Other Items Considered by the Committee.

(a)Sheppard Subway - Status of Permits and Approvals.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports having received the following communications:

(i)(May 21, 1998) General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission, advising that the Toronto Transit Commission on May 20, 1998, considered Report No. (27), entitled "Sheppard Subway Status of Permits and Approvals"; that the Commission received the subject report for information and approved the following:

(1)that staff report on the critical path for completion of the Sheppard Subway, including tenders, site plan approvals, building permits, design work, tunnelling work and any other appropriate deadlines associated with the project; and further

(2)that any site plan approval conditions which add costs beyond the approved budget for the Sheppard Subway project be forwarded to the City Budget Committee and City Council for additional project and funding approval;

and stating that the foregoing is forwarded for the information of the City of Toronto Council.

(ii)(July 30, 1998) from the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, responding to a request made by the Urban Environment and Development Committee for a full report on the potential cost overruns on the Sheppard Subway project; submitting a copy of the briefing given to the Toronto Transit Commission on July 9, 1998, which covers the potential cost overruns; advising that the TTC does not expect to have any more information until after September 8, 1998; and that staff will be present at the September 8, 1998 meeting of the Committee to respond to any questions.

(iii)(August 31, 1998) addressed to the Toronto Transit Commission from the ChiefGeneral Manager of the Commission and the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services regarding building permits for the Sheppard Subway; and specifying the outstanding issues that must be resolved prior to the issuance of the remaining permits and approvals.

(b)Wheel-Trans Vehicle Replacement.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports having:

(A)recommended to the Budget Committee the adoption of:

(1)additional project approval and financing of $10.1 million for City Project No.415, "127 Wheel-Trans Vehicle Replacements (Orion II)"; noting that such additional project approval and financing is required no later than October30, 1998, at which time the bids expire; and

(2)an increase of $800,000.00 in the 1998 Wheel-Trans Operating Budget, subject to successful negotiations between the Toronto Transit Commission and Overland Custom Coach Inc. regarding the delivery of 14 ELF low-floor buses in 1998; and

(B)directed that the following communication from the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission, be forwarded to the Budget Committee for consideration:

(i)(September 24, 1998) from the General Secretary, Toronto Transit Commission, advising that the Toronto Transit Commission on September 23, 1998, approved the Recommendations contained in Report No. (6), entitled "Wheel-Trans Vehicle Replacement".

(ii)(October 5, 1998) from the Chief General Manager, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), regarding the purchase of Wheel-Trans buses; advising that an evaluation of the continuous delivery option of ELF buses, combined with an accelerated retirement of the Orion II vehicles, would result in net overall savings of approximately $2.0 million; that, however, the continuous delivery option would require an increase to the 1999 and 2000 Operating Budgets which is significantly higher than the staggered delivery option; and stating that while City Council needs to consider the overall impact to the City of bringing forward the purchase, either approach is acceptable to the TTC.

(c)Non-Concurrence with the Proposed Installation of Traffic

Control Signals on Cherry Street at Commissioners Street.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports having:

(1)again deferred consideration of the following report (May 20, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation, until such time as the TorontoCycling Committee has had an opportunity to review the safety issues at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street;

(2)requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, to submit up-to-date Police statistics when this matter is again before the Urban Environment and Development Committee for consideration; and

(3)received the following communication (September 23, 1998) from the CityClerk:

(i)(May 20, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation responding to a request from the Toronto Community Council to study the feasibility of installing traffic control signals at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street; advising that an audit of the physical suitability of the pedestrian crossover (PXO) at this intersection did not reveal any characteristics which would make this location unsuitable for a PXO, and that staff of the former City of Toronto report that the PXO has been operating satisfactorily since it was installed in 1984; that, after reviewing the potential impacts of redevelopment and reconstruction in the area, staff have concluded that traffic control signals will not likely be required at the aforementioned intersection in the next few years; and recommending that the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of CherryStreet and CommissionersStreet not be approved.

(ii)(September 23, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Toronto Cycling Committee on September 22, 1998, recommended to the Urban Environment and Development Committee that consideration of the foregoing report dated May 20, 1998 from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation, be further deferred until such time as the Network/Bicycle Planning Sub-Committee of the Toronto Cycling Committee has met on-site to consider the issue of traffic safety.

(d)Feasibility of Burying the F. G. Gardiner Expressway.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports having requested the General Manager, Transportation Services, to submit a report to the November 30, 1998 meeting of the Committee on the feasibility of burying the F. G. Gardiner Expressway.