consecutive days but ending no later than December 31, 2026, inclusive, with the exception of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of Code Chapter 937, as required for the purpose of construction of the Easier Access Projects, and City Council exempt the General Manager of Transportation Services, in carrying out this delegated authority from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, to provide that the current delegation to Community Council to temporarily close public lanes or public alleys, local roads, collector roads, and minor arterial roads does not include closures delegated to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in carrying out the authority in Part 1 above.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee by the end of 2025 on the five projects listed in in Table 1 in the report (March 31, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, which require extensions into 2026, with details of the anticipated traffic impacts, the traffic impact mitigation measures implemented and steps and measures taken to ensure the amount and duration of lane closures are minimized.

4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee with information on:

a. any necessary authorities for lane closures greater than 30 days for the first Traction Power Upgrade project in Table 2, contract S75-7 in the report (March 31, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, including details of the anticipated traffic impacts, the traffic impact mitigation measures to be implemented and steps and measures taken to ensure the amount and duration of lane closures are minimized; and

b. the delegated authority being sought in Recommendation 2 in the report (March 31, 2025)  from the General Manager, Transportation Services for the remaining five Traction Power Upgrade projects in described in Table 2 in the report (March 31, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

The Toronto Transit Commission's Easier Access Phase Three project involves work to complete the construction of accessibility retrofits at Toronto Transit Commission subway stations, including elevators and associated architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical modifications. As the Easier Access Phase Three program is nearing completion, the requirement for temporary road closures beyond thirty days, extending into 2026, have been identified for five stations, including King, Spadina, Museum, Old Mill, and Islington.

The purpose of this report is to request delegated authority to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2032, inclusive, to temporarily close to vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic any highway or portion of highway, with the exclusion of those highways listed in Section 937-4 of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, up to 365 consecutive days, but ending no later than December 31, 2032, inclusive, as required for the purposes of the Toronto Transit Commission's Easier Access Phase Three and Traction Power Upgrade projects in order to meet both Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act requirements, and requirements to upgrade traction power infrastructure ahead of the major transit line expansions being executed by both Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission.

This report seeks authority to make associated amendments to Code Chapter 937 and City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures.

Without the delegation of this authority, approximately 11 reports will be required seeking Council approval to grant road / lane closures lasting more than thirty days. The scope of these projects will require boulevard, sidewalk, road, and / or laneway closures associated with excavation, utility relocation, underground construction, and streetscape restoration that will extend beyond thirty days. Delegating this authority to the General Manager, Transportation Services, will significantly reduce the administrative burden on City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission project staff, enabling all parties to focus on working with the contractor, local ward councillors and the community to maximize the effectiveness of traffic management and construction scheduling, while minimizing the chance of project delay.