February 3, 1998

To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project

Recommendation:

The Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee on February 2, 1998, recommended to the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report dated January 19,1998, from Mr. Jack Becker, Chair, Network Planning Sub-Committee, respecting the F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project.

City Clerk

M. E. Casini/in

Item No. 7

Attachment

(Report dated January 19, 1998, addressed to the

Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee

from the Chair, Network Planning Sub-Committee.)

Purpose:

The F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project will be reviewed by the Urban Environment and Development Committee on Wednesday, February 9, 1998, with deputations being heard at 10:00 a.m. This Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee's support and participation at the Urban Environment and Development Committee's meeting will need to be finalized. The motions contained in this report address this matter and are being put forth for the Committee's consideration.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that the Metropolitan Cycling and Pedestrian Committee recommend to the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and Council, that it support:

(1)the reduction in the number of lanes on the F. G. Gardiner Expressway from the Don River to Leslie Street by bringing the Expressway to ground elevation for this section as:

(i)it is the lowest long-term cost solution to rectifying the deteriorating elevated Expressway;

(ii)ongoing operations and maintenance requirements will be reduced;

(iii)it is in line with the Official Plan to improve the quality of the environment for the City;

(iv)it is in line with the Official Plan's desire to realign the transportation modes usage de-emphasising the use of private motor vehicles;

(v)it supports Canada's commitments at the recent Kyoto resolutions; and

(vi)it better matches forecasted motorized vehicle usage for this road with physical road facilities.

(2)the implementation of the road humanization recommendations developed by the Toronto Transportation Department and its consultants in concert with the F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project Design and Construction Liaison Group, which includes bicycle paths, sidewalks, road art, and green naturalization initiatives which, besides contributing to the improvement of air quality it should also contribute to reduction of the speeding problem that faces the City;

(3)recognizing that this section of the Lakeshore is also a transportation corridor, the extension of the proposed bicycle path:

(a)to the east on the boulevard on the north side of Lakeshore Boulevard to Coxwell Avenue and then on the boulevard on the west or east side of Coxwell Avenue to Eastern Avenue/Queen Street with linkage on Lakeshore Boulevard at Coxwell Avenue to the MartinGoodman Trail on the south side, using an exiting underpass if possible, thereby providing more efficient commuter cycling from the beaches and Scarborough to downtown and also relieving the over-capacity situation on the Martin Goodman Trail both for cyclists and pedestrians; and

(b) to the west connecting to the Don Trail (northbound) and to the existing bicycle path section that continues to Cherry Street and then to Parliament Street (downtown access); and

(4)the improvement of the Cherry Street./Lakeshore Boulevard intersection for pedestrians, cyclists, commercial vehicles and other motorized vehicles, recognizing the difficult lines of vision and other impediments to safe usage of this intersection.

Comments:

Significant progress has been made in the project to date and the Committee's support is needed at this time as the new Council redresses its support for the project.

Recommendations Nos. (3) and (4) were previously presented by this Committee to the former Planning & Transportation Committee and supported by that Committee. The recommendations are being represented in the context of ongoing approval for this project.

Contact Person and Telephone Number :

Jack Becker - (416) 203-1711.