March 17, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject:Narrowing of the pavement on Dundas Square between Yonge Street and Victoria Street - Yonge-Dundas Redevelopment Project (Downtown)

Purpose:

To authorize the narrowing of the existing pavement on Dundas Square between Yonge Street and Victoria Street, in order to provide an improved overall pedestrian environment and enhanced landscaping treatments in conjunction with the Dundas Square open space initiative.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to cover the cost of the pavement narrowing and related streetscape improvement work in the estimated amount of $200,000 are to be accommodated within Urban Planning and Development Services Capital Budget Account No. 216-195, the Yonge-Dundas Redevelopment Project Capital Account No. 216-692, and the Toronto Parking Authority Reserve Fund.

Recommendations:

1.That approval be given to narrow the pavement on Dundas Square, described as follows:

"the narrowing of the pavement on DUNDAS SQUARE from a width of 11.0 metres to a width of 6.1 metres between Yonge Street and a point 60.5 metres east thereof, and a width ranging from 6.1 to 10.0 metres from a point 60.5 metres east of Yonge Street to Victoria Street, as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5348, dated March 1999";

2. That one-way eastbound traffic operation be implemented on Dundas Square between Yonge Street and a point 60.5 metres east thereof, and Schedule 1 of Chapter 400 of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code be amended accordingly as indicated in Appendix A of this report;

3. That the parking regulation amendments to Schedules 23, 25 and 30 of Chapter 400 of the former City of Toronto Municipal Code indicated in Appendix A of this report be approved; and

4.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:

Dundas Square is a two-way local street extending from Yonge Street to Dundas Street East, abutting the south side of the site of the Dundas Square open space initiative (bounded by Yonge Street, Dundas Street East, Victoria Street and Dundas Square). The existing pavement has a width of about 11.0 m within a right-of-way of 20.1 m. There are concrete sidewalks/paved brick boulevards with a combined width of 4 metres and 5 metres on the north and south sides of the street respectively. Metered parking (1 hour, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday) is permitted on the south side of the street.

The Dundas Square project was awarded through a design competition process in December 1998. The project consists of an underground parking facility to be operated by the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA), and a public square above the garage. A vehicular entrance/exit for the garage is proposed on Dundas Square roughly 15 m west of the Dundas Square/Victoria Street intersection.

Preliminary conceptual plans for the square provide for a number of paving and landscaping elements that will extend into the abutting rights-of-way to increase the open space and draw attention to the square. One of the key elements is the proposed edge treatment along the north side of Dundas Square. This treatment includes the provision of stairs adjacent to the sidewalk and a planting bed for trees immediately north of the stairs. The narrowing of the roadway and south boulevard on Dundas Square is recommended to ensure that the planting bed and trees are outside of the limits of the underground parking garage structure, thereby ensuring the viability of this feature of the square. Another benefit of the roadway narrowing is that it will create a more pedestrian friendly environment overall.

The proposed narrowing of Dundas Square is shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5348, dated March 1999. It is recommended that the pavement be narrowed from 11.0 m to 6.1 m between Yonge Street and the entrance/exit to the parking garage, and this segment of the street be designated one-way eastbound. The remaining section of the road between the parking entrance/exit and Victoria Street would remain two-way, and it is recommended that this section be narrowed from 11.0 m to 10 m. O'Keefe Lane between Shuter Street and Dundas Square would remain one-way northbound. Lastly, the boulevard/sidewalk on the south side of Dundas Square would be narrowed from 5.0 m to 4.0 m.

The narrowing of Dundas Square and conversion of a portion of the road to one-way eastbound is feasible given the relatively low traffic volumes and predominant eastbound traffic flow. Maintaining two-way traffic operations at the eastern end of the block is required to accommodate the future parking garage traffic.

In light of the changing nature of the street and the future availability of the new underground parking facility, it is also recommended that parking be prohibited along the full extent of Dundas Square and the existing parking meters on the south side be removed accordingly.

The project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environment Assessment for Municipal Road Projects.

The narrowing of the pavement on Dundas Square constitutes an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Nigel Tahair

392-7711

Director

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APPENDIX A

Traffic and Parking Regulation Amendments

to be Implemented in Conjunction with the

Proposed Narrowing of Dundas Square

Between Yonge Street and Victoria Street

1.Add the following:

§ 400-54. Schedule I: One-Way Highways

2.Add the following:

§ 400-76. Schedule XXIII: No Parking Certain Times

3.Delete the following:

§ 400-78. Schedule XXV: Time Limit Parking

4.Delete the following:

§ 400-83. Schedule XXX: Parking Meters