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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-13-099 - ION Corridor Streetscape Design Priorities REPORT TO: Planning & Strategic InitiativesCommittee DATE OF MEETING: September 30, 2013 SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning PREPARED BY: Janine Oosterveld,Manager, Site Development & Customer Service(519-741-2200ext. 7076) WARD(S) INVOLVED: Wards 3, 9 &10 DATE OF REPORT: September 19,2013 REPORT NO.: CSD-13-099 SUBJECT: ION (RAPID TRANSIT) CORRIDORSTREETSCAPE DESIGNPRIORITIES-ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECOMMENDATION: For information BACKGROUND: This report has been prepared as follow-up to Report CSD-13-093 which made Council aware of on-going discussions between City staff andth streetscape priorities along the ION LRT corridor.The Rapid Transit team has advised that an opportunity exists to incorporate final changes by addendum to the RFP for the Design Build Finance Operate Maintain (DBFOM) contract prior to submission of bids later this year. Decisions regarding what will, and will not, be within the scope of the final RFP must be made by the end of September. REPORT: Process of Coordination CSD-13-093, staff has continued discussions with the Rapid Transit team on the streetscape priorities identified in that report and provide the following updates: (1) Pedestrian-scaled lighting The Rapid Transit team has committedto incorporate pedestrian-scaled lighting at each ION Station Stop platform.They also provided an estimate for the cost of adding the infrastructure needed to install future pedestrian-scaled lighting beyond the Station Stop platform.Refer to Appendix A regarding incremental cost options for pedestrian-scaled lighting along the corridor. Staff is not recommending that Council fund the incremental cost of this infrastructure because capital funding could not be identified to accommodate the expenditure. Staff note, however, that the provision of pedestrian-scaled lighting at each Station Stop platform is a positive advancement in the baseline design and support this addition. 8 - 1 (2) Enhanced pedestrian crossings The Rapid Transit team has committed to incorporating an alternative crossing treatment to ladder striping for intersections associated with ION Station Stops including the King Street and Victoria Street intersection. In evaluating the intersections that staff deemed s commitment are identified: Charles Street at Madison Street (at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute), located one block east of the Cedar Street ION Station Stop; and, Courtland Avenue at Hillmount Street, located at the western end of the Block Line Road ION Station Stop where pedestrian access to the Station Stop is currently not proposed. Given that the majority of crossings recommended for enhanced pedestrian crossings areat the Station Stops, staff is generally satisfied with how this streetscape priority will be addressed and will continue to discuss solutions with the Rapid Transit team with respect to the two remaining intersections. (3) Hydro substation integration The Rapid Transit team has committed to proceeding up-front to pre-submission consultation for the hydro substation site plans, with a commitment to context-sensitive design for the three most prominent hydro substations. Major upgrades at these three substations could include cladding such as brick or spandrel panels and a pitched roof, as appropriate for the respective neighborhood.The formal Site Plan approval process will proceed after the DBFOM contract has been awarded.At the time of writing this report, the Rapid Transit team has been made hydro substations but has not yet determined an appropriate public consultation strategy. (4) Sidewalks No additional updates to report with respect to sidewalks. For sidewalks directly adjacent to the street, the Rapid Transit team has clarified that the sidewalk width shall be no less than 1.8 m, including the maintenance strip. The design will meet AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards and where opportunities exist, the baseline design includes a wider sidewalk. (5) Cycling infrastructure The Rapid Transit teamhas confirmed thatline paintingwill be incorporated along the corridor, wherethe pavement width allows, for the informal accommodation of cyclists. The striping will not be formally identified as a cycling lane in order toprovideadequate pavement widths for emergency service vehicles. (6) Connectivity One of the key connectivity elements discussed is a recommended sidewalk or multi-use trail on the south/west side of Courtland Avenue. With the exception of a pedestrian connection to the ION Station Stop at Block Line Road, the Rapid Transit team is not proceeding with additional pedestrian/cycling linkages at this location through the RFP due to constraints associated with a creek crossing and slope issues. (7) Streetscape furnishings and landscaping No further updates to report with respect to streetscape furnishings and landscaping. These items are not part of the DBFOM contract, further discussions are expected at a later phase in the project. 8 - 2 FOLLOW-UP TO COUNCIL QUESTIONS: At the time of report w th raised at the September 9 CIS Committee meeting. Appendix B includes responses to questions received to date. CONCLUSIONS: Of the streetscape priorities that staff identified, the Rapid Transit team has been able to accommodate alternative crosswalk delineation and pedestrian-scaled lighting at the ION Station Stops within the RFP. They are also committed to undergoing Site Plan review for the hydro substations with upgrade considerations at prominent locations. On-going discussions with the Rapid Transit team have been productive in working through many streetscape priorities. Because staff is not able to identify any available capital funding sources to contribute to the scope of the RFP contract at this time, no recommendations are included in this report with respect to pedestrian-scaled lighting infrastructure.Should Council chose to fund upgrades for pedestrian-scaled lighting infrastructure, a direction to staff to proceed with a memorandum th of understanding with respect to cost-sharing would be needed at the September 30 meeting in order to meet Regional timelines. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The community providing public access to Committee agendas and reports. The Region has also held a number of public consultations on the topic of rapid transit throughout the planning of the rapid transit corridor including the Environmental Assessment phase, Community Building Strategy and the ION Station Stop design concepts. This report follows the inform strategy of the Community engagement continuum- to provide the public with information to assist them in understanding how design considerations are being addressed in the ION RFP process. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May,Deputy CAO Community Services Department Attachments: Appendix A. Pedestrian-scaled lighting details Appendix B. Response to questions 8 - 3 APPENDIX A- Pedestrian-scaled lighting cost implications Extent of WorkIncremental Cost to City Entire Corridor. Midpole fixture added to street light poles $1,004,000 Within a block of each Station Stop. Midpole fixture added to $662,000 street light poles Infrastructure only within a block of eachStation Stop. $350,000 Midpole cut-out and supporting conduit added to street light poles Note that in some areas of the corridor with narrow rights-of-way such as Duke and Charles Streets, street lights are only situated on one side of the street. Additional costs would be incurred to establish pedestrian-scaled lighting on the opposite side of the street at approximately $7000 per pole. 8 - 4 Appendix B.Responses to questions th The following are responses to questions raised at the September 9 CIS Meeting as available at the time of report writing: 1. Substations: a. Noise and vibration. Regional staff has reviewed studies which indicate that no audible noise beyond the ambient noise would be detected from these facilities. No noticeable vibration will be detected from these facilities. b. Hydro-substations could be integrated into a future redevelopment (e.g. parking structure) 2. Heated Sidewalks (for snow melting) The Rapid Transit team indicated that this upgrade would be cost-prohibitive within the scope of the RFP. 3.Wi-Fi Availability will be considered as part of a broader Regional initiative at a future date. 4. Addressing AODA requirements, particularly as it relates to individuals with visual impairments. The corridor design will meet AODA requirements. 5. Separation of cycling facilities. The Rapid Transit team indicated that limitations in available right-of-way width would limit opportunities to separate cycling facilities along the corridor as part of the ION construction. 8 - 5