Staff Report #4
April 27, 2022
To All Commissioners
Re: 2022 Road Construction Update
Recommendation
The report be NOTED and FILED.
Background
LTC administration continues to work closely with civic administration as well as the specific contractors on each major construction project to ensure regular communication regarding the status of the projects in an effort to mitigate the impact of construction on service and ridership by allowing buses to operate in work zones where it is deemed safe to do so. LTC administration attends weekly conference calls with civic administration specifically to discuss the impacts of ongoing and upcoming downtown construction projects.
Downtown Loop Phase II
Construction has started for phase two of the Downtown Loop as part of the London Rapid Transit Project. Currently Ridout is closed between Fullerton and Dundas resulting in Routes 5 and 7 being detoured via Queens, Talbot and York. All other routes are maintaining regular routing along Queens Ave during the first phase of construction, noting the stop at Queens and Ridout is closed due to lane reductions between Talbot and Ridout. The first phase of construction is anticipated to last a few months and not require additional detouring. Subsequent phases of construction will require various detours to be put in place with routes operating along Dufferin. Updated information will be provided as warranted.
East London Link Phase I
Construction began on the first phase of the East London Link for the London Rapid Transit project on March 21, 2022. Phase I includes King Street between Wellington and Lyle, which will be broken down into smaller sub-phases throughout the 2022 construction season. Work on the Wellington and King intersection commenced on April 19, 2022 resulting in all eastbound buses normally operating eastbound on King to be detoured. Due to construction on Ridout south of King, Routes entering the downtown via Riverside/Dundas and Ridout are detoured via Wharncliffe, Springbank, Horton, Stanley and York. Temporary stops have been installed on York Street to try to minimize travel distance to a bus stop as much as possible. One lane of traffic northbound and southbound on Wellington is to be maintained through the project and as such northbound and southbound routes are able to maintain regular routing. However, as there is only one lane, stops are closed both northbound and southbound throughout the duration of the project to avoid transit vehicles stopping in the only travelled lane.
Victoria Bridge
Construction was set to begin in March on the full replacement of the Victoria Bridge on Ridout between Horton and Ingleside Place. At time of report writing, the date of commencement of the project was not known. Due to limited detour options in the area, Routes 4, 15 and 104 will be detoured off Ridout between Grand Ave and Horton along Carfrae and Richmond for the duration of the project, which is currently scheduled to be completed in May 2023.
Adelaide Street North Underpass
Construction began on the Adelaide Street Underpass on April 21, 2022. As Adelaide is a major north/south artery through the City, a temporary road will be constructed to allow vehicles to continue to travel along the corridor throughout the construction period. While major detours are not anticipated for Route 16 (and Route 92 when it resumes May 1, 2022), seven stops (three northbound and four southbound) will be closed through the duration of the project as the temporary road will only have a single lane in each direction. The construction is currently scheduled to continue through summer 2025.
CP Rail Repairs
Between May 4 and 6, 2022, CP will be completing repairs on the rail lanes on Oxford between Wharncliffe and Richmond. To facilitate the repairs a full closure of Oxford is required. Due to the limited detour options to cross the river, during this time Routes 17 and 91 will be detoured via Wharncliffe, Stanley and Richmond. Although the closure is for a short duration, it is anticipated to have significant impacts on schedule adherence due to the magnitude of the required detour.
Communications
The underlying goals with respect to communications regarding detours are to provide passengers and Operators with as much information as far in advance as possible, noting that dates and impacts can change without notice. Accomplishing both of these goals requires a balanced approach.
A communication strategy has been developed and implemented with respect to service interruptions in an effort to ensure passengers and bus Operators are aware of the detours with as much advance notice as possible, including stop level notifications of upcoming closures, website and real-time/Infoweb alerts, social media and internal information boards.
Recommended by:
Katie Burns, Director of Planning
Concurred in by:
Kelly S. Paleczny, General Manager