Extension of the Pavement and Construction
of a Walkway at the South End of
Atlantic Avenue (Trinity-Niagara)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(September 3, 1998) from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation
Division, City Works Services.
The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested
the Budget Committee to report directly to Council on the possibility of including the cost
of the work to be done in the 1998 Capital Program, given the small amount of funds to be
expended.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (September 3, 1998)
from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works
Service:
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