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October 2026

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December 2026

John Street Construction Meeting

John Street Stakeholders:

Please see below briefing notes from September 2022 meeting with the City.

Meeting Date:

September 15, 2022

Meeting attendees:

TDW BIA: Janice Solomon, Anojan Sathasivam
City: (BIA Office) Pauline Ho, (TS) Cassidy Ritz
THESL: Francis Szto
DPM: Mike Gentile
DIALOG: Bryce Miranda
MBII: Paul Boken, Alan McIntosh; Gillian Wright

Items discussed:

1. DIALOG and MBII presentation

• DIALOG and MBII has been working directly with the BIA on the catenary system on concepts, feasibility, case studies and potential layouts.
• Review base system with twinkle lights and explored various methods and feature elements. Don’t know what the final load is. As design process, weight needs to be accounted such as snow/ice accumulation.
  Catenary section study: Based on 5m overhead clearance with a 5% sag, proposed design modifications to shift catenary above BIA banners.
• The system that the design team is looking at is quick connect type throughout the entire corridor except for intersections.
  DPM suggested for Transportation Services to review and comment on the 5m clearance.
• DIALOG to circulate the presentation to the group.
• Transportation Services noted on any design changes including modification of where catenary system/banners sit on the pole has to be reflected in the design refresh in advancing the lighting agreement with various partners.
• Toronto Hydro noted with the area being mixed use including residential, it usually generate a lot of public concerns. An important point to consider with the elements associated with the catenary system.
• DPM noted the catenary system will be part of the BIA dedicated supply, not directly from the grid.
• DPM noted power centre power load is 200 amp service and should suffice. Will review and confirm.
• DIALOG is finalizing the visualization and studies. Working with DPM and will wait for this group’s feedback.
• Transportation Services noted on the proposed system and the City’s O&M. Continual discussions will be needed.

2. Toronto Hydro construction progress:

• Received latest Toronto Hydro updates on September 23, 2022.
  Construction at John and Wellington. South along John St. to Front St. Wrap up by end of October.
• Last few weeks needed to make accommodation for Water Main project at Wellington and for TIFF.
• Last week shut down took out 2 crews on Thur/Fri for TIFF to set up staging at Metro Hall. Have not heard issues and assumes all went well and acceptable with TIFF.
• Have slight concern with Hydro’s schedule and may request City’s work zone coordinator to allow some work on Saturday.
• Toronto Hydro has made request to send out invoices to the BIA Office.

3. Update from The City

• New senior PM who has dealt with special lighting projects at Portland has been assigned to move ahead with the John Street agreement.
• Transportation Services noted that Scott has updated quotes and has some questions for the consultants. Cassidy will touch base with ECS and TW on timing.
• The project will be phased implementation and noted challenges with Ontario Line’s (OL) enabling work.
• The City noted that Angela Haynes from the BIA Office is the support liaison for OL.

4. Progress of Tender drawings

• DPM needs information to further progress and coordinate final cabinet locations. City to follow up with BIA and DPM.
• Based on upcoming design decisions with the catenary system, the bulk to progress is with catenary.
• When Hydro work is complete, BIA Office to request DPM to conduct an As-built review.

5. BIA

• BIA to circle back re: maximizing the utilization of the Fed Dev fund and explore leveraging opportunity. City to check internally on any precedents in the past.

6. Next meeting: October 13, 2022 at 2pm

BIA Official Positions

• Letter in Support of SafeTO Implementation Plan and Recommendations – City of Toronto, Executive Committee
• Downtown Toronto BIAs for a Healthy, Thriving Downtown Return – All Levels of Government
• Healthy Communities Safety & Inclusion: 9-point Action Plan – General
• Implementing Co-Fare Arrangements between TTC and GO Transit – Minister of Transportation
• Main Street Innovation Fund – Letter of support – City of Toronto
• Toronto Needs an Urban Champion – Deputy Prime Minister of Canada

BIA Documents

Growth and Development Framework

The Downtown West BIA’s Growth and Development Framework focuses on those elements that have the greatest impact on the ‘experience’ of the area: the Pedestrian Realm and Parks, Streetscapes and Uses at Grade.

BIA Annual Reports

Annual Report 2025

Explore the BIA’s work, community, and achievements from 2025.

Annual Report 2024

Review the BIA’s activities and achievements from 2024.

Annual Report 2023

Look back at the BIA’s activities and achievements from 2023.

BIA Promotional Video

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