September 3, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works Services

Subject:Extension of the pavement and construction of a walkway at the south end of Atlantic Avenue (Trinity - Niagara)

Purpose:

To authorize the acquisition of lands, execution of necessary agreements and licences, lay out and dedication of lands, and the construction of a pavement and walkway at the south end of Atlantic Avenue to facilitate access to the Exhibition GO Station and Canadian National Exhibition grounds.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the cost of land acquisition and licence fees associated with this project, in the amount of $8,750.00, excluding land transfer tax and GST, are available in Capital Fund Code 296-001.

Funds to cover the cost of the planned construction in the estimated amount of $125,000.00 will have to be included in the Works and Emergency Services 1999 Capital Budget request for consideration by City Council.

Recommendations:

1. That the concept of the southerly extension of the Atlantic Avenue pavement and the provision of a public walkway on CN lands to provide a pedestrian link to the Exhibition Go Station and CNE grounds be endorsed;

2. That the acquisition of Part 1 on Reference Plan No. 64R-15697 from 1289777 Ontario Limited (shown as Part A on the attached print of Drawing No. SK-2197 dated August 26, 1998) for the southerly extension of Atlantic Avenue be authorized;

3. That the lands shown as Part A on Drawing No. SK-2197 dated August 26, 1998, be laid out and subsequently dedicated to form part of Atlantic Avenue;

4. That, subject to the adoption of Recommendation Nos. 1, 2 and 3 above, approval be given to construct a pavement, sidewalk and curbs on Atlantic Avenue as follows:

"The construction of a pavement, sidewalk and curbs and the necessary drainage facilities on ATLANTIC AVENUE from the southern terminus of Atlantic Avenue to approximately 13.6 m further south, as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. SK-2197, dated August 26, 1998";

5. That approval be given to enter into an agreement with CN in accordance with terms and conditions satisfactory to the Commissioner of Corporate Services, City Solicitor and Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services for the construction and maintenance of a pedestrian walkway by the City on CN lands shown as Part B on the attached print of Drawing No. SK-2197, dated August 26, 1997;

6. That the total cost of property acquisition not exceed $10,000.00 inclusive of Land Transfer Tax and GST; and

7. That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect thereto including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

Comments:

At the request of Councillor Joe Pantalone, staff from Works, Urban Planning and Development and Corporate Services have been assessing means of facilitating pedestrian access to the Exhibition GO Station located on CN lands at the foot of Atlantic and Jefferson Avenues. A walkway in this area, as shown on the attached context plan, will provide a much needed and desirable north-south connection between Strachan Avenue and Dufferin Street linking the Liberty and Parkdale areas to the GO Station, the TTC Loop, and Exhibition Place including the Trade Centre and Ontario Place.

This proposal meets one of the general planning principles of the Garrison Common North area by providing a physical connection to the waterfront. A design concept/preliminary functional plan has been developed to the satisfaction of GO Transit, CN Rail, the property owner of Premises No.1 Jefferson Avenue and City staff and is shown on the attached print of Drawing No. SK-2197, dated August 26, 1998. The key components of the plan are as follows:

- The extension of the Atlantic Avenue pavement some 14 m south of its existing terminus and the construction of a sidewalk on the east side. This will provide vehicular access to Premises No. 1 Jefferson Avenue as well as service access to the rail lands to the south and pedestrian access to a walkway leading to the GO Station;

- The construction of a walkway from the proposed southerly end of Atlantic Avenue to the GO platform approximately 50 m south easterly. This walkway would terminate at the fair free zone on the platform and would connect to the existing GO pedestrian tunnel via the existing stairs and/or elevator thereby facilitating access and accessibility to the GO paid zone and/or the CNE grounds;

- The provision of the necessary landscaping, fencing, grading, lighting and adjustments to the existing platform and canopy/enclosure required in connection with the walkway construction; and

- The construction, in granular materials, of a driveway on CN lands to provide CN service vehicle access to the rail lands from Atlantic Avenue.

The implementation of the pavement extension and walkway involves the acquisition of property and the entering into of a license agreement between the City and CN, as more specifically set out below:

a)Southerly extension of Atlantic Avenue

The lands immediately to the south of the existing Atlantic Avenue right-of-way are known as 1 Jefferson Avenue and owned by 1289777 Ontario Limited. The land required for the southerly extension of Atlantic Avenue is shown as Part 1 on Plan 64R-15697, a 20.12 m by 13.62 m parcel forming part of a larger 1.3 ha parcel. Discussions have been held between the owner and City real estate staff and the owner has verbally agreed to sell Part 1, Plan 64R-15697 to the City for $5,000.00, a price that is considered to be reasonable by the Interim Lead, Real Estate.

Assuming City Council authorizes the acquisition of this property, staff of Works and Emergency Services could prepare any required reference plans and the lands could be conveyed to the City and laid out and dedicated for public highway purposes in the usual manner. Staff of Corporate Services would finalize the terms and conditions of the sale and the City Solicitor would prepare, execute and close an Agreement of Purchase and Sale with the owner.

b)Pedestrian Walkway

The walkway extending south of the extended Atlantic Avenue right-of-way would be constructed on lands currently owned by CN. Staff of CN are in support of this initiative provided that the City agrees to provide a service vehicle access to CN from the south end of Atlantic Avenue and the necessary fencing to separate the walkway from its track facilities. CN will also require that the City enter into an agreement with CN in respect of the walkway, its maintenance, indemnification, insurance, etc., and has agreed to a 25-year term at a total licensing fee of $3750.

The extension of the Atlantic Avenue pavement and construction of the walkway will provide a substantial benefit to the general public and under the circumstances the cost of the work should be borne by the City. Funds to cover the total cost of land acquisition and licensing, in the estimated amounts of $5,000.00 and $3,750.00, respectively, are available in the approved 1998 Works and Emergency Services Capital Budget, Capital Fund Code 296-001. Funds to cover the cost of construction, in the estimated amount of $125,000.00, will be included in the Works and Emergency Services 1999 Capital Budget request.

This work is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule 'A' of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects.

Policy of the former City of Toronto Council requires that those sites to be acquired are not contaminated, unless a specific exemption to the policy is approved. This often necessitates the retention of the services of a consultant to conduct environmental testing prior to an acquisition to assess the environmental condition of the lands. It is understood that CN had previously completed environmental reports of its land holdings and CN would make available these reports to the City. Depending on the information provided, additional environmental testing may be warranted. Staff will make the necessary arrangements for whatever additional evaluation may be required.

This concept has received favourable consideration from the West Toronto Industrial Advisory Committee (WTIAC) and was favourably received and has the support of the Ward Councillors. Staff of Works and Emergency Services, Urban Planning and Development Services and Corporate Services have participated in the preparation of this report and concur with its contents.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

John Niedra, Manager of Programmes

Infrastructure Planning and Transportation

392-7835

A. Koropeski

Director

JN/sah

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