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June 16, 1999

To:Planning and Transportation Committee

From:Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services

Subject:Update on the Status of Spadina Streetscape Design

Purpose:

To respond to Urban Environment and Development Committee recommendation No 4 ( Report No. 5) as adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto at its meeting held on April 13, 14 and 15, 1999, which reads as follows:

"A staff working group be established, led by the Chief Planner, to consider:

(a)design issues;

(b)bicycle lanes;

(c)TTC needs;

(d)cost requirements options;

(e)what can be achieved in the short term;

and that this working group report to the July 1999 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee."

Source of Funds:

A request for funds for further streetscape improvements associated with modifications to existing barriers adjacent to the TTC right-of-way along the '501 route' on Spadina Avenue will be reported separately as part of the regular budget process.

Recommendations:

That this report be received for information.

Background:

For background information, the report from the Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services of March 29, 1999 is attached.

Comments:

In response to Council's request, a staff working group led by the Chief Planner consisting of representatives of Urban Planning and Development Services, Works and Emergency Services and the TTC has been established. This group reviewed the status of the specific issues raised, and reports as follows:

(a)Design Issues

The major design issue concerns the appearance of the bollards that were installed as a temporary barrier along Spadina Avenue over the past year to prevent vehicular turns across the TTC tracks. Approximately one year ago the TTC also retained services of a landscape architectural consultant to investigate different design solutions for permanent barriers on Spadina Avenue. That work showed some interesting solutions, mainly focussing on raised medians, instead of directly buried bollards where the space permits. This design direction should be further developed and evaluated from technical, operational, urban design and a community's point of view.

(b)Bicycle Lane Issues

Works and Emergency Services will be testing an edge line treatment this summer to address the issue of improved cycling safety on Spadina Avenue. The evaluation of this test section will assess the effectiveness of providing an edge line at 0.9 metres from the curb and, if effective, be extended along the entire length of Spadina Avenue. Works and Emergency Services does not anticipate that either the curb or median will need to be modified in order to enhance cycling conditions.

(c)TTC Needs

The TTC representative on the working group advised that, with the exception of the Baldwin Street intersection where further study is required, the TTC's safety concerns have been alleviated as a result of the installation of bollards along both sides of the streetcar right-of-way.

(d)Cost Requirement Options

Although the landscape architect retained by the TTC identified possible design concepts for incorporation into the Spadina Streetscape improvements, the concepts were preliminary and can not be used to develop accurate construction cost estimates. The development of a detailed cost estimate will require that additional work be carried out, to take into consideration the specific functional requirements and the space restrictions which exist within the area of the proposed improvements. In addition, the adoption of an ultimate Streetscape proposal will be subject to input received from the public consultation process.

It is not possible to identify cost options without developing a range of design options which can be priced. Despite the fact that the design work completed to date is inadequate for developing a detailed cost estimate, the Technical Services Division anticipates that Streetscaping improvements meeting the functional design requirements of both TTC and the City could be implemented for the $1-1.5 million previously estimated by the TTC.

(e)What can be achieved in the short term

It was concluded that the most expedient way to proceed with the next stage of design development will be to extend the services of the TTC's consultant, who has completed a significant portion of preliminary work already. This would allow the City's departments and the public to comment on this design direction.

Once a more detailed cost estimate is developed the funding could be secured through a special authorization in 1999, or it could be included in the 2000 capital budget request.

Conclusion:

This report provides the information on the issues that the staff working group was requested to address. It is important, however, to emphasize the serious functional limitations which will constrain the amount of urban design and landscape enhancement that can be achieved. In most areas of the street, the extent of pedestrian amenity and greening cannot be increased within the present roadway configuration.

Contact Name:

Alka Lukatela

Program Coordinator

Civic Improvement, Urban Design

Tel: 416-392-1131

Fax: 416-392-1744

Email: alukatel@toronto.ca

Reviewed by:

Paul J. BedfordVirginia M. West

Executive Director and Chief PlannerCommissioner of

City Planning DivisionUrban Planning and Development Services

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