Item - 2025.NY28.32

North York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to work with Metrolinx, the Executive Director, Transit Expansion, the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Emergency Services, including Toronto Paramedic Services and Toronto Fire Services, to develop a plan that ensures emergency vehicles can access Thorncliffe Park at all times when traffic is impacted by construction and report back to North York Community Council when seeking necessary approvals for the closure of Beth Nealson Drive, and that the plan includes:
 

a. consideration of Metrolinx’s planned closure of Beth Nealson Drive, planned and unplanned lane closures on Overlea Drive, and the Overlea Bridge and Boulevard Renewal project; and

b. measures including, but not limited to, creating additional opportunities for emergency access (such as Village Station Road and / or through the Beth Nealson construction site), using traffic agents, and increasing the number of Paid Duty Officers.
 

2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to request Metrolinx to communicate this plan to the public through their Construction Liaison Committees (CLC).
 

3. City Council direct the Director, Strategic Capital Coordination Office to ensure that all work in Thorncliffe Park adjacent to Ontario Line construction is coordinated to minimize traffic impacts on the local community.
 

4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Transit Expansion to request Metrolinx ensure that any future lane closures on Overlea Boulevard and all adjacent roads be communicated to the public and local City Councillors well in advance, including with adequate signage, public notifications, and at monthly Community Liaison Committees.

5. City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report to North York Community Council with an update on Metrolinx’s Ontario Line Construction within the North York District in the second quarter of 2026.

City Council, in March 2024, through MM16.31, directed City staff to report to North York Community Council (NYCC) with regular updates on the status and progress of Metrolinx’s Ontario Line construction and the Province’s Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) projects within the boundaries of North York.

The purpose of this report is to provide updates and project details on the three Ontario Line stations and a Transit-Oriented Communities proposal located in North York, and includes updates on:

- Ontario Line North Segment Construction Updates and Impacts;
- Metrolinx’s Community Benefits and Supports Program;
- Public Engagement; and
- Transit-Oriented Communities Update - Thorncliffe Park.

City staff will provide the next annual report to North York Community Council in the third quarter of 2026.