Funding Cycling Infrastructure Stuff on at council.

Funding Cycling Infrastructure - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Brad Bradford

* Notice of this Motion has been given. * This Motion is subject to referral to the Executive Committee. A two-thirds vote is required to waive referral.

Recommendations

Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Brad Bradford, recommends that: 1.  City Council request the Federal Government to fund the shortfall created by the cancellation of provincial contributions to fund cycling infrastructure over the next three years.  2.  City Council request the Federal Government to develop a stable long-term walking and cycling infrastructure investment strategy and funding program to which cities and communities across Canada can apply.  3.  City Council direct the City Manager to write to the Prime Minister of Canada on behalf of City Council regarding City Council's decision.  4.  City Council direct the City Manager to seek partners within the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and other communities throughout Ontario to collaboratively seek support for federal leadership on cycling infrastructure.

Summary

In December 2017, the Province of Ontario announced a $93 million investment in cycling infrastructure as part of Ontario's Climate Change Action Plan. Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan identified an intended investment of $150 to $225 million from cap and trade proceeds over 4 years to support the creation of better cycling networks, more cycling facilities in urban areas, and more bike parking at transit stations and provincially owned, publicly accessible facilities. The intention was for funding to be allocated to the City of Toronto annually over 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. To date, the City of Toronto has received only the 2017-2018 funding in the amount of $25,639,263.91, which can be spent until March 31, 2020. 120 municipalities in Ontario, including the City of Toronto, applied to the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling funding program. While significant, the funding announced to date is between 37 percent - 62 percent of the total the City of Toronto had hoped to see, meaning a shortfall of between $14,860736.09 and $35,110,736.09 for the cycling infrastructure needed across the city. Furthermore, the current Provincial Government of Ontario did not mention cycling in their policy platform and it is likely that no further funding will be issued under Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program. This leaves a critical gap in funding. At the national level, the Government of Canada needs help from municipalities and provinces to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. Canada's long-term infrastructure plan includes more than $180 billion in funding over 12 years. Active transportation projects are currently allowed in the context of public transit spending as part of Infrastructure and Communities Canada’s Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, but not structured so as to encourage municipalities across Ontario and the City of Toronto to apply for it for standalone cycling infrastructure. The Government of Canada has options to directly fund municipalities and could use those to ensure that cycling infrastructure projects throughout Ontario go ahead as planned.

Background Information

Member Motion MM1.14  (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-122387.pdf)