April 30, 1998

 To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

 From:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

 Subject:Improvements to Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails in the vicinity of the Humber Bridges Project.

 Lakeshore - Queensway; Councillors Irene Jones, Blake Kinahan

 Purpose:

 To report on options for improving bicycle and pedestrian trails in the vicinity of the Humber Bridges Project.

 Funding Sources:

 The funds associated with the proposed feasibility study can be provided under the Transportation Department=s Approved Capital Programme for 1998. The estimated cost is $30,000.00 for the feasibility study. Funds for the construction of the proposed improvement are not currently provided for under the Humber Bridges Project.

 Recommendation:

 It is recommended that this report be received for information.

 Background;

 At the February 25, 1998 meeting of the Task Force on the Lakeshore Gardiner Corridor, transportation staff were requested to give a presentation on the current status and future scenario and schedule of the Humber Bridges Project (HBP). Questions arose about the trail networks around the project and in particular focused on the perceived need for an underpass of the railway embankment (key number 22, circled on the attached drawing). This is to allow an improved connection, where none presently exists, from the Lake Shore Trail, the riverside promenade adjacent to the Palace Pier and Palace Place Condominiums and the Humber River Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge to the Tommy Thomson Trail, along the west-side of the Humber River.

 Discussion:

 A design principle from the start of the Humber Bridges Project has been to ensure that sufficient clearance would be provided under the new Humber Bridges to comfortably accommodate pathway links on both banks of the river.

 During discussions which ultimately led to the design of the Humber River Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge, project staff of the former Metropolitan Toronto Transportation Department invited the involvement of representatives of a wide range of special interest groups, other former Metropolitan Toronto departments, departments of the former cities of Toronto and Etobicoke, Provincial Government Departments and the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. This group was known as the Inter-Agency Review Group (IARG).

 The IARG established the layout of a network of parkland trail links in the vicinity of the Humber Bridges. The alignments of these links are shown on the attached drawing. This design of the trail network, which best served the area and which satisfied the concerns of the IARG members, identified the need for a new underpass of the CN Railway embankment on the west side of the Humber River. This was to accommodate a future link from the lakeshore parks to the existing Tommy Thompson Trail up the west side of the Humber River.

 This important railway underpass link has never fallen within the mandate and funding of the Humber Bridges Project and we anticipate that the cost of such a structure may be relatively high compared to the costs of the pathways themselves.

 On the east side of the river there is no need for a new underpass of the railway embankment since the pathway will turn to the east after passing under the road bridges to join the trail along the existing South Kingsway underpass of the railway. This will be a relatively inexpensive link. Furthermore, there is no existing trail system along the east bank of the Humber River north of the Queensway to justify the cost of any substantial additional work. We can easily include the pathways on the east side of the Humber River in the construction of the Humber Bridges Project.

 We anticipate that the pathway work on the east side of the river will be included in a supplementary contract to the Humber Bridges Project, following the completion and opening to traffic of the final three bridges in the complex. This supplementary contract is expected to include restoration of construction staging areas and park areas, landscaping, slope paving under the bridges, as well as the pathway links on the east bank of the river and any necessary lighting associated with them.

 With respect to the west side pathways under our bridges, our position has been that for safety reasons they should not be built unless and until a future underpass of the railway is in place. Furthermore, because of the urgency of completing the Humber Bridges Project, construction of this railway underpass for the trail system should not take place until all of the six road bridges in the Humber Bridges Project have been completed and opened to traffic.

 Nevertheless, it makes practical sense to consider this railway underpass in the overall urban design context of the Humber Bridges Project. Our Department has initiated preliminary inquiries with railway staff on this matter during our extensive and ongoing discussions with them over the Humber Bridges Project, and we did some initial feasibility study work on the underpass during discussions with the IARG. We are therefore well placed because of our working relationship with engineering staff of the railway and our familiarity with this important location to play a lead role in pursuing this feature as an addendum to the Humber Bridges Project.

 Accordingly we will undertake a study to determine the feasibility of this railway underpass. The cost of the study can be accommodated within the 1998 capital budget.

 Conclusion:

 Transportation staff will undertake a feasibility study, in consultation with the CN Railway, to investigate the options for a structure to carry a future trail link under the railway embankment on the west side of the Humber River. We will report back on the findings of the study, the preferred scheme(s) and the costs to build the underpass structure.

 Contact Name and Telephone Number:

 Barry Craig, Manager

Road Construction

(416) 392-8312

 D. P. Floyd

Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

 Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services

 BC/bc;fc