October 26, 1999
To: Toronto Community Council
From: Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1
Subject: York Street Viaduct, west side - Proposed southbound bicycle/pedestrian path
(Downtown)
Purpose:
To establish a shared path for the use of cyclists and pedestrians through the west side of the York Street Viaduct, located
between Front Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The implementation cost of proposal is approximately $5,000.00, funds for which are available in the Transportation
Services 1999 Operating Budget.
Recommendations:
(1) That the westerly most sidewalk on York Street, within the York Street Viaduct, be designated as a bicycle path, for the
exclusive use of southbound cyclists, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. on one day to 2:00 a.m. the next following day, daily;
(2) That the westerly most sidewalk on York Street, within the York Street Viaduct, be designated as a shared bicycle path
(for southbound cyclists)/foot path, between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., daily; and
(3) That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing,
including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.
Background:
The Gardiner/Lake Shore Task Force, at its meeting of August 14, 1996, requested appropriate City staff to report on a
review of options to accommodate southbound bicycle flow on the west sidewalk of the York Street viaduct between Front
Street West and Lake Shore Boulevard. This request was made in recognition of work underway at that time to upgrade
and re-instate the "West Teamway", a previously closed corridor located adjacent and to parallel the existing west
sidewalk, for exclusive pedestrian use. The reopening of certain Teamways in and around Union Station is a component of
the Union Station Masterplan, and is contained in agreements made in the mid 1990's between the former City of Toronto
and Marathon Realty, respecting the redevelopment of the Railway Lands.
Comments:
Transportation Services' staff reviewed a number of options put forward by the Gardiner/Lake Shore Task Force respecting
the feasibility of implementing a bicycle path by making use of the sidewalk and the York Street Teamway, in order to
physically separate bicycle traffic from motor vehicle traffic under the York Street Viaduct. The Teamway is situated
immediately to the west of the sidewalk on the west side of the York Street Underpass.
The Task Force was interested in determining the feasibility of providing a southbound bicycle facility on the west
sidewalk within the York Street viaduct for two reasons: firstly, because the existing width within the viaduct, which is
essentially fixed by centre piers and support columns, is insufficient to accommodate a bicycle facility on the roadway; and
secondly, because pedestrians will, for the most part, be able to use the West Teamway as a substitute for the west
sidewalk. It is important to note that the Teamway is open for only 20 hours each day, consistent with the operating hours
of the TTC subway and Union Station, and that it is closed during the period of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., daily. As a result,
pedestrians who might otherwise use the West Teamway during these times, must be accommodated on the west sidewalk.
Staff reviewed the feasibility of implementing a bicycle lane on the roadway portion of the York Street viaduct. However,
as the roadway width for southbound traffic under the viaduct is only 6.8 m, there is insufficient road space to maintain two
lanes of traffic and a bicycle lane. The implementation of an on-street bicycle lane would therefore necessitate the removal
of one lane of traffic. As traffic operation within the underpass is currently at capacity during the peak periods, it is neither
feasible nor recommended that this approach be taken.
Accordingly, staff would concur with the preferred option of the Gardiner/Lake Shore Task Force. Specifically, this would
involve allowing southbound bicycles on the west sidewalk and pedestrians in the West Teamway for twenty hours of the
day (i.e. a part-time bicycle lane situated on the west sidewalk), and permit shared pedestrian and bicycle traffic on the
west sidewalk during the period of 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily, when the Teamway is closed. It should be noted that the
west sidewalk is only 2.45 m wide, and does not permit delineation of separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
Nevertheless, it is anticipated that volumes of both users are likely to be quite small during these hours and could be
accommodated as long as caution is exercised. Cyclists, of course, may also elect to remain on the road at these times given
that traffic volumes are relatively light compared to daytime conditions.
The City Solicitor was previously consulted with respect to this issue and by letter dated February 3, 1997, advised, in part,
the following:
While allowing pedestrians and bicycles to share the path during this period (2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.) does arguably raise
the risk of collisions resulting in damage or injury, the reduced amount of traffic during these hours combined with
sufficient warning signs would, in my opinion, reduce any potential liability to an acceptable level. Care should be taken
to ensure that warning signs are posted and that the sidewalk is well lighted so as to provide maximum visibility for
bicyclists and pedestrians.
I advise for your Council's information that shared use of sidewalk space by cyclists and pedestrians had at one time been
implemented in the former City of Toronto, in response to a similar situation of there being insufficient road space through
an underpass to accommodate cyclists on the roadway, while maintaining two lanes of traffic for each direction. This
involved allowing cyclists to share the sidewalk space on both sides of the Davenport Road Underpass, under the CPR
tracks, located between Dupont Street and MacPherson Avenue, which was authorised by By-law No. 411-75, enacted by
the Council of the former City of Toronto on October 15, 1975. This arrangement was in effect for nearly 20 years until a
variety of traffic operations changes in the area freed up capacity for an on-street bicycle lane.
Staff will ensure that lighting levels, pavement markings and appropriate signage are provided to ensure that cyclists are
aware of where they may travel and to provide for the safe separation of cyclists and pedestrians. Curb cuts will be installed
immediately to the north and to the south of the viaduct to assist cyclists in making the transition from travelling on the
roadway to the west sidewalk and thence back to the roadway once they have travelled through the underpass.
It is noted that the construction work within the underpass is not yet completed and that at this time, the westerly sidewalk
is barricaded at the south end of the viaduct, rendering the sidewalk impassable. Accordingly, installation of this proposal
will not commence until such time as the construction work has been completed.
Conclusion:
With the opening of the York West Teamway which accommodates pedestrian travel through the York Street Viaduct
twenty hours per day, it is feasible to allow cyclists to use the west sidewalk in order to enhance their safety.
Contact:
Stephen Benjamin, Manager of Traffic Operations, District 1 (Central)
Telephone: (416) 392-7773; Fax: (416) 392-0816; E-mail: sbenjami@toronto.ca
Director.
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