Widening of a Portion of Queen's Quay West to

Accommodate the Waterfront West LRT Extension.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (July 6, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services Division, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To authorize the widening of a portion of the pavement on Queen's Quay West between Lower Spadina Avenue and Lower Portland Street to facilitate the construction of the Waterfront West LRT extension.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the cost of the pavement widening on Queen's Quay West, west of Lower SpadinaAvenue, can be accommodated within existing departmental appropriations. Incremental costs relating to the adjustments of parks facilities and utilities will be borne by the TTC, as will costs related to the streetcar line construction.

Recommendations:

(1)That approval be given to widen the pavement on Queen's Quay West described as follows:

"The widening of the pavement on the south side of Queen's Quay West, from a width varying from 14.7 metres to 17.3 metres to a width of 20.5metres (including track allowance) between Lower Spadina Avenue and a point approximately 210 metres west thereof, as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. SK-2204 dated July 6, 1998"; and

(2) that the appropriate City officials be authorized to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be necessary.

Background:

City Council, at its meeting of April 29 and 30, 1998, in considering the 1998 Capital Budget request for the Toronto Transit Commission, approved the funds for the construction of a new streetcar connection on Queen's Quay West between Lower Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street as part of the westerly extension of the Waterfront West line.

TTC staff have advised that all approvals are in place to proceed with the segment of the streetcar line extension between Lower Spadina Avenue and Lower Portland Street and have requested City staff to take the necessary steps to facilitate the project. In this regard, it is necessary to seek Council approval for the widening of the Queen's Quay West pavement for a short distance westerly from Lower Spadina Avenue to accommodate the track allowance. Construction of the extension is scheduled by the TTC to commence in the fall of this year.

Comments:

The straightening of the alignment of Queen's Quay West from Lower Spadina Avenue to BathurstStreet and the widening of the road allowance to provide a 27-metre section was a longstanding objective in the Harbourfront area intended to advance a variety of land use, parks and transportation goals. More particularly, the widening of the right-of-way on the south side was pursued to accommodate the eventual extension of the Waterfront LRT beyond its present terminus at Lower Spadina Avenue. The Implementation Agreement of 1992 between the City of Toronto, Queen'sQuay West Land Corporation (formerly Harbourfront) and the Crown provided the specific mechanism for the City to obtain the widening of lands and construct the realignment.

Pursuant to the Agreement, the City, among other works, constructed the realigned section of Queen's Quay West. The work was authorized by the former Council in 1996 and completed in 1997. At the time of design and approval, it was noted that minor interim modifications to the plan approved under the TTC's Environmental Assessment (EA) would be appropriate in light of the circumstances at that time. These minor amendments were endorsed by the former Metropolitan Council and TTC staff. By all indications, it appeared that the LRT extension would not occur for some indefinite period into the future.

In order to minimize costs of the realignment, only the section of the actual jogged alignment was constructed. The two tangent sections, from Lower Spadina Avenue to about 200 metres west thereof, and from Bathurst Street to about 100 metres easterly, were not reconstructed or widened at that time.

It is noted that the realignment was designed in consultation with TTC staff in such a manner as to facilitate the construction of the Waterfront West LRT and minimize throw-away costs. Most of the line between Lower Spadina Avenue and Lower Portland Street will be built in the new median. The road works, including sidewalks, curbs, gutters, adjacent utilities and grades, were constructed in accordance with the ultimate condition. It is now necessary to secure approval of the widening of the Queen's Quay West pavement in the vicinity of Lower Spadina Avenue as described in Recommendation No. (1) above and shown on the attached print of Sketch No. SK-2204, dated July6, 1998, in order to accommodate the transit work.

The widening of the pavement on Queen's Quay West constitutes an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. This matter is being reported to your Committee at this time in order that the statutory requirements set out in the Act (advertising Council's intent to enact the by-law, public deputation hearing) can commence over the summer months to permit final approval and construction commencement this fall. Any required modifications or issues arising out of the detailed design or public consultation processes can be reported to a subsequent meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee or City Council.

The Waterfront West Light Rail Transit project, including the pavement widening described in this report, westerly to Exhibition Place and beyond received Environmental Assessment (EA) approval from the Ministry of Environment and Energy in August 1995. The approved project contemplated the line on Queen's Quay West to Lower Portland Street, then northerly to Lake Shore Boulevard West. TTC staff advise that they have applied to have the EA approval amended to allow the line to extend westerly on Queen's Quay West as far as Bathurst Street, before heading north to the existing tracks on Fleet Street.

A TTC staff report of July 15, 1997, acknowledged that a traffic study of this change is required, particularly with respect to operations at the Bathurst Street/Lake Shore Boulevard West/Fleet Street intersection. There will also be a need to encompass operations at the Bathurst Street/Queen's Quay West intersection in light of potential impacts to the new school/community centre located in the southeast quadrant. Upon completion of this work and design, it will be necessary to submit a further report outlining the necessary pavement alterations at this location.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Mr. John Niedra, Manager of Programmes, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, 392-7711.

(A copy of Drawing No. SK-2004 dated July 6, 1998, referred to in the foregoing report, in on file in the office of the City Clerk.)