Narrowing of the Pavement on Dundas Square
between Yonge Street and Victoria Street - Yonge-Dundas
Redevelopment Project (Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(March 17, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:
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
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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 Street1.Add the following:
§ 400-54. Schedule I: One-Way Highways
Highway |
Time or Between |
Days |
Direction |
Dundas Square |
Yonge Street and a point 60.5
metres east thereof |
Anytime |
From west to east |
2.Add the following:
§ 400-76. Schedule XXIII: No Parking Certain Times
Highway |
Side |
Between |
Prohibited Times
or Days |
Dundas Square |
South |
Yonge Street and Victoria Street |
Anytime |
3.Delete the following:
§ 400-78. Schedule XXV: Time Limit Parking
Highway |
Side |
Between |
Time or Days |
Maximum
Period Permitted |
Dundas Square |
South |
Yonge Street and
Victoria Street |
8:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. Mon. to Sat. |
Anytime |
4.Delete the following:
§ 400-83. Schedule XXX: Parking Meters
Highway |
Side |
Between |
Hours (daily except
Sun. & public
holidays) |
Fee; Time Limit |
Maximum
Parking Period |
Dundas
Square |
South |
Yonge
Street and
Victoria
Street |
8:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. Mon. to Sat. |
$0.25 for 15 mins.
$1.00 for 60 mins. |
60 mins. |