Authority to Enter Into a Project Delivery Agreement with Waterfront Toronto for the Construction of Lake Shore Boulevard East, Don River to Carlaw Avenue

The preparation of an operations and maintenance manual for the completed project would also be undertaken by Waterfront Toronto. The Port Lands Flood Protection project will provide permanent flood protection for approximately 290 hectares or 715 acres of land through the creation of a new, naturalized mouth of the Don River and other significant flood protection measures (e.g., river valley, wetlands, natural habitat, sediment management facility and other structures). In addition, the project will deliver the essential municipal services (e.g., roads, bridges, sewers, water supply, etc.) that must be undertaken concurrently with the flood protection works for technical and logistical reasons. Widening the Don River mouth is a key requirement for achieving permanent flood protection in the Lower Don area. As such, the existing Lake Shore Boulevard bridge over the Don River must be lengthened from two bays to four, to accommodate flow discharges during flooding events. Additionally, the Gardiner East EA requires that the Lake Shore Boulevard bridge be widened to at least seven lanes in order to accommodate the expected increase in traffic resulting from the planned removal of the Gardiner's access ramps to Logan Avenue. Furthermore, the existing Lake Shore Boulevard bridge deck and girders are at the end of their service life and need to be replaced and/or extensively refurbished. In June 2020, City Council directed City staff to enter into a Project Delivery Agreement with Waterfront Toronto to undertake detailed design, and to assess the potential advantages of combining relevant aspects of the Port Lands Flood Protection and Gardiner East EAs as a single project. Waterfront Toronto has, accordingly, completed its detailed design and due diligence assignment, and has delivered a cost estimate and a preliminary construction phasing plan. Waterfront Toronto continues to work on a traffic assessment and a traffic mitigation plan, in close consultation with City staff. Based on the results of the design and due diligence work described above, City staff have concluded that a single project approach is the most efficient and practical method for implementing the components of the two EAs that apply to Lake Shore Boulevard East between the Don River and Carlaw Avenue. City staff are recommending that Council authorize staff to enter into a Project Delivery Agreement with Waterfront Toronto for the construction phase of the project. The following is a summary of some of the key advantages of undertaking the work described in this report as a single project: - Potential cost savings through economies of scale and minimization of "throw away" costs, i.e.: eliminate the requirement to provide temporary structural support for the removal of the Gardiner access ramps at Logan Avenue in advance of bridge construction. Waterfront Toronto estimates that these potential savings would be at least $35 million - Reduced construction schedule impacts, with a savings of four years of scheduled construction - Minimization of health and safety risks associated with undertaking heavy bridge work in the significantly confined space under the elevated Gardiner Expressway - A one-time shorter duration disruption to vehicular traffic on Lake Shore Boulevard East, with 25 fewer months of disruption Given the extent of the project scope, significant disruption to vehicular traffic in the area is anticipated. In addition to undertaking the traffic impact assessment noted above, Waterfront Toronto and City staff are in the process of identifying and finalizing mitigation strategies and a new Construction Hub Pilot was proposed for the area as part of the MoveTO Congestion Management Interim Action Plan considered by City Council in October 2020. Details of the proposed mitigation and recommended actions will be subject to public outreach and information sessions in early 2021. In order to ensure permanent flood protection is provided by 2024, construction needs to commence in the third quarter of 2021. Accordingly, a public outreach and information program will be undertaken by Waterfront Toronto in consultation with staff from Transportation Services, Engineering and Construction Services, City Planning and offices of the local area Councillors.

2. City Council direct City staff to continue working in consultation with Waterfront Toronto and the staff of the local Councillors' offices to coordinate and implement a public outreach and information program related to traffic mitigation for the duration of the project.