Decisions

The reconstruction of Bay Street, from Bloor Street West to Davenport Road provides an opportunity to close a gap in the Bikeway Network on Bay Street. The existing bicycle lanes on Bay Street are being extended south from Cumberland Street to a point 30 metres south of Bloor Street West to provide a continuous, connected bikeway on Bay Street.

City Council, at its meeting of February 20 and 21, 2013, adopted as amended the staff report, titled "Road Alteration – Bay Street, Between Davenport Road and Bloor Street West" (TE21.58), authorising the road alterations necessary for the reconstruction of Bay Street, between Bloor Street West and Davenport Road as part of the 2013 Capital Works Program. The purpose of this report is to obtain Council approval to implement bicycle lanes on Bay Street from Cumberland Street to a point 30 metres south of Bloor Street West.

The Curbside Collection contract for garbage, recycling, organic materials and other waste in District 2 was awarded to Green For Life Environment East Corporation by City Council on October 24 and 25, 2011.  Collection by the contracted service provider commenced on August 7, 2012.

As per City Council direction, this report provides quarterly updated information on the number of 311 complaints received and open tickets concerning waste/recycling curbside collection in the four collection districts in the City between April and June 2013.

This report provides highlights of the activities performed by Toronto Water in 2012 with respect to compliance and enforcement of Municipal Code Chapter 681-Sewers (the “Sewers By-law”).

In order to provide a comprehensive and inclusive update on associated activities performed by Toronto Water on By-law compliance and enforcement in 2012, this report also provides highlights regarding Municipal Code Chapter 851-Water Supply (the "Water Supply By-law") and the Backflow Prevention Program.

City Council, at its meeting of November 27, 28, and 29, 2012, directed that "the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, report to (PWIC) in early 2013 on the scope, timing, costs and any other implications of  undertaking a Comprehensive Transportation Master Plan (TMP) for Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West area, which would take into consideration the traffic implications of potential development in this area."

A TMP is needed to set out a cohesive and integrated multi-modal transportation plan that brings together previously planned and approved (but unbuilt) infrastructure projects, development plans, one-time infrastructure opportunities, and the needs of the people who will live, work, visit and pass through the area for decades to come. The TMP will meet the requirements of Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class EA and will set out any subsequent planning, design, and approval steps needed for the Plan's various components.

The TMP will be led by City staff, who will retain consulting services to supplement in-house expertise. The study will be initiated in 2014 and be completed by the end of the year. A staff report will be submitted to Committee and Council for consideration at the first opportunity afterwards.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council authorize the General Manager of Transportation Services to issue a Notice of Completion for the Terms of Reference for the Allen Road Environmental Assessment, and to submit the Terms of Reference document for the Allen Road Environmental Assessment to the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario for agency and public review and approval in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act of Ontario.

2.         Pending Provincial approval of the Individual EA Terms of Reference, City Council direct the General Manager of Transportation Services to include for consideration in the 2014 Capital Budget for Transportation Services as a new project, $2.5 million in new capital funding in order retain consulting expertise and to initiate in 2014 the Individual Environmental Assessment for Allen Road between Transit Road and Eglinton Avenue West.

3.         City Council authorize and direct the appropriate City officials to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

City Council, at its meeting of July 5-7, 2010, endorsed the Lawrence-Allen Revitalization Plan (LARP) and, in so doing, directed the General Manager, Transportation Services, to initiate the Allen Road Individual Environmental Assessment (EA) Terms of Reference (ToR).  The purpose of this report is to inform City Council of the EA study progress to date and to receive authorization for the submission of the ToR to the Ontario Minister of Environment for review and approval.

The Draft ToR describes the broad procedures to be followed in carrying out the EA Study, including the study objectives, the types of alternatives to be evaluated, the evaluation process, and the public and agency consultation plan.  Following the receipt of City Council authority, City staff will submit the ToR to the Minister for formal government review, which will include a request for public comments. It is anticipated that the Minister will provide a decision on the ToR in late 2013, allowing the EA Study to commence in early 2014.

The ToR phase of the EA was carried out in full consultation with the community and technical stakeholders, and there is widespread support for the proposed work plan for the future EA for Allen Road.  The EA study will define the long-term future of Allen Road and its surroundings, as future infrastructure investment, development and redevelopment will proceed on the basis of the approved EA plan. In that respect, the EA study is an essential component of urban planning and City building in the study area.

The purpose of this report is to report to City Council on the request for installation of traffic control signals at the intersections of Dufferin Street and Eversfield Road and Dufferin Street and Bloem Avenue. This report is submitted to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, as the matter is a shared boundary issue between the North York Community Council and the Etobicoke York Community Council.   

Traffic studies reveal that traffic control signals are not warranted at these locations.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council request that Transportation Services and the Toronto Parking Authority create designated on-street motorcycle parking spaces on a pilot basis, and maintain the exemption from the requirement to pay until Pay-by-Plate technology can be deployed.

2.         City Council maintain the existing exemption for motorcycles from the requirement to pay for overnight parking permits in designated on-street permit parking areas.

City Council on July 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2013, referred Motion MM37.3 to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.

In recent years, the popularity of motor-assisted bicycles (mopeds) and limited-speed motorcycles (scooters) has greatly increased and they are now a common sight on many streets.  The City of Toronto should be encouraging the use of mopeds and scooters because, in a city challenged by gridlock, they take up less road and parking space and they use less fossil fuel.

However, our current rules and regulations for parking mopeds and scooters predate their reclassification by the Province of Ontario as types of motor vehicle and this has created some negative impacts.  Unlike bicycles, they must be parked on the street where they are vulnerable to theft or damage and occupy valuable paid-parking spaces that fund important services like parks, libraries, and road maintenance.  Riders who park on the sidewalk and block pedestrians or use City bicycle locks are currently fined by City of Toronto parking enforcement officers.

It is time to use common sense to bring our regulations into the twenty-first century and reap the rewards of increased moped and scooter ridership without reducing road safety or pedestrian comfort.

(Submitted to City Council on July 16 and 17, 2013 as MM37.3)

The primary objective of transportation planning should be the efficient, safe and effective movement of commuters along thoroughfares using a variety of transportation options. 

The installation of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes has been touted as a means to more effectively facilitate the movement of public transit vehicles, multiple occupant vehicles and high efficiency vehicles including bicycles.  However, the overall objective is the improvement of transportation flow along the routes where HOV lanes are installed. 

In the case of Eglinton Avenue East the beneficial impacts of HOV lanes is more than outweighed by the significantly negative impact upon non-HOV users and the traffic gridlock that has resulted.  In view of these significant traffic impacts and the resulting gridlock, it is imperative that a review be undertaken of the HOV lanes along Eglinton Avenue East to determine whether it would be more beneficial to traffic flow to have them removed.

Letter from Councillor Janet Davis seeking City Council approval to give Transportation Services the authority to undertake a study to determine the feasibility and costs of building a more permanent access to Victoria Park Avenue as part of an existing capital project.

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee referred the following motions to the Budget Committee, the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for consideration as part of the 2014 Budget process:

Motion 1 by Councillor Layton:

“City Council direct that the following service standards be included in the 2014 Service Standards for Transportation Services, and direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to include the necessary resources in the 2014 recommended budget:

a.         snow removal in bike lanes, within 10 hours;

b.         snow removal at bus stops within 13 hours;

c.         asphalt/pothole repair in designated bike lanes within 4-6 days;

d.         manual sweeping on streets without alternating parking at minimum 1-2 times per month;

e.         intersection safety review completed 90 percent within one year; and

f.          new signal or signal timing review completed 90 percent within one year.”

Motion 2 by Councillor Davis:

“City Council direct that the following service standards be included in the 2014 Service Standards for Solid Waste Management Services, and direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to include the necessary resources in the 2014 recommended budget:

a.         residential diversion rate for 2014 be 60 percent or 600,000 tons of solid waste; and

b.         4,000 multi-residential buildings on green program, producing 17,500 tons of Source Separated Organics.”

Motion 3 by Councillor Davis:

“City Council direct that the following service standards be included in the 2014 Service Standards for Toronto Water, and direct the Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer to include the necessary resources in the 2014 recommended budget:

a.         2 year cycle of catch basin cleaning for local streets and 1 year for arterial roads;

b.         treatment and supply of 454 billion liters of water (includes York Region);

c.         connection and treatment of 438 billion litres of wastewater;

d.         replacement of 5,000 sub-standard water services (approximately 3,500 of which are lead);

e.         response to and clearing of 10,000 blocked sewer connections; and

f.          repair of approximately 1,500 broken watermains.