Road Improvements Associated with the Proposed TTC Bus Garage

Facility on Comstock Road (Scarborough Bluffs - Ward 13)

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following joint report (March 12, 1999) from the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services and the Chief General Manager of Toronto Transit Commission.

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to comment on the road system improvements necessary to facilitate the operation of a planned new bus garage on Comstock Road in the Golden Mile Employment District.

This report also provides an update on the public consultation process regarding the new bus garage and the outcome of the first public meeting carried out by TTC and City staff, in accordance with the TTC's Communication Plan.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funding sources for all but one of the road improvements needed to facilitate operation of the new bus garage facility have been identified, and these will be shared between the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto (through an existing local area development levy). Due to the accelerated need for required improvements to Comstock Road (i.e., widening and reconstruction) resulting from the bus garage, it is recommended that Comstock Road be improved prior to the bus garage's scheduled opening in 2001; however, the funding mechanism has not yet been determined.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that this report be forwarded to City Council in response to items requested at the July 8, 9, and 10, 1998 Council meeting.

Council Reference:

At its July 8, 9, and 10, 1998 meeting, City of Toronto Council requested TTC and City staff to address several issues related to the construction of a proposed new bus garage facility intended to replace the existing Eglinton and Danforth bus garages.

Among other requests, Council asked that:

"The Commissioner of Works & Emergency Services, in consultation with appropriate staff of the City of Toronto and the Chief General Manager of the Toronto Transit Commission, be requested to submit a further report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee on any necessary improvements to the road system to facilitate the operation of this facility."

The purchase of lands at Comstock Road and Lebovic Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue, located between Pharmacy and Warden Avenues) in the Golden Mile Employment District was subsequently approved by City Council at its July 22, 1998 meeting.

At its November 1998 meeting, the Urban Environment and Development Committee received a report from the Chief Administrative Office and the Chief General Manager of the Toronto Transit Commission regarding a Communication Plan for the new bus garage. According to the Communication Plan, a subsequent information report regarding the outcome of the first public meeting would be provided.

Discussion:

The Toronto Transit Commission retained an outside consultant to undertake a traffic impact study for the new bus garage on Comstock Road. The same consultant had been retained earlier by the City (formerly City of Scarborough) during 1995/96 to prepare the Golden Mile Employment District Transportation Study as part of a Land Use Review, ultimately leading to an Official Plan Amendment (i.e., OPA 965). Through this process, the City was able to identify maximum commercial development levels that could be supported by an improved area road system. Funding for these improvements was secured through a special area levy charged on new commercial developments requiring rezoning approval. With respect to Comstock Road, an additional 7 metres of property was acquired along the north side between Warden Avenue and a point 165 metres east of Pharmacy Avenue; however, funding for constructing the Comstock Road widening itself was not included in the area levy.

The scope of the bus garage traffic impact study consisted of assessing the transportation servicing needs of the bus garage, as well as identifying impacts stemming from the additional vehicular demands placed on the area road system. The report was submitted to City staff in the Urban Planning & Development Services Department and the Works & Emergency Services Department for review. Staff concur with the conclusions presented in the traffic impact study, and share the opinion that traffic impacts associated with the proposed development, in the context of other planned development in the Golden Mile Employment District, could be accommodated by the area road system with certain improvements.

Specifically, the road improvements relate to:

(1)widening and reconstructing Comstock Road between Pharmacy Avenue and Warden Avenue to accommodate four travel lanes plus turning lanes (estimated cost: $1,055,000.00);

(2)extension of the existing southbound right turn lane at Warden Avenue and Comstock Road to accommodate additional bus turning movements (estimated cost: $55,000.00);

(3)installation of traffic signals at the Comstock Road/Lebovic Avenue intersection when traffic signal warrants are satisfied (estimated cost: $80,000.00); and

(4)follow-up monitoring studies after full operation of the bus garage to fine-tune traffic operations (e.g., signal timing/phasing adjustments), remedy any unforeseen geometric difficulties (e.g., turning radius/ turning lane modifications) or address local traffic impacts (e.g., neighbourhood infiltration) (approximate budget: $10,000.00).

These results have been presented to the local community at a public meeting held on November 9, 1998. Costs for Item Nos. (2) and (4) listed above will be borne by the TTC, and funding for Item No. (3) will be provided by the City of Toronto when needed through an area development levy; however, funding for the cost of Item No. (1) has not yet been determined. It could, for example, be included as a proposed item in the Transportation Services Capital Works Programme for year 2000.

These improvements are consistent with planned upgrades to the area road system recommended in the earlier Golden Mile Employment District Transportation Study completed for the City in 1996; however, proposed construction of the bus garage has accelerated their need such that they are recommended to be implemented prior to its opening. Benefits of constructing these road improvements now (i.e., in conjunction with the bus garage) are:

(i)fewer disruptions and adverse impacts for businesses and residents of the area during construction;

(ii)relief to arterial roads (e.g., Eglinton Avenue) and congested intersections in the Golden Mile Employment District; and

(iii)promotion of economic vitality in the area by encouraging other/earlier commercial redevelopment.

With respect to the TTC Communication Plan, a public meeting was held on November 9, 1998 in order to obtain feedback from the local community regarding the bus garage conceptual layout. An invitation was sent out to local residents and businesses by Community Planning staff in the City's Urban Planning & Development Services Department.

Residents expressed concerns over air quality, noise, traffic impact and the type of fencing/barrier along the property. TTC and consultant staff presented results of the traffic impact study. Residents were also informed that air quality and acoustical studies were underway, and results from these studies would be presented at the next public meeting scheduled for May 1999. City staff indicated that the fencing issue would be addressed as part of the Site Plan Control Agreement, which should be finalized before the next public meeting.

Conclusions:

As a result of the new bus garage facility proposed by the TTC for lands between Pharmacy and Warden Avenues on Comstock Road within the Golden Mile Employment District, certain road improvements are required to accommodate the anticipated vehicular demands.

A traffic impact study has been prepared by a qualified consultant retained by the TTC. The study has been submitted to appropriate City staff, and a review of this study confirms that road system improvements are required to facilitate the operation of the proposed bus garage. These road system improvements include: widening and reconstruction of Comstock Road to 4 basic lanes plus turning lanes, extending the southbound right turn lane at Warden Avenue/Comstock Road, installing traffic signals at the Comstock Road/Lebovic Avenue intersection and conducting follow-up traffic monitoring studies.

Further studies are currently underway to address public concerns over air quality and noise. These results, as well as the finalization of fencing/barrier options as part of the Site Plan approval process, will be presented to the local community at the next public meeting.

Contact Names:

Peter J. Noehammer, P.Eng.Thomas G. Middlebrook, P.Eng.

Manager, Traffic Planning/Right-of-Way Mgmt.Chief Engineer

Transportation Services, District 4Engineering Department

Works & Emergency ServicesToronto Transit Commission

Tel: 396-5670fax: 396-5681Tel: 393-4152fax: 397-8193