Missing Link Sidewalk Program - Dwight Avenue Sidewalk Installation

Dwight Avenue is classified as a collector road. City policy calls for sidewalks on both sides of collector roads. In 2016, Transportation Services received a request from the Toronto District School Board to install a sidewalk on the west side of Dwight Avenue adjacent to Second Street Jr. Middle School. A sidewalk on the west side of Dwight Avenue adjacent to the school was programmed for construction in 2021 based on opportunity for the work to bundled with adjacent state-of-good-repair work on Birmingham Street, Murrie Street, and Herman Street. While options to minimize impact on trees were considered as part of the design process, a total of 12 trees need to be removed to construct the sidewalk. In October 2021, City Council directed the General Manager, Transportation Services to halt this project and report back to the December 2, 2021 Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting on the feasibility of narrowing Dwight Avenue to accommodate the proposed new sidewalk and save the existing trees. This report provides information in response to that request. This sidewalk provides an essential missing link in the sidewalk network and is adjacent to a school. Transportation Services recommends proceeding with the sidewalk installation and tree removal based on the current design and enhanced replanting plan that is proposed which includes 17 trees to be replanted in this location to continue growing Toronto's tree canopy.