Item - 2025.TE19.22

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the continuation of the closure of the north side westbound bicycle lane, the north side westbound traffic lane, 1.5 metre wide portion of the eastbound left-turn lane, and the south side eastbound bicycle lane on Bloor Street West, between a point 4.8 metres west of Dufferin Street and a point 58 metres further west, from February 28, 2025 to January 31, 2026 inclusive.

2. City Council continue to prohibit eastbound left-turns (buses excepted) at all times on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

3. City Council continue to rescind the southbound left-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday (buses excepted) at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West.

4. City Council continue to prohibit southbound left-turns from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except Sunday (buses excepted) at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

5. City Council rescind the existing northbound left-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, except public holidays (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted) at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West.

6. City Council prohibit northbound left-turns at all times (buses excepted) at the intersection of Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West.

7. City Council prohibit westbound left-turns (buses excepted) at all times on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

8. City Council rescind the existing eastbound right-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted)) on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

9. City Council prohibit eastbound right-turns at all times (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted) on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

10. City Council prohibit southbound right-turns at all times (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted) on Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West.

11. City Council rescind the existing westbound right-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted) on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

12. City Council prohibit westbound right-turns at all times (Toronto Transit Commission vehicles excepted) on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street.

13. City Council continue to rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

14. City Council continue to rescind the existing stopping prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

15. City Council continue to rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

16. City Council continue to prohibit standing at all times on the west side of Dufferin Street, between Bloor Street West and a point 145 metres further north.

17. City Council continue to rescind the existing accessible loading zone regulation in effect at all times, on the north side of Bloor Street West, between a point 5 metres east of Russett Avenue and a point 14 metres further east.

18. City Council continue to designate an accessible loading zone to be in effect at all times on the north side of Bloor Street West between a point 9 metres west of Russett Avenue and a point 14 metres further west.

19. City Council continue rescind the existing parking machine regulation in effect 7:00 a.m. to 9:00p.m. Monday to Friday.; 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday.; 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, on the north side of Bloor Street West, between Russett Avenue and a point 23 metres further west.

20. City Council to direct the applicant to continue sweep the construction site, adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

21. City Council to direct the applicant to continue construct and maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

22. City Council to direct the applicant to continue ensuring  that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

23. City Council to direct the applicant to continue clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas and resident associations in advance of any physical road modifications.

24. City Council to direct the applicant to continue install appropriate signage and request the applicant to maintain all sightlines to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

25. City Council to direct the applicant to continue provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

26. City Council to direct the applicant to continue provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

27. City Council direct the applicant to continue posting a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

28. City Council direct the applicant to continue providing and installing public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor

29. City Council direct that Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street be returned to its pre-construction traffic regulations when the project is completed.

As Bloor Street West is classified as a major arterial street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Bloor Dufferin Holdings LP and Ontario Holdings Ltd is constructing an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the existing Dufferin Street TTC station to the proposed 33-storey building. The tunnel will run north to south and will be situated on Bloor Street West, just west of the Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West intersection.

City Council, at its meeting on February 6, 2024, authorized a construction staging area on Bloor Street West, to facilitate construction staging operations for Stage1 of the project, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024, inclusive. The developer has requested an extension of the duration of the construction staging area on Bloor Street West, as the site has encountered unforeseen delays obtaining approvals, coordinating final permits, legal agreements, and stakeholder signoffs required to begin the work. Consequently, the delays impacted the original construction schedule and start of the work has been deferred to February 2025.

Furthermore, since the time of the original approval, the developer has modified the traffic management plan by reducing the width of the construction staging area, in order to maintain a 1.2 metre wide bicycle lane on the north side of the roadway.

It should be noted that this report is for Stage 1 of the TTC tunnel construction project only. The remaining construction stages will be discussed in future staff reports.

In view of the above, Transportations Services is requesting authorization to extend the duration of the construction staging area, with minor revisions to the traffic management plan on Dufferin Street and on Bloor Street West, for an additional 11 months, from February 28, 2025, to January 31, 2026, in order to accommodate construction operations in Stage 1 of the project.