Yonge-Eglinton Construction Hub

Councillor Robinson has long been an outspoken critic of the rapid pace of development in the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood.

In 2019, the Province of Ontario enacted Bill 108, the More Homes, More Choice Act, essentially a returning to the former Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal process under a new name. This bill walked back many of the neighbourhood-based planning reforms Councillor Robinson fought for alongside the community, tipping the scales of the planning appeal process even further in favour of the developer.

Recognizing the intense development pressure in Yonge-Eglinton, Councillor Robinson has consistently called for a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to manage the dense concentration of active construction sites in Yonge-Eglinton.

In response to Councillor Robinson's advocacy, alongside the Mayor and other Midtown Councillors, the City launched a Construction Hub Coordination Pilot in the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood which was initiated in November 2019.

The pilot assigned a Construction Hub Coordinator exclusively to the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood to act as the single point of contact between public agencies, private developers, utility companies, industry partners, and other contractors. The Hub Coordinator is responsible for proactively managing work zones, logistical planning of the right-of-way, reviewing Construction Management Plans, and communicating with local residents and stakeholders.

The strategy is based on best practices in Seattle, where Construction Coordination Hubs resulted in savings of $15.5 million by all partners, $1.6 million by the Seattle Department of Transportation, 200 days of construction, and 1,600 tons of CO₂ carbon equivalent. Evidence has shown that, where implemented, the program has also improved road safety and created more secure pathways for pedestrians in high-construction areas.

Based on the success of the initial pilot, City Council approved the extension of the Construction Hub pilot to three new locations throughout Toronto in November 2020. More information is available on the City's website, here.