Item - 2025.IE26.18

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with relevant divisions, develop guidance for maintaining accessibility around minor City works that encroach on the right of way, such as tree prunings, sidewalk and boulevard work, etc.

2. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, address the challenge of unpermitted encroachments on City sidewalks (for example from small residential construction projects) and work with the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, to update the Good Neighbour Guide to Residential Infill Construction to identify City requirements for maintaining pedestrian accessibility adjacent to residential infill construction sites and how the public can submit complaints for enforcement, and to work with Toronto Building as part of the Residential Infill Strategy to seek other opportunities to improve understanding and compliance.

Each day across Toronto there are countless obstructions in the right of way. Whether they are created by construction, sidewalk and boulevard work or tree pruning, these obstructions present a risk for Torontonians with disabilities - in particular, for those with visual impairments who navigate with the use of a cane.

Requirements for the demarcation of short duration work in the right of way - such as tree pruning or utilities work - are established through the Ontario Traffic Manual and corresponding City guidelines on construction management. Despite this, I have heard from a number of constituents who have accidentally entered areas where work is actively taken place due to insufficient measures taken on site to alert those with visual impairments to the risk present. Additional review to ensure our guidelines accommodate the needs of all Torontonians is warranted.

Similarly, the City enforces conditions for accessibility on large development sites seeking permits to stage and work in the right of way. However, on smaller scale and infill development sites, unpermitted encroachments into the right of way are common. While the City has recourse to respond to these instances through the issuance of fines, they are ubiquitous and difficult to enforce. Clarification on the subject for builders and neighbours alike could help head off these situations before they arise.