December 8, 1998

To:Budget Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:F.G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project

Recommendation:

The Urban Environment and Development Committee on November 30, 1998 and December1, 1998, having recommended to the Budget Committee that:

(1)the F.G. Gardiner Expressway Dismantling Project be deferred until mid-1999;

(2)the following joint report (November 23, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director, City Planning and the Medical Officer of Health be adopted, subject to:

(i)Recommendation No. (4) being amended to read as follows:

"(4)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services, in consultation with the Medical Officer of Health and the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, develop and conduct an ambient air quality monitoring program, to include any mitigation strategies, for the area bounded by Queen Street West, the DonRoadway, Commissioners Street and Leslie Street, and report thereon to the Urban Environment and Development Committee no later than May 1999";

(ii)Recommendation No. (5) being amended to read as follows:

"(5)the 1999 Transportation Capital Works Program submission for the F.G. Gardiner Expressway (Don Valley Parkway to Leslie Street), (C-TR-026), be revised from $13.32 million to $3.0 million; and that of the approximate $10.3 million deferred, $4 million be for previously cut programs such as bicycle lanes, traffic calming; $3.9million for Dufferin Street Jog Elimination Program; $600,000.00 for bicycle lane improvements (to be identified by staff); $500,000.00 for Infiltration Barriers within the Gardiner dismantling program; $500,000.00 for Long Branch Main Station; $450,000.00 for the Enhanced SCOOT program; and $350,000.00 for Urban Design throughout the City";

and further reports having requested:

(a)the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services:

(i)to report to City Council through the Urban Environment and Development Committee, before May 1999, with a detailed plan for the prevention of traffic infiltration in residential neighbourhoods during construction as a result of either dismantling or rehabilitation of the Gardiner Expressway East, and a second detailed plan for the prevention of traffic infiltration in residential neighbourhoods as a result of closures of Lakeshore Boulevard for whatever reason after dismantling of the Gardiner Expressway East, should City Council decide to proceed;

(ii)provide a consolidated report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee addressing all relevant issues, i.e., traffic studies, impact on neighbourhoods, including the communities from Leslie Street to CoxwellAvenue, the feasibility of a light rail system or street car route along the Lakeshore; and further that the Chair of Committee ensure that Toronto Transit Commission staff are involved in discussions respecting the design and right-of-ways in this regard; and

(iii)develop a noise mitigation and monitoring protocol in partnership with the Film Industry representatives, and report thereon to the Urban Environment and Development Committee; and further that the Film Office consult with the film industry to develop and implement a public relations plan; and

(b)the Toronto Transit Commission to participate in the planning process relating to the F.G. Gardiner Expressway dismantling project to ensure appropriate measures are taken to facilitate the future introduction of mass transit on the Lakeshore, and the rerouting of express buses off Eastern Avenue and onto Lakeshore Boulevard; and

(c)Mayor Mel Lastman to meet with the Film Studio representatives to tour the facilities:

Background:

(i)(November 23, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, the Executive Director and Chief Planner, City Planning, and the Medical Officer of Health proposing the deferral of the F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project until mid-1999; and outlining recommendations in regard thereto;

(ii)(July 7, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services recommending that the F.G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project proceed as originally approved by the former Metropolitan Toronto and City of Toronto Councils; providing additional information related to the Dismantling Project as requested by the Urban Environment and Development Committee and City Council; advising that many of the concerns raised about the Gardiner East Dismantling Project have already been addressed through previous planning and design work or can be addressed with appropriate mitigating measures; that those concerns which cannot be addressed relate to a desire to maintain the existing Expressway structure; expressing the opinion that the approved plan for the dismantling of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway East continues to provide the best combination of transportation service, urban character improvements and cost savings over the long term;

(iii)(July 9, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services providing a summary of the differences between the F. G. Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project (the Current Plan) and an alternative plan developed to by-pass the LakeShore Boulevard East and CarlawAvenue intersection (theAlternative Plan); and recommending that this report be received for information;

(iv)(July 13, 1998) from Councillors Sandra Bussin and Tom Jakobek, East Toronto, requesting that the Urban Environment and Development Committee support and recommend to City Council the "Alternative Plan" for the dismantling of the F.G.Gardiner Expressway East and the renovation of Lake Shore Boulevard East; expressing the belief that the "Alternative Plan" will better accommodate the transportation needs of their constituents while, at the same time, improving accessibility to the harbour lands; that the "Alternative Plan" will also achieve the very desirable objective of refurbishing the streetscape and the environment along the LakeShore corridor in this area; and further recommending that staff be requested to meet with the area studio and other business property owners to seek their input on the "Alternative Plan";

(v)(June 18, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lakeshore Corridor, inter alia, reaffirmed that it prefers the option selected as part of the environmental assessment process with the ramps coming down at Bouchette Street;

(vi)(November 24, 1998) from the City Clerk advising that the Task Force on the Gardiner/Lake Shore Corridor on November16, 1998, requested Urban Planning and Development Services staff to continue investigating and resolving problems related to the Gardiner Expressway East Dismantling Project, and suggested that ancillary improvements such as bicycle lanes and pedestrian improvement projects be proceeded with where possible to enhance the LakeShore Corridor;

(vii)(June 8, 1998) from the Chair, South East Toronto Industrial Advisory Committee, advising that the City of Toronto's South East Toronto Industrial Advisory Committee on May26, 1998, discussed issues respecting the Gardiner East Dismantling Project, had before it in regard thereto;

(viii)(October 27, 1998) from Mr. James Alcock, Chair, Citizens for the Retention of the East Gardiner Expressway (CREGE), advising that the CREGE remains committed to its opposition to the demolition of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway; however, the group has had an opportunity to review the existing plans and has decided that although it prefers the ramps east of LeslieStreet, it is willing to compromise in order to bring this issue to an end; stating that the CREGE would like to see an end to this issue with some type of recommendation made to City Council in December 1998; and urging the Urban Environment and Development Committee to recommend that the Alternative Plan, with the ramps east of Carlaw Avenue, be adopted;

(ix)(November 25, 1998) from Mr. James Alcock, Chairman, Citizens for the Retention of the East Gardiner Expressway (CREGE), advising that CREGE remains adamantly opposed to the demolition of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway; that there is now enough evidence to cancel this project; urging the Urban Environment and Development Committee to recommend to City Council that no further deferrals or delays be imposed; that the Expressway structure be completely rehabilitated and that new double ramps be placed over the Leslie Street intersection, that the urban design improvements be carried out alongside the cleaned-up Gardiner Expressway;

(x)(November 24, 1998) from the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer recommending that should Council decide to proceed with the extension of the F.G. Gardiner Expressway over Leslie Street, the additional funding will need to be included in the Transportation Division's 2000-2004 Capital Works Program;

(xi)(November 29, 1998) from Mr. Eric Cages, Toronto, in opposition to the dismantling of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway, and noting the high volumes of traffic in this area;

(xii)(November 29, 1998) from Mr. D. Clouthier, Toronto, advising that any decision with respect to the Gardiner Expressway should made carefully, once more information is available on the impacts which would result from the dismantling;

(xiii)(November 27, 1998) from Ms. D. Paradis, Toronto, in opposition to the dismantling of any portion of the Gardiner Expressway as it will result in increased traffic congestion in this area, and expressing concern for the safety of the many children who walk to the schools in this area;

(xiv)(December 1, 1998) from Mr. D. Z. Yazici, President, D.Z.Y. Drafting & Design Services, Toronto, stating that any demolition and reconfiguration of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway will result in devastating consequences to area business and will cause traffic problems; and expressing support for a one month trial closure of the east expressway;

(xv)(December 1, 1998) from Mr. W. Walker, Transport 2000 Ontario, recommending that a larger overview of the future land uses in the area presently transversed by the easterly extension of the Gardiner Expressway be undertaken prior to any conclusions leading to more detailed design of future transportation facilities, and supporting the community improvement plan and air quality monitoring program which are proposed in current staff reports;

(xvi)(December 1, 1998) from Ms. Karen Buck, Toronto, expressing opposition to the complete dismantling of the Gardiner Expressway extension into Toronto's east-end, and in support of experiments with closures and re-routings in order to determine possible solutions;

(xvii)(undated) from Mr. R. Chandler, Toronto, expressing opposition to the dismantling of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway, and outlining concerns with respect to the increased air and noise pollution which would result;

(xviii)(undated) from Mrs. K. Chandler, Toronto, expressing concern with respect to the negative impact on air quality which would result from the dismantling of the eastern portion of the Gardiner Expressway; and

(xix)(December 1, 1998) from Mr. Bruce H. Bryer, Secretary, Citizens for the Retention and Extension of the East Gardiner Expressway (CREGE), advising unanimously oppose the demolition of the Eastern F.G. Gardiner Expressway; and outlining concerns with respect to the increased air and noise pollution which would result.

(xx)(December 1, 1998) from Mr. David Crombie, Chair, Waterfront Regeneration Trust, expressing support based on their position that the Gardiner East Dismantling Project offers the potential for the City to achieve several important objectives.

The following persons appeared before the Urban Environment and Development Committee in connection with this matter:

-Ms. Elizabeth Borek, Lakeside Area Neighbourhoods Association; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. Jim Egan, Toronto;

-Mr. Peter Lukas, Showline Limited; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. Ken Ferguson, Vice-President, Toronto Film Studios; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. Michael Hough, Toronto; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. Robert Wright, Associate Dean, University of Toronto;

- Mr. James Alcock, Chairman, Citizens for the Retention of the Gardiner Expressway;

-Mr. Kevin Walters, Toronto;

-Ms. Linda Lynch, Environment Watch Inc.; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. Peter Smith, Toronto; and also filed a written submission;

-Mr. David Hanna, Toronto; and

-Mr. David Leonhardt, C.A.A., Ontario;

-Councillor S. Bussin, East Toronto; and

-Councillor T. Jakobek, East Toronto.

City Clerk

B. Henderson/lv

Attachment

Item No. 5

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