Amendment to Precinct Agreement -

Railway Lands East (Downtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (December2, 1998) from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services:

Purpose

To seek Council authorization to amend the Revised Precinct B Precinct Agreement for the Railway Lands East to permit a new access/egress stair for GO Transit connecting to the York West Tramway.

Source of Funds

Not applicable.

Recommendation

It is recommended that:

(1)The Revised Precinct B Precinct Agreement for the Railway Lands East be amended to permit a narrowing of the York West Tramway by a maximum of .m. to permit the construction of a GO Transit access/egress stair at the north end of the Tramway.

Comments

Improvements to the York Street Tramway were secured though Precinct Agreements for the Railway Lands and were implemented as part of the Metro Convention Centre expansion. GO Transit is in the process of improving access and egress to the GO tracks at Union Station. One of the improvements will be a direct connection to the north end of the York West Tramway by way of a stair which is shown on Map 1.

Planning staff have reviewed the stair proposal and support it as it:

(1)introduces more pedestrian traffic into the York Street West Tramway which currently has very little pedestrian traffic;

(2)provides another access/egress for GO Transit patrons; and

(3)complements the use of the Tramway and pedestrian circulation in the area.

Section 5.1 (I) of the Revised Precinct B Precinct Agreement states that:

"CN Properties agrees that the Tramways shall have a minimum width of 6 metres and that the Tramways shall be widened at the request of the City to 9 metres upon 2 years written notice to CP Properties..."

The stair structure will restrict the width of the York West Tramway to 5.6 metres in one location only. It will also cover three horseshoes set in the concrete floor of the tramway which are part of a public art installation executed by urban design staff. During the construction period, which is intended to begin in January and last approximately two months, the width of the Tramway at this location will be restricted to 2.6 metres, which can accommodate current pedestrian traffic in the area.

I am therefore recommending that Section 5.1 (I) of the Revised Precinct B Precinct Agreement be amended to permit a maximum .5 metre reduction in the required width of the York Street Tramway in this one location.

Toronto Terminal Railways (TTR) and Canadian Pacific Properties Inc. (CP) are parties to this Precinct Agreement and will be signatories to the above-noted amendment. Planning staff have contacted both TTR and CP who concur with the change.

Contact Name:

Lynda Macdonald

Telephone: 392-7618

Fax: 392-1330

E-Mail: lmacdonl@city.toronto.on.ca

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Railway Lands