Item - 2024.TE10.24

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the closure of the north side westbound bicycle lane, the north side westbound traffic lane, a 1.5 metre wide portion of the eastbound left-turn traffic lane, and the south side eastbound bicycle lane on Bloor Street West, between a point 4.8 metres west of Dufferin Street and a point 58 metres further west and provisions of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the vehicle traffic lane, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive to accommodate construction staging operations.

2. City Council authorize the closure of the west sidewalk, the west side southbound right turn lane, and the east side northbound bus bay on Dufferin Street, between a point 7 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 25 metres further north and provisions of a temporary pedestrian walkway within the closed portion of the southbound vehicle traffic through lane, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive to accommodate construction staging operations.

3. City Council prohibit eastbound left-turns at all times at Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive.

4. City Council rescind the southbound left-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday (buses excepted) at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive.

5. City Council prohibit southbound left-turns from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., except Sunday (buses excepted) at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive.

6. City Council rescind the eastbound left-turn prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except Sunday, at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dovercourt Road, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 inclusive.

7. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect at all times on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

8. City Council rescind the existing stopping prohibition in effect 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

9. City Council rescind the existing parking prohibition in effect 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays, on the west side of Dufferin Street, between a point 91.5 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 53.5 metres further north.

10. City Council prohibit standing at all times on the west side of Dufferin Street, between Bloor Street West and a point 145 metres further north.

11. City Council rescind the existing accessible loading zone regulation in effect at all times, on the north side of Bloor Street West, between a point 5 metres east of Russett Avenue and a point 14 metres further east.

12. City Council designate an accessible loading zone to be in effect at all times on the north side of Bloor Street West between a point 9 metres west of Russett Avenue and a point 14 metres further west.

13. City Council rescind the existing parking machine regulation in effect 7:00 a.m. to   9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday; 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, at a rate of $2.75 for 1 hour and for maximum period of 3 hours, on the north side of Bloor Street West, between Russett Avenue and a point 23 metres further west.

14. City Council direct the applicant to sweep the construction site and adjacent sidewalks and roadways daily, or more frequently as needed to be cleared of any construction debris and made safe.

15. City Council direct the applicant to construct and maintain a fully covered, protected and unobstructed walkway for all pedestrians, including for those with mobility devices, for the entire duration of the construction staging area permit to the satisfaction of the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and ensure it is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

16. City Council direct the applicant to ensure that the existing sidewalks or the proposed pedestrian walkway have proper enhanced lighting to ensure safety and visibility at all times of the day and night.

17. City Council direct the applicant to clearly consult and communicate all construction, parking and road occupancy impacts with local Business Improvement Areas, resident associations, other impacted wards along the Bloor Street bikeway, and updates to wayfinding applications in advance of any physical road modifications.

18. City Council direct the applicant to install appropriate signage and request the applicant to install converging mirrors to ensure that pedestrians, cyclists and motorists safety is considered at all times.

19. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of traffic control persons as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, on a daily basis to control construction vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

20. City Council direct the applicant to provide a sufficient number of pay-duty Police Officers as determined by the Work Zone Coordinator and the Toronto Police Construction Liaison Officer, during large scale concrete pours and large scale material deliveries to control vehicle access and egress to and from the site and maintain a safe environment for the public.

21. City Council direct the applicant to install cane detection within the covered and protected walkway to guide pedestrians who are visually impaired.

22. City Council direct the applicant to post a 24-hour monitored construction hotline number on the hoarding board, which must be prominently placed and legible from 20 metres and on all elevations from the construction site.

23. City Council direct the applicant to provide and install public art, including mural artwork, onto every elevation of the hoarding board with adequate spotlighting for night-time illumination, at their sole cost, to the satisfaction of the Ward Councillor.

24. City Council direct the applicant, in consultation with Transportation Services, to maintain any bicycle lanes, and install appropriate signage to inform drivers and cyclists of any changes to the cycling lanes and to safely share the road.

25. City Council direct the applicant to cooperate with and provide all necessary assistance to the City engineers, staff and representatives carrying out operation, maintenance, and construction activities to municipal infrastructure within the vicinity of the construction staging area, and to remove any staging to accommodate the necessary municipal infrastructure work at no cost to the City.

26. City Council direct that Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West be returned to its pre-construction traffic and parking regulations when the project is complete.

27. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to investigate the feasibility of installing a Leading Bike Interval in the westbound direction on Bloor Street West at Dufferin Street, in order to provide people cycling with an advance head start, allowing them to begin riding before vehicles receive a green signal.

28. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to investigate the feasibility of installing a bike box in the westbound direction on Bloor Street West at Dufferin Street, in order to provide space for people cycling to wait in front of vehicular traffic at a red signal.

29. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to investigate the feasibility of deploying traffic agents at Bloor and Dufferin to ensure the safety of all road users until the intersection is restored to its pre-construction condition, with costs to be borne by the applicant if possible.

30. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to monitor usage of the closed road allowance and report back if reductions to the site footprint can be made that would enable the reinstatement of bikeways through the affected area.

31. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to investigate the feasibility of additional safety measures for people cycling in the eastbound direction on Bloor Street West at Dufferin Street, including but not limited to additional temporary pavement markings, reducing the posted speed limit through the work zone, and other best practices to ensure construction zone safety for vulnerable road users.

32. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to monitor the movements of people cycling around the construction staging area at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street, and provide monthly updates on cyclist safety assessments and photographs of site conditions and traffic controls, to the Ward Councillor to ensure the safety of all road users is not being compromised.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street, City Council approval of this report is required.

Bloor Dufferin Holdings LP and Ontario Holdings Ltd is constructing an underground pedestrian tunnel connecting the existing Dufferin Street TTC station to a proposed 33 storey building, tower C at 980 Dufferin Street. The tunnel will run north to south and will be situated on Bloor Street West, just west of the Dufferin Street and Bloor Street West intersection.

Construction will be undertaken in several phases, with varying degrees of sidewalk and lane closures taking place at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street. This report deals with Stage 1 and 2 scheduled to take place from January 1, 2024 to December 31 2024 inclusive. The overall project is scheduled to last until December 2025. The remaining construction stages will be discussed in a future staff report.

Stage 1 will require a partial closure of the north sidewalk, closure of the north side westbound bicycle lane, north side westbound traffic lane, portion of the eastbound left turn lane, and the south side eastbound bicycle lane on Bloor Street West, between a point 4.8 metres west of Dufferin Street and a point 58 metres further west for a period of 10 months, from February 29, 2024 to December 31, 2024 to accommodate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the north side of Bloor Street West will be maintained in a 2.1 metre wide protected pedestrian walkway along the northern limits of the boulevard on Bloor Street West. On the south side of Bloor Street West pedestrian movements will be maintained in a minimum 2.1 metres wide covered and protected walkway within the existing sidewalk. The bicycle lanes on the north and south side of Bloor Street West will be closed, and signage will be posted in advance of the construction staging area advising bicyclists and motorists that the bike lane ends, and to merge into a single traffic lane in the vicinity of the work zone. Pedestrian movements on the west side of Dufferin Street, abutting the site, will be maintained in a minimum 2.1 metres wide protected walkway.

Stage 2 will require the closure of the west sidewalk, the west side southbound right turn lane, and the east side northbound bus bay on Dufferin Street, between a point 7 metres north of Bloor Street West and a point 25 metres further north for a period of 6 months, from July 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 to accommodate construction staging operations. Pedestrian movements on the west side of Dufferin Street will be accommodated in a 2.1 metre wide protected pedestrian walkway located within the existing southbound traffic lane on Dufferin Street. Pedestrian movements on the east side of Dufferin Street will be maintained.

During Stage 1 and 2 the construction staging areas will result in the loss of one on-street parking machine space on the north side of Bloor Street West just west from Russett Avenue.