Hearing - Alteration of Queen's Quay West,
between Lower Spadina Avenue and Lower Portland Street
(Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that a by-law in the form of the draft
by-law be enacted, and that the necessary Bills be introduced in Council to give effect
thereto.
The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, that pursuant to
Clause 13 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee Report No. 9, titled,
"Widening of a Portion of Queen's Quay West to Accommodate the Waterfront West LRT
Extension", which was adopted, without amendment, by City Council at its meeting held on
July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, notice of its hearing on September 16, 1998 with respect to the
proposed enactment of the draft by-law was advertised in a daily newspaper on August 25,
September 1, September 8 and September 15, 1998, and no one addressed the Toronto
Community Council.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following draft by-law:
Authority:Urban Environment and Development Committee
Report No. 9(13), adopted July 29, 30 and 31, 1998 and
Intended for first presentation to Council: September 16, 1998
Adopted by Council:
CITY OF TORONTO
Bill No.
BY-LAW No.
To further amend former City of Toronto By-law No. 602-89, being "A By-law To
authorize the construction, widening, narrowing, alteration and repair of sidewalks,
pavements and curbs at various locations", respecting the alteration of Queen's Quay West
consisting of the widening of the pavement on the south side of Queen's Quay West between
Lower Spadina Avenue and Lower Portland Street.
WHEREAS notice of a proposed By-law regarding the proposed alteration was published in
a daily newspaper on , , and , 1998 and interested persons were given an opportunity to be
heard at a public meeting held on , 1998 and it is appropriate to amend the by-law to permit
the alteration.
The Council of the City of Toronto HEREBY ENACTS as follows:
1.Former City of Toronto By-law No. 602-89, being "A By-law To authorize the
construction, widening, narrowing, alteration and repair of sidewalks, pavements and curbs
at various locations", is amended:
(1)by inserting in Columns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively, of Schedule "B-2" (Pavement
Widening) the following:
(Column 1 (Column 2(Column 3(Column 4(Column 5(Column 6
Drawing
Street)Side)Width)From)To)No./Date)
Queen'ssouthfrom: 14.7 mLower Spadina a pointSK-2204
Quay Westto: 17.3 m -Avenueapproximatelydated
20.5 m210 m westJuly 6, 1998
thereof
ENACTED and PASSED this ______ day of ______________, A.D. 1998.
MEL LASTMAN,NOVINA WONG,
MayorCity Clerk
(Corporate Seal)
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The Toronto Community Council also submits Clause 13 of Report No. 9 of the Urban
and Environment and Development Committee, headed "Widening of a Portion of
Queen's Quay West to Accommodate the Waterfront West LRT Extension":
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(City Council on July 29, 30and 31, 1998, adopted this Clause, without amendment.)
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.)