Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee

of the Mississauga Accessibility Advisory Committee

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Online Video Conference
Members
  • Clement Lowe, Citizen Member (Chair)
  • Carol-Ann Chafe, Citizen Member
  • Steven Viera, Citizen Member
  • Asim Zaidi, Citizen Member
  • Naz Husain, ex-officio
Members Absent
  • Emily Daigle, Citizen Member
Others Present

  • Staff Present

    Dan Sadler, Supervisor, Accessibility

    Sonali Mazmanian, Project Leader, Senior Capital Projects

    Tim Lai, Manager, LRT Stakeholder Communications 

    Alice Ho, Transit Priority Project Leader, MiWay

    Alana Tyers, Manager, Service Development, MiWay

    Megan Piercey, Legislative Coordinator, Legislative Services

    Reanne Kasser, Committee Assistant, Legislative Services

1.
CALL TO ORDER
 

Clement Lowe, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:30PM.

2.
ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION
 

2.1
Meadowvale Theatre Renovation - Accessibility Review
 

  • Susan Lewin, Principal, CS&P Architects
  • Saeed Sadeghi, Associate, CS&P Architects
  • Sonali Mazmanian, Project Leader, Senior Capital Projects

Ms. Lewin and Mr. Sadeghi presented on the Meadowvale Theatre Renovation Accessibility Review.  Construction will begin in April 2021 until April 2022.  They highlighted the pedestrian pathways, accessible parking and entrances, auto door operators and washrooms.  

Members of the Subcommittee raised the following questions and concerns: 

  • Concerned that persons with low to no vision may encounter a challenge navigating through the building due to the finishes inside and outside of the building not having a strong enough colour contrast;
  • Concerned about the visibility of the signage;
  • Inquired about the staircase in the control tower and if it could be made accessible;
  • Inquired about the lighting inside, outside and on the pedestrian walkway with respect to the level of illumination;
  • Inquired about the heights on the proposed benches;
  • Inquired if the snack bar height was accessible;
  • Inquired about adding an accessible door opener at the south patio door; and
  • Noted that the Facility Accessibility Design Standards be utilized to adapt the design as much as possible.

Ms. Lewin and Mr. Sadeghi responded to the questions raised by the subcommittee:

  • Advised the design will have light and dark concrete to have contrast with the floor;
  • Advised the signage had not been finalized yet and that they were currently conducting signage study and will provide an update on the final signage proposal;
  • Advised it would not be feasible to add an elevator to the control tower, as the design of the existing building and budget constraints make this request unattainable;
  • Proposed that they could include less benches to create more loose seating and add adjustable arm rests;
  • Confirmed that the snack bar would have multi-level desks for wheelchair height; and
  • Confirmed that an accessible door opener could be added at the south patio door, outside the administration area and performer’s entrance.
  • RECOMMENDATION

    RECOMMENDATION

    1. That the presentation regarding the Meadowvale Theatre Renovation - Accessibility Review to the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee on November 16, 2020, be received;
    2. That the Committee recommends that automatic door opener be installed at the South Patio Door outside the Administration Area and Performer’s Entrance.
    3. That CP&S Architects and The City of Mississauga provide an update to the Subcommittee on the final signage proposal.
    4. That subject to the comments on the presentation, the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee is satisfied with the initiatives that CP&S Architects and The City are undertaking with respect to the Meadowvale Theatre Renovation.

2.2
Hurontario LRT: Project Update 
 

  • Leona Hollingsworth, Senior Manager, Community/Stakeholder Relations, Peel, Metrolinx
  • Tim Lai, Manager, LRT Stakeholder Communications 

Ms. Hollingsworth provided an update on the Hurontario LRT Project by outlining the project scope, route, and timeline as well as accessibility during construction and design. The expected completion date is fall 2024 for a route that is compiled of 19 stops that is 18km from Mississauga to Brampton, which includes connections to GO Transit, MiWay and Zum stops. The LRT are electrically powered vehicles that produce near zero carbon emissions. The key facts in the Project involved are community improvements and social benefits.


Ms. Hollingsworth noted how to get around the construction sites and noted Metrolinx's commitment to a universal design. She further noted the accessibility improvements at pre-existing GO Stations, which included a new accessible pedestrian bridge, improved platform access, new yellow platform edge tactile tiles and elevator upgrades. Ms. Hollingsworth also highlighted the key accessibility features in all the LRTs would include center platform stops, tactile guidance tiles in stations, audible and visual next stop announcements, enhanced intercoms, elevator redundancy and all-door boarding on vehicles.


The next round of virtual open houses are from November 16 to December 4, 2020.


Members of the Subcommittee enquired about which virtual platform was used for the first round of the virtual open house meetings to ensure the meetings were accessible. The Subcommittee expressed concerned with the lack of advance notice when using the orange construction markers to indicate upcoming construction that requires the pedestrian to cross the street.


Ms. Hollingsworth and Mr. Lai responded by noting the City’s WebEx virtual platform was used for the previous virtual open house meetings. They further noted that Metrolinx also utilizes their own virtual meeting platform and advised to report any issues or accessibility concerns to Ms. Hollingsworth.

  • RECOMMENDATION

    RECOMMENDATION

    1. That the presentation regarding the Hurontario LRT: Project Update to the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee on November 16, 2020, be received;
    2. That subject to the comments on the presentation, the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee is satisfied with the initiatives that Metrolinx and The City are undertaking with respect to the Hurontario LRT.

2.3
MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan
 

  • Alice Ho, Transit Priority Project Leader, MiWay
  • Alana Tyers, Manager, Service Development, MiWay

Ms. Ho presented on the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan (MGIP) by providing an overview on the strategic plan to direct the effective allocation of the City of Mississauga investments to transit infrastructure. Ms. Ho noted the key facts of the study that include a background review, identifying existing conditions, infrastructure direction, opportunities, feasibility plans and implementation strategy.  She highlighted the direction is to accomplish a comprehensive barrier-free transit infrastructure that enhances the customer experience, attracts new ridership and strengthens the transit connection.  The evaluation focused on operational challenge, land requirements, routes and services, stop markers, concrete bus pads, passenger landing pad and sidewalk connection at the MiWay Terminals and MiExpress stops.  The City's next steps are to prepare detail design of concepts and to coordinated with transit partners to minimize construction impacts. 

Members of the Subcommittee raised the following questions and concerns: 

  • Noted that the length of the cross walk times are not long enough to be accessible;
  • Concerned about the bus station located at Erin Mills Town Centre; noting the bus stop should move closer to the mall or have a designated path to the mall;
  • Inquired if staff will be reviewing non-express routes for accessibility; and
  • Concerned about the narrow landing at the Applewood terminal.

 

Ms. Ho and Ms. Tyers responded to the questions raised by the subcommittee:

  • Advised that the Transit Infrastructure Team are reviewing other projects and addressing accessibility concerns with respect to the landing pads; and
  • Advised that inaccessible bus stops are noted through the City’s sidewalk program as part of the MGIP and noted that staff’s priorities are to decrease the number of inaccessible stops.
  • RECOMMENDATION

    RECOMMENDATION

    1. That the presentation regarding the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan - Accessibility Review to the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee on November 16, 2020, be received;
    2. That subject to the comments on the presentation, the Facility Accessibility Design Subcommittee is satisfied with the initiatives The City are undertaking with respect to the MiWay Infrastructure Growth Plan. 

3.
PROJECT UPDATES
 

Megan Piercey, Legislative Coordinator spoke briefly to this item by noting that this is a newly added section to the Facility Advisory Design Subcommittee (FADS) agendas as requested. This section will give staff the opportunity to provide brief updates pertaining to previously presented projects. At the November 16, 2020 FADS meeting, there were no project updates.

4.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
 

  • CANCELLED - Monday, January 25, 2020 at 1:30PM
  • CANCELLED - Monday, February 22, 2021 at 1:30PM 
  • Monday, March 29, 2021 at 1:30PM via Online Video Conference

Naz Husain, Ex-Officio noted that the inaccessibility surrounding the current virtual meeting platform. Dan Sadler, Supervisor, Accessibility advised the Subcommittee that staff is currently exploring more accessible meeting platforms.

5.
ADJOURNMENT
 

3:29P.M.

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