TTC Streetcar Platforms on

Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road;

and Construction of Waterfront Drive.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (May 25, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation:

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to obtain Council authority to construct TTC streetcar platforms on Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road and to advertise the necessary construction by-law for the streetcar platforms and for Waterfront Drive.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The cost for the construction of TTC streetcar platforms is estimated to be in the order of $185,000.00 and will be paid for by the Toronto Transit Commission.

The total estimated cost for the construction of Waterfront Drive is $4,432,000.00 of which $1,535,000.00 is to be financed through the Canada/Ontario Infrastructure Works Programme and the remaining $2,897,000.00 has been financed by the former City of Etobicoke through Order No. 10010.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval be given to proceed with the construction of TTC streetcar platforms on the west leg of the Lake Shore Boulevard West/Park Lawn Road intersection; and

(2)the introduction of any necessary Bills be authorized.

Background:

This report deals with two separate but related projects which both affect the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road/Waterfront Drive.

TTC Streetcar Platforms on Lake Shore Boulevard West.

(i)In 1997, at the request of the Toronto Transit Commission staff, Transportation staff assessed the feasibility of constructing streetcar platforms on Lake Shore Boulevard West between Louisa Street and the Humber Loop. By adoption of Clause No.17 of Report No. 29 of The Planning and Transportation Committee, the former Metropolitan Toronto Council approved the construction of TTC streetcar platforms on Lake Shore Boulevard West at Louisa Street, at Legion Road, opposite Christie Brown & Company and opposite 2201 Lake Shore Boulevard West. The platforms were constructed in 1997.

Platforms at Park Lawn Road were not constructed at that time because design and property acquisition issues could not be resolved in time for the 1997 construction season. The design issues have now been resolved and it is proposed to construct a farside westbound platform and a nearside eastbound platform on Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road.

(ii)Waterfront Drive:

Waterfront Drive is a new road which will form the south leg of the Lake Shore Boulevard West/Park Lawn Road intersection and bends to the east running parallel to Lake Ontario, towards Palace Pier Court. The road is required to service the Humber Bay Shores Development (the motel strip). The former City of Etobicoke enacted By-law number 1997-203 to authorize the construction of Waterfront Drive and the associated services. Construction has commenced on the installation of services and road construction is currently scheduled to begin in July 1998.

Scope of Work:

The intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Park Lawn Road is configured with three eastbound lanes, two westbound lanes, and two southbound lanes one of which is a left-turn lane and the other operates as a shared left, through and right-turn lane. Since the southbound lanes operate as double left-turn lanes during peak periods, pedestrian crossing is currently prohibited on the east leg of the intersection.

As a result of the unique operations of this intersection, TTC and City staff have agreed to locate both streetcar platforms on the west side of the Park Lawn Road intersection. The construction of the westbound farside platform will require enlarging the northwest corner radius in order to accommodate southbound right turns by trucks. The platform will also be constructed 12 metres longer than a typical platform in order to accommodate storage for two vehicles behind a stopped streetcar, in the event they follow the streetcar through the intersection as the signals change. This will help to ensure the intersection is not obstructed by vehicles trapped behind a streetcar when it stops to load and unload passengers.

In order to maintain an acceptable level traffic of service, a minor widening of the south side of Lake Shore Boulevard West is required in order to maintain three lanes of traffic in the eastbound direction.

In addition to the provision of the streetcar platforms, the Works and Emergency Services Department will be constructing Waterfront Drive as a four lane divided road which will form the south leg of the Park Lawn Road intersection.

To construct these improvements the following work will be undertaken:

(a)removal and reconstruction of the northwest corner curb, gutter and sidewalk at the Lake Shore Boulevard West and Park Lawn Road intersection;

(b)construction of concrete curb and gutter;

(c)construction of concrete TTC streetcar platforms;

(d)construction of a concrete sidewalk;

(e)construction of asphalt pavement; and

(f)alterations to existing traffic control devices.

Construction on Waterfront Drive is scheduled to commence in July 1998 and the TTC streetcar platforms are schedule to be tendered in August with construction commencing in September, 1998.

Pedestrian and Cycling Issues:

A bicycle lane exists east and west of this location but cannot be provided at the intersection of Lake Shore Boulevard and Park Lawn Road because of the constrained right-of-way. While we typically avoid large radii, the radius on the northwest corner of Park Lawn Road needs to be increased in order to allow longer vehicles to make a right turn without encroaching into the proposed TTC platform.

Conclusions:

The construction of TTC streetcar platforms on Lake Shore Boulevard West at Park Lawn Road is being funded by the TTC and will improve safety for transit passengers by providing a refuge area for them. The proposed streetcar platforms at the Park Lawn Road location are the final component of a project initiated in 1997.

The Works and Emergency Services Department will be constructing Waterfront Drive and related services as approved by the former Etobicoke Council at their meeting held on October 6, 1997. The reconfiguration of the south leg of the Lake Shore Boulevard West/Park Lawn Road intersection will be include in this work.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Ms. K.P. Llewellyn-Thomas, Manager, Project Planning and Design, 392-8590.

(A copy of the location plans, which were appended to the foregoing report, has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the June 15 and 16, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)