August 24, 1998

To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

From:Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services

Subject:Prince Edward (Bloor Street) Viaduct - Measures to Deter Suicide Attempts Status Report

Don River; Councillors Jack Layton and Pam McConnell

Midtown; Councillors John Adams and Ila Bossons

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide the Urban Environment and Development Committee with a status report on this project. The Project Steering Committee is scheduled to select a preferred design during the week of August 31 to September 4, 1998 and will be submitting a recommendation to the Urban Environment and Development Committee at its meeting on September 8, 1998.

Due to the tight schedule, the report containing the recommendation on the selection of a preferred design may only be distributed to Committee members at the meeting. This "advance" report provides information on the selection process to date in preparation for the Committee meeting on September 8, 1998.

Funding Sources and Requirement:

The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee on June 25, 1998, recommended that the following recommendations of the Budget Committee be adopted:

(1)an adequate expenditure be allocated from the Corporate Contingency Account to undertake the project to avert suicides on the Bloor Street Viaduct and that the cost be no more than $1.5 million; and,

(2)the recommendation of the Urban Environment and Development Committee be brought back to the Budget Committee in the fall for the final allocation of funding.

City Council approved these recommendations at the July 8, 9 and 10, 1998 meeting.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that this report be received for information.

Council Reference/Background/History:

The Urban Environment and Development Committee on June 15 and 16, 1998, recommended to the Budget Committee that it recommend to the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, and Council, that up to $1.5 million be allocated form the Corporate Contingency Account to undertake the project to avert suicides on the Bloor Street Viaduct.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommended to Council the adoption of the report (May 28, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation.

The report dated May 28, 1998 recommended that:

(1)the Urban Environment and Development Committee support in principle the introduction of measures, as outlined in this report, to deter suicide attempts from the Bloor Street Viaduct;

(2)a Request for Proposals be issued, as outlined in this report, to solicit proposals for design concepts and full architectural services, with the submissions being evaluated by a Project Steering Committee comprised of representatives from:

-the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario;

-the Council on Suicide Preventions;

-the Toronto Historical Board/Heritage Toronto;

-Architecture and Civic Improvements, City Planning;

-the Transportation Division, Works and Emergency Services Department; and,

-the Public Art Policy Advisory Committee;

(3)a further report be submitted to the Urban Environment and Development Committee on the selection of a preferred design, the detailed budget requirements and a project schedule; and,

(4)the appropriate City of Toronto officials be directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Discussion:

On July 11, 1998, an advertisement was placed in the Ontario edition of The Globe and Mail (The Arts Section) calling for Expressions of Interest from multidisciplinary design firms for the Prince Edward (Bloor Street) Viaduct. A copy of the advertisement is attached (see Appendix A).

Approximately fifty (50) design firms picked up the "Design Brief for Expressions of Interest" which provided the following information:

-background to the project;

-history of the Prince Edward (Bloor Street) Viaduct;

-design requirements;

-selection process; and,

-submission requirements.

The schedule for submitting and evaluating "Expressions of Interest" (Stage I) was as follows:

Stage 1:

Expression of Interest advertisedJuly 11, 1998

Expression of Interest Design Brief availableJuly 13, 1998

Deadline for Receipt of Stage 1 SubmissionsJuly 27, 1998

Steering Committee Adjudication - Stage IJuly 30, 1998

Announcement of Stage II candidatesJuly 31, 1998

Sixteen firms submitted Expressions of Interest which were reviewed in detail by members of the Project Steering Committee. As a result of this review, four firms were selected to participate in the design competition in accordance with the following schedule:

Stage II:

Distribution of Stage II Design BriefAugust 4, 1998

Information session with Stage II candidatesAugust 6, 1998

Deadline for Stage II questionsAugust 14, 1998

Deadline for Stage II submissionsAugust 27, 1998

Selection Committee Adjudication - Stage IIAugust 28, 1998

Recommendation to Urban Environment andSeptember 8, 1998

Development Committee

City Council DecisionOctober 1, 1998

A copy of the Stage II Design Brief is attached (see Appendix B).

The Project Steering Committee will be meeting on August 28, 1998, to commence the adjudication process which will be completed during the week of August 31 to September 4, 1998.

Conclusions:

The Prince Edward (Bloor Street) Viaduct project is on schedule. A presentation will be made and a report containing a recommendation on the preferred design will be submitted to the Urban Environment & Development Committee on September 8, 1998.

Contact Name:

Les Kelman

Director, Transportation Systems

Tel.: 392-5372

Fax.: 392-4940

Tom Denes, P. Eng.

Executive Director, Technical Services

Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge

Commissioner

Works & Emergency Services

LK/ed