August 23, 1999

To:Works Committee

From:Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services

Subject:Proposed Amendments to Traffic and Parking Regulations Required for the Queens Quay West Streetcar Extension

Downtown - Ward 24 and Trinity Niagara - Ward 20

Purpose:

To amend various traffic and parking regulations on Queens Quay West, Bathurst Street and Fleet Street, and to install traffic control signals on Queen Quay West at Lower Portland Street, in order to accommodate the Queens Quay West streetcar extension.

Funding Sources:

Funding for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Queens Quay West and Lower Portland Street, estimated to be $88,000 and for the installation of appropriate signs and pavement markings, estimated to be $10,000, as part of the Queens Quay streetcar extension, is accommodated within the Toronto Transit Commission's project budget.

Recommendations:

In conjunction with the completion of the Queens Quay West streetcar extension it is recommended that:

(1)traffic control signals be installed at the intersection of Queens Quay West and Lower Portland Street;

(2)the traffic regulations listed in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

(3)the traffic regulations listed in Appendix 2 of this report be enacted; and

(4)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 may be required.

Background:

At its meeting of April 13, 14 and 15, 1999 City Council adopted Clause 3 in Report No.5 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee entitled "Queens Quay Streetcar Connection - Modifications to Environmental Assessment". Also, at its meeting of June 9, 10 and 11, 1999 City Council adopted Clause 1 in Report No. 8 of the Urban Environment and Development Committee entitled "Draft By-law for Alteration of Queens Quay West and Bathurst Street". The "509 Harbourfront" streetcar route will operate between Union Station and Exhibition Place commencing July 2000. The extended portion of the route will largely use existing streetcar tracks. However, new streetcar double tracks and loading platforms are currently under construction along Queens Quay West, between Lower Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street, and along Bathurst Street from Queens Quay West to Fleet Street. The length of the new streetcar tracks is approximately 850 metres.

Discussion:

As a result of the extension of the Harbourfront streetcar line from its present terminus at Lower Spadina Avenue to Exhibition Place, new or revised traffic and parking regulations are required to ensure a safe and efficient operation for streetcars and other road users in this area. These measures were contemplated throughout the original studies and analysis undertaken for this project. Each regulation is discussed briefly below:

Reserved Lanes:

The "509 Harbourfront" streetcar extension will operate within its own right-of-way in the middle of the roadway on:

Queens Quay West, between Lower Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street;

Bathurst Street, between Queens Quay West and Lake Shore Boulevard West; and

The eastbound median lane on Fleet Street at Bathurst Street.

The legal designation of this exclusive streetcar right-of-way will provide better delineation for all road users, and will provide optimal efficiency for streetcar operations.

Streetcar Loading Platforms:

To ensure a safe environment for streetcar patrons, loading platforms will be provided at all stops along the new streetcar connection. Therefore, streetcar loading platforms must be designated at the following locations:

North side of Fleet Street, west of Bathurst Street;

South side of Fleet Street, west of Bathurst Street;

East side of Bathurst Street, north of Queens Quay West;

South side of Queens Quay West, east of Bathurst Street;

North side of Queens Quay West, west of Lower Portland Street;

South side of Queens Quay West, east of Lower Portland Street;

North side of Queens Quay West, west of Lower Spadina Avenue; and

South side of Queens Quay West, east of Lower Spadina Avenue.

Proposed Traffic Control Signals at Queens Quay West and Lower Portland Street:

Currently, Lower Portland Street at Queens Quay West forms the north leg of a "T-intersection" and is controlled by a "Stop" sign. This intersection will be signalized with the introduction of the streetcar service, which will proceed east-west through this intersection within its own right-of-way in the middle of the roadway. An exclusive transit-only signal phase, similar to those on Queens Quay West, east of Lower Spadina Avenue, will be provided to streetcars. Traffic control signals at this intersection will provide safe and efficient access across the streetcar right-of-way for pedestrians, cyclists and turning motorists.

Bathurst Street/Fleet Street/Lake Shore Boulevard West Traffic Operations:

Streetcars on the "509 Harbourfront" route will travel through this intersection by completing northbound left turns from Bathurst Street to Fleet Street and eastbound right turns from Fleet Street to Bathurst Street. Currently, these turns are prohibited to all vehicles due to a number of potential vehicular conflicts and the associated safety concerns. However, a transit-only signal phase will be provided to streetcars to safely complete these turns. Therefore, streetcars must be exempted from these turn prohibitions.

Parking and Stopping Regulations:

Currently, parking on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard West and Queens Quay West is prohibited at all times. On the east side of Bathurst Street, parking is prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily, while three-hour parking is permitted at all other times. The new alignment of Bathurst Street will generally consist of one through lane in each direction. Therefore, to ensure that traffic flow is maintained, stopping should be prohibited on both sides of Bathurst Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard West to Queens Quay West.

Furthermore, parking is permitted for a maximum period of one hour between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the north side of Fleet Street, between Bathurst Street and a point 248 metres west thereof. Stopping on this stretch is prohibited between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. At other times parking is permitted for three hours. A streetcar loading platform will be installed on the north side of Fleet Street, just west of Bathurst Street. To provide for a safe merging area for westbound motorists from the curb lane into the median lane past the loading platform, existing parking should be removed and stopping should be prohibited at all times on the north side of Fleet Street, from Bathurst Street to a point 90 metres west thereof.

City Council at its meeting of April 16, 1998, adopted Clause 13 in Report No. 3 of the Toronto Community Council entitled, "Installation of Parking Meters - Queens Quay West, north side, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Portland Street (Downtown)" and in so doing, authorized the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to implement on-street parking meter/loading zone regulations for Premises Nos. 500 and 550 on an interim basis, pending the future construction by the Toronto Transit Commission of the extension of the streetcar line, west from Lower Spadina Avenue.

In this regard, the following was noted in the above Clause:

"For your Council's information, the Queens Quay West LRT line (which currently turns at Lower Spadina Avenue) may be extended further west to the CNE grounds in the near future. In order to accommodate this anticipated extension, it may be necessary at that time to prohibit parking on the north side of Queens Quay West, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Portland Avenue. Since this project has no tentative start date, the installation of parking meters during this interim period is feasible."

Bicycle lanes were also provided on both sides of Queens Quay West between Bathurst Street and Lower Spadina Avenue.

With the construction of the LRT right-of-way, the pavement width is insufficient to support one lane of traffic, a bicycle lane, and parking. As it is desirable to maintain the bicycle lane network, the on-street parking/loading will have to be removed and replaced with a full time stopping prohibition. Our staff as well as Urban Planning and Development Services are working with the stakeholders in the area to establish alternative loading areas.

Conclusion:

New streetcar tracks and loading platforms are being constructed along Queens Quay West, between Lower Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street, and along Bathurst Street from Queens Quay West to Fleet Street. Therefore, revisions to traffic and parking regulations are required to ensure a safe and efficient operation for streetcars and other road users in this area. Also, traffic control signals on Queens Quay West at Lower Portland Street will provide safe access across the streetcar right-of-way for pedestrians, cyclists and turning motorists.

Contact Names:

Jacqueline White, ManagerDanny Budimirovic, Traffic Engineer

Traffic Operations, District 1 - WestTraffic Operations, District 1 - Central

416-397-5021 (phone)416-392-5209 (phone)

416-392-8504 (fax)416-392-8504 (fax)

David C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services

DB/cg

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Appendix 1 - Regulations To Be Rescinded

(1)That the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard West and Queens Quay West, be rescinded.

(2)That the existing parking prohibition in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily on the east side of Bathurst Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard West and Queens Quay West, be rescinded.

(3)That the one hour maximum parking regulation from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily, on the north side of Queens Quay West, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Lower Portland Street, be rescinded.

(4)That the parking meter regulation on the north side of Queens Quay West, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Lower Portland Street operating from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., daily, for a maximum period of one hour at a rate of $1.00 per hour, be rescinded.

(5)That the on-street, curbside loading zones to service Premises Nos. 500 and 550 Queens Quay West, be rescinded.

(6)That the existing bicycle lane adjacent to the curb lane used for parking on the north side of Queens Quay West, from Spadina Avenue to Lower Portland Street, be rescinded.

(7)That the existing bicycle lane adjacent to the curb lane used for parking on the south side of Queens Quay West, from Bathurst Street to Lower Portland Street, be rescinded.

Appendix 2 - Regulations To Be Enacted

(1)That the southerly westbound and northerly eastbound lanes on Queens Quay West, between Lower Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street be designated as reserved lanes for public transit vehicles only.

(2)That the westerly northbound and easterly southbound lanes on Bathurst Street, between Queens Quay West and Lake Shore Boulevard West be designated as reserved lanes for public transit vehicles only.

(3)That the northerly eastbound lane on Fleet Street, between Bathurst Street and a point 30.5 metres west thereof be designated as a reserved lane for public transit vehicles only.

(4)That streetcar loading platforms be designated at the following locations:

.Westbound direction on the north side of Fleet Street, west of Bathurst Street;

.Eastbound direction on the south side of Fleet Street, west of Bathurst Street;

.Northbound direction on the east side of Bathurst Street, north of Queens Quay West;

.Eastbound direction on the south side of Queens Quay West, east of Bathurst Street;

.Westbound direction on the north side of Queens Quay West, west of Lower Portland Street;

.Eastbound direction on the south side of Queens Quay West, east of Lower Portland Street;

.Westbound direction on the north side of Queens Quay West, west of Lower Spadina Avenue; and

.Eastbound direction on the south side of Queens Quay West, east of Lower Spadina Avenue.

(5)That streetcars be exempted from the northbound left-turn prohibition from Bathurst Street to Fleet Street.

(6)That streetcars be exempted from the eastbound right-turn prohibition from Fleet Street to Bathurst Street.

(7)That stopping be prohibited at all times on both sides of Bathurst Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard West and Queens Quay West.

(8)That stopping be prohibited at all times on the north side of Fleet Street, from Bathurst Street to a point 90 metres west thereof.

(9)That the existing one-hour parking in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the north side of Fleet Street, from Bathurst Street to a point 284 metres west thereof be amended to be in effect from a point 90 metres west of Bathurst Street to a point 194 metres further west thereof.

(10)That stopping be prohibited at all times on both sides of Queens Quay West, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Bathurst Street.

(11)That a bicycle lane be designated adjacent to the curb on the north side of Queens Quay West, from Lower Spadina Avenue to Lower Portland Street.

(12)That a bicycle lane be designated adjacent to the curb on the south side of Queens Quay West, from Bathurst Street to Lower Portland Street.