Mitigating Construction Impacts in the Humewood and Cedarvale Neighbourhoods - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle

Notices had been given out to all residents living on Heathdale Avenue but not to other agencies that operate on the route. After the road was torn up to begin work, Canada Post deemed the road impassible and advised that they would not risk driver safety on the road. Instead of delivering mail directly to addresses, they told residents that they could pick up their mail at Lawrence and Keele (5 kilometres away). In December 2021, notices went out to residents on Glen Cedar between Eglinton Avenue West and Strathearn, as well as to residents on Strathearn between Bathurst and Ava, that road reconstruction would be occurring on both streets and sidewalk reconstruction would be occurring on the north side of Strathearn. No date was given for when the work would start. Construction started in spring of this year on both Glen Cedar and Strathearn and both streets were closed as a result. Due to the lack directional and detour routes it wasn't evident to even local residents how to get in and out of their own neighbourhood. On Strathearn, residents were advised that they would have to move their cars and park elsewhere as they would lose access to their driveways while the sidewalks were reconstructed. Residents moved their cars but quickly found that on several occasions, contractors were parking close to their homes, pushing them to park further away and still getting ticketed. The issues with the closures of Strathearn, and in particular Glen Cedar, were compounded by the construction the Crosstown LRT that has closed off the left turn for cars travelling north on Bathurst and trying to get west on Eglinton toward the Allen. This has pushed all traffic travelling toward the Allen Expressway into the neighbourhood. As Crosslinx/Metrolinx has stated that the left turn lane at Bathurst could not be reopened until late August, we asked that Engineering and Construction Services expedite the work on Glen Cedar so that drivers could have Glen Cedar opened by the end of June. Working with Senior Transportation Services Staff, the contractors opened Glen Cedar by the end of June but the intersection of Ava and still remains incomplete with the final layer of asphalt needed on most of Strathearn. Given the unacceptable impacts the existing City construction protocols have had on the residents of these neighbourhoods, this Motion recommends specific measures to mitigate future construction impacts in the Humewood and Cedarvale neighbourhoods that can be quickly implemented. This motion is urgent due to the ongoing construction in the area.

providing directional and detour signs for the duration of project; and c. coordinating with external parties, such as Canada Post, Metrolinx, and utility companies, who are doing work in the neighbourhood and reviewing work schedules, along with future Requests for Proposals to allow for the necessary agility to halt work as necessary.