Item - 2025.IE22.7
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on June 25 and 26, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on June 11, 2025 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on June 25 and 26, 2025.
IE22.7 - F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway Closure - Bike for Brain Health 2026
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- 4 - Parkdale - High Park, 10 - Spadina - Fort York, 13 - Toronto Centre, 14 - Toronto - Danforth, 16 - Don Valley East, 19 - Beaches - East York
City Council Decision
City Council on June 25 and 26, 2025, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the closure of the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, including all ramps, and the Don Valley Parkway, from the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway to York Mills Road, including all ramps, on Sunday May 31, 2026 from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for the Bike for Brain Health event.
2. City Council prohibit other road closures due to events or film permits on arterial roads bounded by Highway 401, Warden Avenue, Lake Ontario, Humber River, Queen Street / The Queensway, and Yonge Street, on Sunday May 31, 2026 as they will be required to accommodate overflow traffic from the expressway closures resulting from the Bike for Brain Health event.
3. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to not schedule any subway closures during the period the Bike for Brain Health event is held.
4. City Council require the organizer to pay, within 90 days of the City issuing an invoice, any costs incurred to the City to secure the work zones along the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway during the Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work.
5. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation to deploy additional traffic agents in the vicinity of major events where road closures and adjacent construction have an outsized impact on traffic congestion to ensure the resulting traffic congestion is minimized.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-255741.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation to deploy additional traffic agents in the vicinity of major events where road closures and adjacent construction have an outsized impact on traffic congestion to ensure the resulting traffic congestion is minimized.
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Jun-26-2025 9:59 AM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - IE22.7 - Adopt the item as amended |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 19 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Alejandra Bravo, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Olivia Chow, Paula Fletcher, Ausma Malik, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
| Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday |
| Total members that were Absent: 5 | Members that were absent are Brad Bradford, Shelley Carroll, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Parthi Kandavel |
IE22.7 - F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway Closure - Bike for Brain Health 2026
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- 4 - Parkdale - High Park, 10 - Spadina - Fort York, 13 - Toronto Centre, 14 - Toronto - Danforth, 16 - Don Valley East, 19 - Beaches - East York
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the closure of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway, from the Humber River to the Don Valley Parkway, including all ramps, and the Don Valley Parkway, from the F.G. Gardiner Expressway to York Mills Road, including all ramps, on Sunday May 31, 2026 from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for the Bike for Brain Health event.
2. City Council prohibit other road closures due to events or film permits on arterial roads bounded by Highway 401, Warden Avenue, Lake Ontario, Humber River, Queen Street / The Queensway, and Yonge Street, on Sunday May 31, 2026 as they will be required to accommodate overflow traffic from the expressway closures resulting from the Bike for Brain Health event.
3. City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to not schedule any subway closures during the period the Bike for Brain Health event is held.
4. City Council require the organizer to pay, within 90 days of the City issuing an invoice, any costs incurred to the City to secure the work zones along the F.G. Gardiner Expressway during the F.G. Gardiner Expressway rehabilitation work.
Origin
Summary
The purpose of this report is to request City Council approval to close the F.G. Gardiner
Expressway and Don Valley Parkway on Sunday May 31, 2026 for the purpose of the Bike for Brain Health event in support of the Baycrest Foundation.
Traditionally, the event begins and ends at Exhibition Place, but due to preparations for FIFA World Cup in June 2026, the start and finish will be relocated to the Aga Khan Museum.
In previous years, Transportation Services has recommended approval of these closures for this annual event for a three-year period. At this time, Transportation Services is recommending approval for a one-year period (2026), considering the ongoing provincially led due diligence review related to the upload of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Province.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-255741.pdf