Decisions

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the installation of the following bikeway projects on:

a. Bathurst Street from Steeles Avenue to Bainbridge Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Road, uni-directional cycle track and multi-use trail;

b. Bedford Road: Prince Arthur Avenue and Bloor Street West, uni-directional cycle track;

c. Ellesmere Road from Orton Park Road to Kingston Road, uni-directional cycle track and multi-use trail;

d. Ontario Street from Wellesley Street East to Prospect Street, contra-flow bicycle lane;

e. Wallace Avenue from Lansdowne Avenue and St. Clarens Avenue, contra-flow bicycle lane;

f. St. Clarens Avenue from Dupont Street to Wallace Avenue, contra-flow bicycle lane;

g. Emerson Avenue from Dupont Street to Bloor Street West, contra-flow bicycle lane;

h. Millicent Street from Emerson Avenue to Dufferin Street, contra-flow bicycle bicycle;

i. Hallam Street from Dufferin Street to Bartlett Avenue, uni-directional cycle track, and

j. York Gate Boulevard from Jane Street to the Finch Hydro Corridor, uni-directional cycle track.

2. City Council delegate, despite any City of Toronto By-law to the contrary, to the General Manager, Transportation Services, until December 31, 2027, for the purposes of implementing and then addressing operational and safety issues that may arise in relation to the projects identified in Recommendation 1, the authority to implement changes and process and submit directly to Council any necessary bills for by-law amendments to the schedules to City of Toronto Code Chapters on the streets and within the parameters as identified in Attachment 2 to the report (February 12, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and that such by-laws submitted be made permanent on December 31, 2027.

3. City Council authorize the removal of the compulsory stop control at Millicent Street and Dufferin Street and the addition of Millicent Street into the existing traffic control signal at Dufferin Street and Hallam Street.

4. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Cocksfield Avenue.

5. City Council authorize the installation of a traffic control signal at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Reiner Road.

6. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for southbound bicycle traffic on St. Clarens Avenue at Lappin Avenue.

7. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for southbound bicycle traffic on St. Clarens Avenue at Wallace Avenue.

8. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for northbound bicycle traffic on Emerson Avenue at Dupont Street.

9. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for northbound bicycle traffic on Emerson Avenue at Lappin Avenue.

10. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for northbound bicycle traffic on Emerson Avenue at Millicent Street.

11. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for northbound bicycle traffic on Emerson Avenue at Armstrong Avenue.

12. City Council authorize compulsory stop control for westbound bicycle traffic on Millicent Street at Emerson Avenue.

13. City Council amend traffic and parking regulations required in Chapter 950, as generally described in Attachment 3 - Technical Amendments to the report (February 12, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, for previously approved projects by City Council for by-law accuracy.

14. City Council approve one (1) new temporary position to oversee a study to examine redesign options to improve the operation of the Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road intersection and associated projects as directed by Council in MM26.12 on February 5, 2025, with the duration of the temporary position to be up to two years in length be added to the 2025 Operating Budgets of Transportation Services as follows: $98,000 gross, and $0 net, all funded in the 2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services.

15. City Council request the Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, and the General Manager, Transportation Services, as part of the Ellesmere Complete Street project included in Recommendations 1c above to:

a. review opportunities to stage the implementation of the Ellesmere Complete Street project to give installation priority for the Military Trail and Ellesmere Road intersection, and prioritize summer construction recognizing the large numbers of students that cross at this intersection; and,

b. review opportunities to minimize bollards, and where needed ensure that they are of high quality and aesthetic design.

This report seeks City Council authority to install bikeway projects identified in the Cycling Network Plan Near-Term Implementation Program (2025-2027). The Cycling Network Plan and the associated Near Term Implementation Plan adopted by City Council in June 2024 seeks to build on the existing network of cycling routes to Connect gaps in the current network, Grow the network into new parts of the city, and Renew existing parts of the network to improve safety.

Through this report, Transportation Services is seeking authority for bikeway projects that are proposed to be installed or under construction in the near term (2025-2027), for which design and consultation have been completed. No motor vehicle travel lanes are proposed to be removed within this report.

This report seeks Council authority to install 12.5 centreline kilometres (km) of new bikeways associated with six projects on the following streets:

- Bathurst Complete Street:

- Bathurst Street: Steeles Avenue West to Bainbridge Avenue and Raoul Wallenberg Road (cycle track and multi-use trail, Wards 6 and 18) 

- Bedford Road: Prince Arthur Avenue and Bloor Street West (cycle track, Ward 11)

- Ellesmere Complete Street:

- Ellesmere Road: Orton Park Road and Kingston Road (cycle track and multi-use trail, Wards 24 and 25)

- Ontario Street: Wellesley Street East and Prospect Street (contra-flow bicycle lane, Ward 13)

- Wallace Emerson Neighbourhood Streets Plan:

- Wallace Avenue: Lansdowne Avenue and St. Clarens Avenue (contra-flow bicycle lane, Ward 9)

- St. Clarens Avenue: Dupont Street and Wallace Avenue (contra-flow bicycle lane, Ward 9)

- Emerson Avenue: Dupont Street and Bloor Street (contra-flow bicycle lane, Ward 9)

- Millicent Street: Emerson Avenue and Dufferin Street (contra-flow bicycle lane, Ward 9)

- Hallam Street: Dufferin Street and Bartlett Avenue (cycle track, Ward 9)

- York Gate Cycling Connections:

- York Gate Boulevard: Jane Street to Finch Hydro Corridor (cycle track, Ward 7)

Transportation Services is continuing to utilize the streamlined reporting process for by-law amendment submissions associated with cycling infrastructure projects approved by Council for implementation. Once projects are approved by Council, the streamlined process involves delegation of authority to submit bills directly to Council for a defined period of time after project implementation, which enables Transportation Services to make minor adjustments to constructed conditions without delay and based on local Councillor and public feedback, such as parking adjustments to improve sightlines, adjustments or addition of accessible loading areas, and similar modifications.

The changes proposed as part of the projects identified above would improve both safety and mobility options by providing improved cycling connections to transit, parks, local schools, businesses, and residences. Pedestrian improvements have also been included in the projects, wherever feasible, including curb extensions, new sidewalk installations, pedestrian head start signals, and motor vehicle lane adjustments.

In addition, this report seeks to make minor housekeeping amendments to existing or approved bikeways and their associated traffic and parking by-laws on the following streets:

- Sheppard Avenue East: Kenneth Avenue to Bayview Avenue (traffic and parking; Ward 18)

- Old Weston Road at Rockwell Avenue (traffic and parking; Ward 9)

This report also seeks to remove the cycling prohibition bylaw on the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge (Wards 11 and 13). The bridge has been widened to support cycling and pedestrian activity and therefore the prohibition is no longer needed.

A map of the Cycling Network projects proposed in this report is included as Attachment 1.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, and the General Manager, Fleet Services, to report fleet idling performance through the Annual TransformTO Net Zero Progress and Accountability Report.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Fleet Services to provide idling data to client divisions as part of an overall effort to reduce idling through awareness, education and technology.

3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate, and Forestry, and the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with Toronto Public Health, to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the fourth quarter of 2025 with recommendations on how to enhance enforcement and compliance by diesel trucks with Toronto’s anti-idling bylaw.

This report responds to direction from City Council to report back on:

-  How Toronto's Idling Control By-law is currently being enforced;

-  The timing and nature of public education since 2015;

-  Steps taken to discourage idling within the City's fleet; and

-  Options to increase public education.

The Idling Control By-law limits idling to no more than one minute in a sixty-minute period, except in specific circumstances where vehicles are required to idle for operational purposes (e.g., Fire, Police and Paramedic), which reduces unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and improves air quality in Toronto.

Enforcement of the anti-idling by-law is conducted on a complaint basis.

Public enforcement is complemented by City fleet actions, including:

-  A requirement of City employees who operate a City-owned, -leased or -rented vehicle or equipment to comply with the City’s anti-idling policy;

-  Leveraging fleet technologies, training, and awareness for vehicles where some idling is necessary;

-  Enhancing regular anti-idling communications to all divisions, agencies, and corporations; and

-  Procuring zero- and low-emissions vehicles to replace existing internal combustion engine vehicles where feasible and operationally viable, including those with idle-reducing technologies.

Public education is currently conducted through the installation of over 2,120 anti-idling signs across the city, with approximately 25 additional signs being installed per year in high-complaint areas or in response to Councillor requests. A City website also contains more information for residents.

Public education efforts on climate change generally are increasing over time as part of the City's overarching TransformTO Strategy, of which anti-idling represents just one action citizens can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

Idling emissions are expected to shrink over time due to an increase in the purchase of electric and other zero-emission vehicles and a fleet-wide standardization of "start-stop" technology in vehicles with internal combustion engines (which turns a vehicle's engine off while stopped at traffic lights and stop signs).

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council endorse the Preferred Design identified in the Street A Environmental Assessment Study, as generally shown in Attachments 1 through 6 to the report (February 12, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, to direct the Owner of the Christie's site to prepare the Environmental Study Report for the Street A Environmental Assessment, issue the Notice of Completion, and post the Environmental Study Report in the public record in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for Schedule C projects.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services, to work with the Owner of the Christie's development and Metrolinx on agreements necessary to complete detailed design and construction of Street A, including its associated rail underpass, between Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West, and authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services to negotiate, enter into, and execute the necessary agreements, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the General Manager, Transportation Services, in relation to the detailed design, construction, cost-sharing, and warranty of Street A, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West area is a vibrant waterfront community that has experienced considerable growth over the last two decades. With the planned revitalization of the former Christie's cookie factory site, the area will continue to transform into a more walkable, transit-supportive, mixed-use residential and employment district anchored by a new higher-order transit hub, potential new schools, parks, and a community centre.

Continued growth in the area requires new and improved multi-modal transportation infrastructure that accommodates people of all ages and abilities, with vibrant and complete streets that complement the planned transit hub, consisting of the new Park Lawn GO Station and new Toronto Transit Commission streetcar loop internal to the Christie's site that will connect to the dedicated streetcar right-of-way on Lake Shore Boulevard West.

The Council-endorsed Park Lawn Lake Shore Transportation Master Plan (TMP) completed in 2023 supports this long-term vision and identified several transportation infrastructure projects required to help achieve it, including Street A - a new public street and associated rail underpass between Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West. The Transportation Master Plan completed Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process and identified Street A as a Schedule C project requiring an Environmental Assessment Study to complete Phases 3 and 4 of the Environmental Assessment process.

Street A will be an important new street connection in the area that will accommodate motor vehicle traffic, encourage safe pedestrian and cycling activity, support street trees and green infrastructure, provide required underground municipal servicing infrastructure as well as a new grade-separated rail underpass crossing. Street A is required to support Phase 1 of the Christie's development and the proposed Park Lawn GO Station.

The Street A Environmental Assessment Study has been undertaken following the “integrated approach” (as outlined in Section A.2.9 of the 2023 Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process) in co-ordination with the 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard West Draft Plan of Subdivision application on the former Christie's site, to satisfy both Environmental Assessment Act and Planning Act requirements. The Street A Environmental Assessment Study has also been co-ordinated with the Site Plan Application for the new Park Lawn GO Station, being designed and constructed by the Owner of the Christie's development site.

The Street A Environmental Assessment Study focused on developing design alternatives for Street A and the associated rail underpass, undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of the design alternatives to identify a preferred design alternative, as well as community interest group and public engagement.

This report summarizes the Street A Environmental Assessment Study process to date and seeks Council endorsement of the recommended Preferred Design. This report includes high-level order of magnitude construction cost estimates, and outlines a number of next steps related to the further detailed design and construction of Street A, to be undertaken in the future, in co-ordination with Phase 1 of the Christie's development and the new Park Lawn GO Station.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Refered Item IE19.4 titled “1886-1920 Eglinton Avenue West- Construction Staging Area” back to the General Manager, Transportation Services, following discussions with the developer, and requested the development of a traffic mitigation plan for this construction staging area.

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

CBW Eglinton Phase #2 Inc. is constructing an eight-storey condominium building at 1886-1920 Eglinton Avenue West. The site is located on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West, between Shortt Street and Fairbank Avenue.

In order to accommodate construction staging operations for the development, scheduled to take place for a period of 15 months, from March 31, 2025 to July 1, 2026, Transportation Services is requesting authorization to close the following:

-  The north sidewalk, a 2.7 metre wide portion of the westbound curb lane and a section of a bike lane on the north side of Eglinton Avenue West, between Fairbank Avenue and a point 50 metres east of Shortt Street;

-  The west sidewalk and the southbound traffic lane on Shortt Street, between Eglinton Avenue West and Fairbank Village Lane;

-  A temporary full closure to all road users on Fairbank Village Lane, between Shortt Street and a point 45 metres west; and

-  Convert Shortt Street, between Eglinton Avenue West and a point 50 metres north, from a two-way traffic operation to a one-way traffic operation.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, to delegate to the General Manager, Transportation Services, despite Section 937-4 of Chapter 937, until December 31, 2025, inclusive, the authority to temporarily close to vehicular traffic:

a. the Highway 401 on-ramp from southbound William R. Allen Road located at the Wilson Toronto Transit Commission Station; and

b. between Wilson Avenue (bridge) and a point 140 metres further north:

    1. a northbound and / or a southbound lane on William R. Allen Road; and

    2. the east and the west shoulder on each or both of the northbound and

        southbound William R. Allen Road,

for any number of occasions and for any number of days between April 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025, inclusive, as required to facilitate rehabilitation works of the Wilson Station bus underpass structure and the Mezzanine Bridge on William R. Allen Road, and City Council exempt the General Manager, Transportation Services, in carrying out this delegated authority from Section 937-5 of Chapter 937, that being the requirement to notify the local Ward Councillor of the pending closure and the requirement to report on the proposed closure if so requested by the local Ward Councillor.

2. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on both sides of northbound William R. Allen Road, between a point 350 metres north of Wilson Avenue and a point 200 metres south of Wilson Avenue.

3. City Council prohibit stopping at all times on both sides of southbound William R. Allen Road, between a point 350 metres north of Wilson Avenue and a point 200 metres south of Wilson Avenue.

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

5. City Council direct the permit applicant to provide a sufficient number of paid duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and 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.

6. City Council direct the permit applicant to post 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.

7. City Council direct the permit applicant to cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the City Engineers, staff and representatives carrying out operation, maintenance, and construction activities to municipal infrastructure within the vicinity of the construction staging area and, at no cost to the City, to remove any staging to accommodate the necessary municipal infrastructure work.

8. City Council direct that William R. Allen Road be returned to its pre-construction traffic regulations when the project is complete.

9. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or By-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services in order to give effect to City Council's decision.

As William R. Allen Road is classified as an expressway, City Council approval of this report is required.

The Toronto Transit Commission is planning to rehabilitate the Wilson Station bus underpass structure and the Mezzanine Bridge on William R. Allen Road. The site is located on William R. Allen Road, between Wilson Avenue and a point 140 metres further north.

Transportation Services is requesting that City Council delegate to the General Manager of Transportation Services the authority to temporarily close the northbound and southbound traffic lanes, including the east and / or the west shoulders on William R. Allen Road to facilitate construction staging operations for rehabilitation of the Wilson Station bus underpass structure and the Mezzanine Bridge. The project will be undertaken in four stages. Each stage will require alternating lane closures with at least two traffic lanes maintained in each direction, for a period of nine months, from April 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.

Additionally, access to the Highway 401 westbound on-ramp from southbound William R. Allen Road will be restricted for a period of approximately three months from April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. During this phase, vehicular traffic will follow a signed diversion route to access Highway 401 using alternate interchanges nearby.

 Infrastructure and Environment Committee:  

1. Received the report (February 12, 2025) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, for information.

Transportation Services, in partnership with TTC and the Toronto Police Service, are continuing efforts to support and improve operations on the King Street Transit Priority Corridor. Several efforts have already been taken in 2024 including traffic management support from Traffic Agents, traffic signal timing and traffic signal modifications, and platform and general public realm improvements. Exemptions were also made to allow for the Billy Bishop Airport Shuttle Bus and Toronto Community Crisis Service Vehicles to utilize the King Street Priority Corridor. All of the measures taken to date have improved the operations and safety for all road users along the corridor.  

As requested by City Council at its meeting on May 22 and 24, 2024, this report provides updates on the following:

-  the effect of traffic signal modifications on transit operations and traffic flow along King Street;

-  status update on the automated enforcement strategy to help mitigate the impacts of vehicles blocking the intersections (i.e. block-the-box);

-  the proposed public realm improvements, including, but not limited to, mid-block curb extensions, transit bump outs, widened sidewalks, and public realm spaces; and;

-  a status update on the King Street working group.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Toronto Water, and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry to negotiate, enter into and execute wastewater energy transfer agreements and any other agreements, other than those agreements set out in Recommendation 2, required to give effect to a wastewater energy transfer agreement, related to wastewater energy program projects, subject to the following conditions with wastewater energy program applicants:

a. The project(s) including, without limitation, its design, specifications, operation and use of City wastewater infrastructure shall be acceptable to the General Manager, Toronto Water;

b. The project(s) will not detrimentally affect in any way or create inefficiencies or impacts of any nature in the operation, maintenance, alteration, repair or use by the City of the City's sewer collection and wastewater treatment systems, as determined by the General Manager, Toronto Water;

c. The project(s) will generate benefits to the City, as determined by the General Manager, Toronto Water and Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry;

d. The project(s) shall be reviewed in accordance with the process set forth in this report;

e. The terms and conditions of any agreement may be based on terms and conditions as the General Manager, Toronto Water and Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry considers appropriate, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor; and

f. The agreements may be for terms up to but not exceeding 30 years in duration, subject to any limitations under law.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Transportation Services, or designate, to negotiate, enter into and execute encroachment agreements and any other agreements required to give effect there to, related to wastewater energy program projects.

3. City Council adopt the new Environment, Climate and Forestry Wastewater Energy Project Fees set out in Attachment 1 to the report (February 11, 2025) from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, to become effective on April 1, 2025.

4. City Council authorize the necessary amendments to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441 - Fees and Charges, Appendix C – Schedule 20 and any other necessary Municipal Code Chapters as may be required, to give effect to City Council's decision.

5. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce any necessary Bills required to implement City Council's decision, subject to any necessary refinements, including stylistic, format and organization, as may be identified by the City Solicitor, the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry.

6. City Council direct that all the rates, fees and charges set out in Attachment 1 to the report (February 11, 2025) from the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry Division, adopted in Part 3 above, continue in full force and effect until such time as they are amended or repealed by City Council.

The primary purpose of this report is to recommend that authority be given to specified City officials, where appropriate, to negotiate and enter into wastewater energy transfer agreements and to provide details on how wastewater energy program project revenues will be collected and appropriately allocated. This report also provides general updates on the wastewater energy program, including the pilot project currently under construction at Toronto Western Hospital.

The City's wastewater energy program is an important initiative that will help achieve TransformTO's goal of sourcing 50 percent of community-wide energy from renewable sources by 2030. The recommended authorities will enable the City to enter into wastewater energy transfer agreements, while ensuring that candidate projects are suitable within the City’s wastewater infrastructure and operations.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance, as follows:

a. delete §367-2.1.A.(2) and replace it with the following, in order to postpone the reporting of property owners of buildings with a gross floor area equal to or exceeding 929 square metres (~10,000 square feet) but less than 4,645 square meters (~50,000 square feet) to 2026:

(2) In 2026 if their property contains a building with a gross floor area equal to or exceeding 929 square metres.

b. add a new subsection to §367-2.4.B., that includes the following provision, in order to change the reporting extension and exemption deadline in 2025:

On or before July 2, 2025 for the 2025 reporting year.

2. City Council direct that the amendments to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance, described in Part 1 come into force on March 31, 2025.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor, in consultation with the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, to prepare the necessary bill required to give effect to City Council’s decision and to make such clarifications, minor modifications, technical or stylistic refinements as may be identified by the City Solicitor.

4. City Council request that the Government of Ontario help the City of Toronto streamline property owner compliance with Municipal Code 367, Building Emissions Performance by enabling any reported data under O. Reg. 506/18: REPORTING OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND WATER USE to be provided to the City of Toronto.
 

5. City Council request that the Government of Ontario help streamline access to and simplify reporting of utility data, including by authorizing utilities to provide data directly to the City of Toronto and by enabling utilities to provide property owners with the option to enable automated uploads of utility data to Energy Star Portfolio Manager.

In December 2023, City Council adopted a resolution to create a new City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance (2023.IE9.5), which requires property owners of large buildings in Toronto to report their buildings' energy and water use to the City annually (the By-law).

The first reporting deadline under the By-law was October 31, 2024 and applied to property owners of buildings with a gross floor area equal to or exceeding 4,645 square metres (~50,000 square feet). This deadline was extended for 2024 from the original reporting deadline of July 2, 2024 to allow for implementation delays and ensure property owners were notified of their obligations. Property owners submitted over 3,400 energy and water use reports to the City as required under the By-law, corresponding to greater than 64 percent compliance.

Environment, Climate and Forestry is working through further implementation of the By-law, including working on putting in place direct supports to facilitate reporting for property owners who have never before submitted energy and water use reports to the City, and working to provide options for streamlined access to utility data.

Environment, Climate and Forestry is proposing that the City postpone the first reporting year for property owners of buildings with a gross floor area equal to or exceeding 929 square metres (~10,000 square feet) but less than 4,645 square meters (~50,000 square feet) under the By-law from 2025 to 2026 to allow additional time for implementation of property owner supports. This will allow additional time for 1) Environment, Climate and Forestry to put in place a reporting help centre which will provide direct support for property owners, and 2) water, electricity and natural gas utilities to streamline access to aggregated whole-building utility consumption data.

This report proposes to amend Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance, as follows:

1.  postpone the first requirement to report energy and water use annually from 2025 to 2026 for property owners of buildings with a gross floor area equal to or exceeding 929 square metres (~10,000 square feet) but less than 4,645 square meters (~50,000 square feet), and,

2.  for 2025, change the deadline for property owners to request reporting extensions and exemptions to July 2, 2025 (i.e. the 2025 report deadline).

Environment, Climate and Forestry is working through further implementation of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 367, Building Emissions Performance, and plans to report back further on implementation progress, and on potential changes to the By-law, in upcoming reports to Council, including in alignment with the development of Building Emissions Performance Standards.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Directed the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry to examine increasing fees and fines to address compliance with the City’s Tree By-laws through the current review of tree bylaws in progress and report back as part of the tree bylaw review.

Toronto's urban forest consists of over 11.5 million trees, which spans streetscapes, parks and ravines, commercial and industrial lands, and residential properties and provides fundamental ecosystem services. These ecosystem services include creating oxygen and removing pollutants from the air, reducing energy costs, improving water quality, mitigating extreme heat, and providing food and habitat for the many birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals which contribute to the city's biodiversity.

Like many major urban centres around the world, Toronto is experiencing the impacts of climate change. These changes include more extreme heat and extended heat waves that can disproportionately affect the health and wellness of equity-deserving groups. A healthy urban forest is fundamental to climate resilience and provides access to the numerous benefits which is central to Toronto's tree equity approach to canopy expansion.

The purpose of this report is to describe Toronto's multi-pronged approach to ensure the expansion, protection and maintenance of trees across Toronto's urban forest as climate change intensifies. City Council has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a 40 per cent canopy cover by 2050. Urban Forestry is using a tree equity approach to grow the tree canopy where it is needed most, ensuring that all Torontonians, including equity-deserving groups such as children and seniors, realize the co-benefits of a healthy and resilient urban forest.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water and General Manager, Toronto Shelter and Support Services to establish and formalize roles, responsibilities, and deployment procedures for the HTO To Go Water Trailer program as part of the City’s Heat Relief Strategy response protocol, with an implementation target of end of the first quarter of 2025.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Toronto Water to establish and administer a contract with a third-party water trailer service provider to supply water trailer services for deployment at City sites, as selected by Toronto Shelter and Support Services, that meet the operational and logistical requirements for water trailer deployment as part of the City’s Heat Relief Strategy.

3. City Council direct the Chief Procurement Officer to procure two 10-tap stainless steel water trailers utilizing a limited solicitation process, to solicit competitive bids from three or more suppliers, through an invitational solicitation process, not exceeding a maximum amount of $220,000 inclusive of all taxes and contingencies.

4. City Council amend the Toronto Water 2025 Capital Budget and 2026-2033 Capital Plan to include the funding in the amount of $220,000 inclusive of all taxes and contingencies for the purchase of two 10-tap stainless steel water trailer to be fully funded from unspent funds in the 2025 Capital Budget for Toronto Water, to be identified through a future variance report.

5. City Council request the General Manager, Toronto Water to report through the 2026 budget process to include the future year operating budget impacts required for staff resources and to attend, house, transport and maintain the two new trailers.

6. City Council request the Mayor to include operational funding for the two 10-tap stainless steel water trailers in the future budget allocations for Toronto Water.

This report responds to City Council's direction to explore options for expanding the HTO To Go Water Trailer Program (the Program) and the City’s network of water bottle filling stations to both align with the City of Toronto's Heat Relief Strategy by improving access to drinking water for vulnerable populations during heat warnings and ensure an equitable distribution of Program resources at events across all Community Council Areas.

Toronto Water is expanding the criteria for the Program to ensure a more balanced distribution of water trailers at events across the City's Community Council Areas. Additionally, Toronto Water will collaborate with Toronto Shelter and Support Services Division to support the City's Heat Relief Strategy.

Toronto Water recommends that the Program's expansion be realized by contracted services on an as-needed basis. This approach makes efficient use of existing City resources by enabling Toronto Water to respond to emergencies as required, while continuing to attend scheduled events.

Parks and Recreation is upgrading old water fountains with new water bottle filling features as part of the Back on Track initiatives and will continue to expand the water bottle filling network on Parks and Recreation spaces, where opportunities allow.

The expansion of the Program does not require participation / program delivery from Solid Waste Management Services.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee received the presentation from OMERS Administration Corporation on OMERS Update on Climate Action Plan for information.

George Cooke, Chair, Board of Directors, OMERS Administration Corporation, Celine Chiovitti, Chief Pension Officer, OMERS Administration Corporation, Katharine Preston, Vice President, Sustainable Investing, OMERS Administration Corporation, and Hala El Akl, Vice President, Sustainable Investing and Operations, OMERS Administration Corporation, gave a presentation on OMERS Update on the Climate Action Plan.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee will hear an update from the Chair of the OMERS Administration Corporation Board of Directors, the Chief Pension Officer, the Vice President, Sustainable Investing, and the Vice President, Sustainable Investing and Operations, Oxford Properties, on the OMERS Climate Action Plan and progress.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services, to report back to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the third quarter of 2025 with a detailed plan to restore the responsibility of corporate property owners to promptly clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property. 

2. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to include in the upcoming 2025 Annual Winter Maintenance report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee, a review of current by-law provisions for snow clearance by institutional, business and private properties on the public right-of-way and their responsibilities regarding moving snow onto City streets, with the report to include recommendations for any necessary changes to by-laws that will improve sidewalk accessibility during winter snow events.

Until 2022, corporate property owners in Toronto were obliged to promptly clear snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property, and most did so.

In 2022, the City of Toronto expanded its mechanical sidewalk snow plowing program city wide. As a perhaps unintended side effect, 719-2 of the Municipal Code relieved all private property owners of their long-standing obligation to clear snow from sidewalks abutting their property, except when snowfall is less than 2 centimetres. Many individual property owners are incapable of clearing the snow on their sidewalks, but this does not apply to the wealthy corporations who own multi-million dollar multi-unit buildings. This month, many such corporations left their sidewalks impassible, even on major streets, seriously inconveniencing residents and delaying city efforts to clear other sidewalks.

As shown in the recent storm, it is not reasonable for the city to bear the exclusive responsibility to clear all sidewalks, and the city is not able to do so in a reasonable period of time following a heavy snowfall. This creates massive public inconvenience and exposes the city to liability risks.

Instead, corporate property owners can, and should, be required to resume the primary responsibility to clear the snow and ice on the sidewalks abutting their properties, no matter how heavy the snowfall. City crews should provide a backup service only.

The requirements and responsibilities for snow and ice removal is regulated through Chapter 719 of the Toronto Municipal Code.  Under this bylaw,

§719-2. Time limit for removal of snow and ice from sidewalks. 

A. Every owner or occupant of any building must, within 12 hours after any fall of snow, rain or hail has ceased, clear away and completely remove snow and ice from any sidewalk on any highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building. 
 

B. After the removal of snow and ice, if any portion of the sidewalk becomes slippery from any cause, the owner or occupant must immediately and as often as necessary apply to the sidewalk ashes, sand, salt or some other suitable material so as to completely cover the slippery surface.

C. Subsection A does not apply to an owner or an occupant of a building where, pursuant to City of Toronto policy, the City of Toronto has undertaken the responsibility to clear away and completely remove snow and ice from the sidewalk on the highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building at that location.

Because the City’s mechanical sidewalk snow plowing program now extends city wide, 719-2C has been interpreted to mean that private owners have no snow / ice removal obligation except when there is a snowfall of less than 2 centimetres (the city’s threshold for sidewalk snow plowing). It is within the city’s power to limit subsection C to individuals who deserve to be free of snow-clearing obligations, and we should do.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Directed the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Toronto Transit Commission, and Toronto Police Service, to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the third quarter of 2025 with a detailed plan to deter and rapidly remove private vehicles that block Toronto Transit Commission surface route operations during extreme snow events.

On February 24, 2025, the TTC Board passed a motion, asking TTC staff to:

TTC 2.12 3: In collaboration with the General Manager, Transportation Services and Toronto Police Services, report back on the feasibility of increasing fines for vehicles that block TTC surface route operations and removing them quicker during extreme snow events.

During and after this month’s heavy storms, TTC operations were frequently brought to a halt by private vehicles parked where they prevented buses and street cars from passing. Attached is a photo taken on Gerrard Street, where a single parked completely blocked multiple TTC vehicles, including at least three cars, two TTC buses, and a streetcar. Off-camera, another streetcar was also stuck behind the obstruction, preventing countless Torontonians from reaching their destinations.

Private vehicles that block snow routes also prevent effective snow clearing and snow removal by Transportation Services.

Even if the driver were ticketed, the current  fine for blocking a snow route is only $200 -barely the cost of a tank of gas for a $70,000 truck. This is clearly inadequate to deter such behaviour, as driven home by the hundreds of such incidents that occurred this month. Higher fines, demerit points and rapid towing are necessary to increase deterrence and rapid response.

This is a matter of great importance for the TTC and for the city as a whole, and it requires close cooperation between the city, Toronto Police Services, and the TTC. If the police need additional tow yards in downtown Toronto, this should be addressed before the next major winter storm.

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee:

1. Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on April 9, 2025, on the Toronto Region Board of Trade’s Breaking Gridlock: A Congestion Action Plan for Toronto report, including:

a. A status update on the calls to action identified in the report that the city has already actioned and timing for implementation and / or next steps.

b. An initial feasibility assessment of the calls to action that have not been implemented by the city.

At the April 2025 Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting, city staff will bring forward a report with an update on the Congestion Management Plan (2023-2026). This report will highlight the many actions the city is taking to manage congestion and demonstrate our commitment to taking the issue seriously.

Recently the Toronto Region Board of Trade released a report, Breaking Gridlock: A Congestion Action Plan for Toronto, which proposes five actions to get Toronto moving in the near-term:

- Reduce lane closures by pricing lane closures to incentivize faster, better construction and making off-peak construction on major arterials the norm.

- Enforce the rules of the road with enhanced automated enforcement.

- Unclog the arteries with a variety of actions including limiting curb lane cafés, moving parking off-street on select roads, and incentivizing off-peak deliveries.

- Clear the bottlenecks by re-engineering traffic flow at the Gardiner-Harbour nexus, piloting ramp metering and promoting zipper merging.

- Implement accountability mechanisms including the creation of an intergovernmental table, and monitoring and publishing of KPIs for traffic flow.

I recommend we request city staff provide a response to the eleven recommendations identified in the report and how they might be included in the city’s congestion management toolbox going forward.