June 2, 1999
To:Economic Development and Parks Committee
Planning and Transportation Committee
From:Joe Halstead, Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Subject:Etobicoke Creek Bicycle/Pedestrian Path, Waterfront to Eglinton Avenue (Ward 3 - Lakeshore - Queensway and
Ward 4 - Markland - Centennial)
Purpose:
To provide information on planning for proposed trail extensions in the Etobicoke Creek between the Waterfront and
Eglinton Avenue West.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that:
- this report be received for information.
Background:
At its meeting on October 1 and 2, 1998, City Council adopted Clause 9 of Report 11 of the Urban Environment and
Development Committee, headed "Proposal for a Joint City of Toronto/City of Mississauga Project for a
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path from the Waterfront to Eglinton Avenue West", which recommended, among other things, that the
Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism be requested to submit a report on:
"(a)the action required to implement the proposed joint bicycle/pedestrian path as quickly as possible; and
(b) the design guidelines for the proposed path prior to its construction, in order to ensure that all environmentally
sensitive areas are avoided."
Discussion:
At present, the pedestrian/cycling path in the Etobicoke Creek runs from the Lake Ontario Waterfront to just south of the
Queen Elizabeth Way. There are also sections of trail along the Renforth Creek, a tributary of the Etobicoke Creek,
between Neilson Park and Centennial Park. There are several gaps which need to be closed to achieve a more-or-less
continuous pedestrian/cycling path between the waterfront and Eglinton Avenue.
In recent years, trail extensions and improvements have been the subject of study by our department. The City of
Mississauga has also expressed an interest in a trail along the Etobicoke Creek, as it is identified in their Official Plan and
their Bicycle and Pedestrian Route Study.
Both the Toronto City Cycling Committee and the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee support trail extensions and
improvements to existing trails in the Etobicoke Creek.
At present, the 1999-2003 Parks Capital Program includes a project for extending the trail based on routing options
identified in late 1994. The project included in the 2000-2003 Capital Works Program is for $1,300,000, with a cash flow
of $500,000 in each of years 2000 and 2001 and $300,000 in the year 2002.
Part of our department's work program for 1999 is to participate with the City of Mississauga in a joint study to develop a
more detailed evaluation of trail routes, phasing, etc. This study will provide the opportunity to evaluate more recent
suggestions for the trail and address potential cost-sharing arrangements between Toronto and Mississauga.
While it is anticipated that the City of Mississauga would be interested in studying sections of the Etobicoke Creek north of
Eglinton Avenue, the area south of Eglinton Avenue is appropriate for a joint update study.
The update study will also allow for an evaluation of the potential trail and access benefits that might derive from the
Region of Peel's proposed trunk sewer project that appears to involve sections of the Etobicoke Creek. Peel Region has
recently completed an Environmental Study Report for a Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan which includes the
twinning of a trunk sewer in the Etobicoke Creek corridor. The construction of the proposed trunk sewer in or near the
valley may provide the opportunity for site access and restoration work to include construction of sections of the proposed
trail. This possibly could help reduce the cost of trail development and help minimize disturbance due to separate
construction efforts.
As indicated, the Region of Peel has only recently completed the Environmental Study Report for the Water and
Wastewater Servicing Master Plan. It is, however, anticipated that opportunities for coordinating trail work with the
proposed trunk sewer can be identified and evaluated in a preliminary manner for certain key sections (e.g. north of Dundas
Street).
With respect to design guidelines for the proposed path and the avoidance of environmentally sensitive areas, information
on the valley's natural features will be reviewed as part of the update study. This will include key historic reports on the
Etobicoke Valley as well as information available in the Region of Peel's environmental assessment document and work
done by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority or the Etobicoke Creek Watershed.
The update study will allow both the City of Mississauga and the City of Toronto to identify mutual interests and potential
cost sharing for the trail between the Waterfront and Eglinton Avenue. While the implementation of the trail will depend
very much on available funding, the opportunity for coordinating trail work with proposed sewer works may have an
influence on the project.
Conclusion:
An update study on extending the Etobicoke Creek bicycle/pedestrian path from the Waterfront to Eglinton Avenue West
will identify mutual interests and potential cost sharing between the City of Mississauga and the City of Toronto.
Opportunities to coordinate this work with other civic infrastructure proposed by the Region of Peel will also be addressed.
It is anticipated the results of the study will be available for consideration as part of the 2000-2004 capital program
submission.
Contact Names:
Frank Kershaw
Director, Policy and Development
392-8199
Brian Rutherford
Manager of Parks and Recreation Planning
392-8179
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
