Toronto Public Works committee will recommend city cut one marathon

Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

1.         City Council adopt a one marathon per year policy in the City of Toronto effective 2011, which would require the full or partial closure of a street.

2.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 1, City Council direct the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the General Manager of Transportation Services, to issue a Request for Proposals for the one marathon, the content of which Proposal is more particularly set out in the body of this report.

3.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendations 1 and 2, City Council authorize the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the General Manager of Transportation Services, to negotiate the appropriate terms and conditions of the contract to be entered into with the successful proponent and to report back to seek authority to enter into an agreement.

4.         Notwithstanding Recommendation 1, City Council direct that the General Manager of Transportation Services have the authority to permit any marathon that may occur in relation to the Pan Am Games in addition to the one annual marathon permitted by the policy.

5.         Subject to the adoption of Recommendation 1, City Council direct the General Manager of Transportation Services to report back on any required by-law amendments.

Organizers for the Goodlife Toronto Marathon and the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon, with minor changes to routing over the years, have been running their marathons annually.  The Goodlife Toronto Marathon course starts in the North York District, runs south along Yonge Street down to the Martin Goodman Trail and finishes back up at Queen’s Park Circle.  The Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon course starts at Toronto City Hall, proceeds down to Lake Shore Boulevard, runs west to Windermere Avenue, heads back east along Queen Street to Victoria Park and returns to finish at City Hall.  The extent of the route of both marathons monopolizes a number of communities in the City and, as such, concerns from residents and businesses about having both marathons approximately 3 weeks apart in the Fall of each year, coupled with lengthy road closures, lack of access and egress to homes and businesses, rerouting of TTC and GO Transit vehicles and the resulting rider delay and traffic congestion have increased dramatically.

This report recommends the adoption of a one marathon per year policy in the City effective 2011 and also recommends the process of selecting one marathon be through a Request for Proposals process.

One marathon for the City of Toronto can enhance a City’s athletic running profile on a local, national, and in some cases, international level.  It can also increase tourism for the City and have direct and indirect economic impacts for Toronto and the Province of Ontario.

The current race organizers will be given an opportunity to make deputations before Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.