Relief Line Project Assessment

Coordinated Transit Consultation Program Public Information Centre

June 13-25, 2015

Overview of Presentation

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1. Coordination of Rapid Transit Studies

2. Overview of Key Studies• GO RER/SmartTrack Background

• SmartTrack Eglinton West Feasibility Study

• Scarborough Subway Extension Project Assessment

3. Relief Line Project Assessment

Why are we here?

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• We are seeking your opinions and comments on the work currently underway.

• What we hear will be used to inform our work going forward.

• Sharing your thoughts is very important in order for the needs of the community to be reflected in the final review.

• The best results will come by more people participating in and contributing to the conversation. We need your input.

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Coordination of Rapid Transit

Studies

How is Network Transit Planning Coordinated?

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• Metrolinx, the City and TTC are all working together

• Four major transit initiatives are interrelated:

• Other projects planned or under construction:

• Major projects are all interrelated and have a significant impact on the overall transit network

‒ Connections between future projects and connections with existing lines will form the foundation of an improved network

• We are currently in the process of undertaking the integrated assessment of these projects through detailed ridership modelling

‒ Work on each project will inform the other analysis

‒ GO Regional Express Rail (RER)‒ SmartTrack concept

‒ Scarborough Subway Extension‒ Relief Line

‒ Finch West LRT‒ Sheppard East LRT

‒ Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension‒ Eglinton Crosstown LRT

Public Engagement for Transit Planning Initiatives

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Updated Transportation Model• An updated transportation model will help us understand how each

project is related.

• Key features of the GTAModel V4.0 model system include:– Covers the entire GTHA using 2011 TTS for the base data– The model explicitly represents individuals and households– The model considers how a person’s trips fit together instead of considering each

trip in individually– Trips are modelled for entire 24-hour week-day time period (using five time

periods)– The transit assignment model considers crowding on the system and fares of

different paths

• Critical timelines for modelling work:June 2015 – Draft results of transportation modelling

– Report on employment land use modellingJuly 2015 – Report on transportation modelling results

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Timing

Current • Public consultation in June, 2015 on all projects

Mid/late Summer

• Further analysis and assessment of options for each project• Public consultation on project recommendations in

September, 2015

Fall • Report to Council October/November, 2015 on results and public consultations and recommendations for next steps on each project

Future Work

• Issue Notice of Commencement for Final Project Review in 2016

Overview of Key Studies GO RER/SmartTrack SmartTrack Eglinton West Feasibility Study Scarborough Subway Extension Project Assessment

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GO Regional Express Rail (RER)

• Over the next ten years, Metrolinx will introduce RER including 15-minute, two-way, all-day transit service on most of the seven GO lines (and significant service improvements on the other lines).

• Across the system, this will mean:‒ Electrification of several corridors that will

reduce travel times by up to 20% and reduce operating costs

‒ Four times the number of train trips outside of rush hour and on weekends

‒ Twice the number of trips during rush hour ‒ Benefits for all 19 existing GO stations in

Toronto and the potential for new stations‒ Infrastructure requirements of 150

kilometres of new, dedicated GO track and dozens of new tunnels and bridges

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RER and SmartTrack

• SmartTrack builds on RER and the existing GO network– Proposes enhanced service on three existing corridors – Stouffville, Lakeshore

East, Kitchener– Proposes a heavy rail corridor connecting Mount Dennis to the Mississauga

Airport Corporate Centre

• SmartTrack concept features– Service frequency of 15 minutes or better– All stop service in both directions– TTC fare option– Additional stations along the three existing GO corridors– Electrified trains

• City Council has directed staff to further evaluate the SmartTrack concept and report back– This includes the Eglinton West SmartTrack Feasibility Review

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The SmartTrack concept builds on RER

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SmartTrack Eglinton West Corridor – Objectives• In February, 2015, City Council

directed staff to review the feasibility of SmartTrack options between Mt. Dennis Station and the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre

• The first step is a high-level feasibility review of various options to connect Mount Dennis station to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre.

SmartTrack Eglinton West Corridor – Potential Corridors and Conceptual Alignments

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• Three corridor options will be tested for feasibility – A continuous heavy rail spur connection from the Kitchener GO corridor

connection by way of Eglinton Avenue West– A separate heavy rail corridor along Eglinton Avenue West with a transfer at

Mt Dennis– A continuous heavy rail spur connection diverging from the existing GO

corridor somewhere in the vicinity of Highway 27 into the airport and south to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre

• The feasibility of each alignment will be evaluated from the following perspectives:– Technical (i.e. design and engineering)– Land use– Regulatory and legislative– Service concept (i.e. ability to integrate with other transit services)– Financial

Note - All station location and alignment options being considered are located within the study area. Residents across Scarborough and the entire City of Toronto will benefit from transit and transportation network improvements created by the Scarborough Subway Extension

Scarborough Subway Extension – Study Area

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• Nine potential corridors have been assessed– Preliminary evaluation has

identified three best performing

• Consultation to-date:– Two public meetings– Stakeholder Advisory Group– Interactive workshop– Online consultation

• Looking for public feedback on:– Existing conditions– Short listed corridors– Preliminary evaluation of

corridors– Potential alignments and station

locations

Scarborough Subway Extension – Current Work

Relief Line Project Assessment

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Study Status• In 2014, Relief Line Project Assessment launched to determine preferred

alignment and station locations

• In March 2015, public and stakeholder consultation was held to review the long list of potential station options and draft evaluation criteria

WE ARE HERE

Focus of Today’s Consultation for the Relief Line

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We are seeking feedback on:1. Evaluation results of station location options

2. Four potential corridors connecting Downtown and Danforth Subway

• Relief Line is identified in The Big Move Regional Transportation Plan and is a ‘Next Wave’ priority project. No funding has yet been committed for the Relief Line.

• YRNS and Relief Line Project Assessment are complementary:– Relief Line Project Assessment is determining a

preferred alignment between Downtown and Dnforth through a comprehensive evaluation framework.

– YRNS/Metrolinx is examining timing for a relief line and other regional network options to provide relief to the Yonge subway.

Yonge Relief Network Study (YRNS)

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• YRNS recognizes the importance the Relief Line in the context of the regional transit network, as the Yonge Subway serves both local and regional travel demand.

• YRNS is being conducted in partnership with the City of Toronto, TTC, and York Region.

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Study Area

Note - All station location and alignment options being considered are located within the study area. Residents from across the entire City of Toronto will benefit from transit and transportation network improvements created by the Relief Line.

Evaluation Process

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WE ARE HERE

SERVING PEOPLE

STRENGTHENING PLACES

SUPPORTING PROSPERITY

Evaluation criteria based on principles

and criteria developed during the Official Plan

Review process “Feeling Congested?”

Evaluation Framework

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What We Heard During March Consultations

Key Messages• Relief Line needs to be part of an integrated transit network,

including connections to subway lines, streetcar system, SmartTrack, and GO system

• Important to plan for future extension of the Relief Line to the north and west

• Don’t tear up Queen and King Street during construction• Protect neighbourhoods, parks and cultural heritage • Look for ways that the Relief Line can provide opportunities for city

building and redevelopment around stations• Link important destinations, including the Financial District, St.

Lawrence Market, City Hall, the Distillery District, Greektown, Gerrard Square, and George Brown College

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Results of Potential Station Areas Evaluation

Results of Potential Station Areas Evaluation

• 45 potential station areas were identified and evaluated

‒ In Downtown‒ Along the Danforth‒ Key activity areas, east

and west of the Don River

• Preliminary evaluation has identified those station areas that would best achieve objectives for the project and the communities

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Key Station Evaluation Findings:• Bay Street – close to area of high

employment density• King / Wellington corridor stands out:

‒ Proximity to highest employment density

‒ Ability to extend west along existing public right-of-way

• Queen Street serves key destinations such as the Eaton Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital and City Hall• Front Street / Union Station has high

existing pedestrian volumes• Adelaide and Richmond are more

challenging to extend to the west

Downtown Stations

Downtown Stations

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What We Heard During March Consultations• Many respondents commented that Union Station is already congested

and that a different station should be considered for a Downtown terminus

• Respondents noted that a Relief Line corridor on streets such as Wellington, Richmond or Adelaide Streets would not disrupt streetcar services

• Key destinations noted by respondents include the Financial District, Eaton Centre, Ryerson University, City Hall, St. Michael’s Hospital

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• The public rights-of-way to the north of Greenwood would not allow for a straight alignment following public rights-of-way• Donlands and Chester have limited ability to

use existing public rights-of-way• Carlaw and Jones would require lengthier

connections between the existing subway station and the Relief Line• Coxwell cannot directly reach Thorncliffe Park

along a future northern extension

Key Station Evaluation Findings• Pape and Broadview stand out:

‒ High surface transit and walk-in passenger volumes

‒ Designated as Avenues‒ Ability to extend north following

existing public rights-of-way‒ Can facilitate a future northern

extension to key destinations such as Thorncliffe Park

Connection to the Danforth Subway

Connection to the Danforth Subway

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What We Heard During March Consultations• Pape Station received the vast majority of comments in support of a

connection to the Danforth Subway. Pape station has many key transit connections and provides an amble opportunity for a northern extension.

• There were many comments in support of Broadview Station as that there is key surface transit connections and the potential to investigate a future connection to the nearby Richmond Hill GO line.

• Respondents commented that redevelopment opportunities may exist at Greenwood and Coxwell stations.

• Key destinations documented by respondents including Greektown, Centennial College and Withrow Park.

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Key Station Evaluation Findings:• Pape / Gerrard has good

redevelopment potential and offers opportunities for multiple connections to existing and future transit• Queen / Broadview has connections

with multiple streetcar routes and supports redevelopment opportunities• Unilever site has good redevelopment

potential and opportunities to connect to future transit; however, there are technical challenges (such as flood protection and soil contamination)• Queen / Degrassi and Queen / Jones

are physically constrained

East of the Don River

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Key Station Evaluation Findings:• Stations along Sherbourne have more

potential because of higher population and employment densities• A station at Regent Park addresses social

equity and could support redevelopment• Front / Cherry serves areas of new

development and can provide surface transit connections to the Portlands• King / Cherry is physically constrained

with less redevelopment potential• Lakeshore / Cherry and River / Queen

would be challenging to construct and would have flooding risks

West of the Don River

What We Heard During March ConsultationsEast of the Don River• The project team received broad support for stations at Gerrard Square and

the Unilever site• There was strong support to not have a station at Queen/Degrassi due to

community concerns about impacts to nearby park space. This station scored low on the technical evaluation and will not be carried forward

• Key destinations documented by respondents including Leslieville, Chinatown, Bridgepoint Health and Gerrard Square

West of the Don River• Respondents noted that the Relief Line could provide opportunities for city

building and redevelopment particularly in areas such as the West Donlands• Important destinations noted by respondents include St. Lawrence Market

and George Brown College

East and West of the Don River

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Potential Corridors

Development of Potential Corridor Options

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• Consider results of technical evaluation and public input on potential station areas

• Determine best connecting stations in Downtown and to Danforth Subway

• Identify best opportunities for future expansion to the west and north

• Link key activity areas with highest potential, based on city-building criteria

• Utilize public rights-of-way as much as possible to minimize impacts to private property

• Consider technical requirements of subway operations (e.g. curves, grades, trackwork)

Potential Corridors

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• Four potential corridors have been identified for further, more detailed consideration: Corridor A – Broadview to Queen/Richmond Corridor B – Pape to Queen/Richmond Corridor C – Broadview to King/Wellington Corridor D – Pape to King/Wellington via Queen

• These corridors have the highest potential to address the full range of project objectives and city-building criteria

• Potential corridors and their stations will be further evaluated to identify a preferred corridor

KEY MAP

Corridor A – Broadview to Queen/Richmond

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• Provides service along the Queen/Richmond corridor with potential for inline stations near: – Broadview/Gerrard

(Bridgepoint Health)– Regent Park– Queen/Sherbourne (Moss

Park)

• Connection to the Danforth Subway at Broadview

• Connection to the YUS Line along Queen

• Provides service along the Queen/Richmond corridor with potential for inline stations near: – Gerrard Square (potential

connection to SmartTrack)– Queen/Broadview Area– Unilever Lands– Queen/Sumach– Queen/Sherbourne (Moss

Park)

• Connection to the Danforth Subway at Pape

• Connection to the YUS Line along Queen

Corridor B – Pape to Queen/Richmond

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Corridor C – Broadview to King/Wellington

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• Provides service along the King/Wellington corridor with potential for inline stations near: – Broadview/Gerrard

(Bridgepoint Health)– Queen/ Broadview– Front/Cherry– King/ Sherbourne

• Connection to the Danforth Subway at Broadview

• Connection to the YUS Line along King

Corridor D – Pape to King/Wellington via Queen St.

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• Provides service along the King/Wellington corridor with potential for inline stations near: – Gerrard Square (potential

connection to SmartTrack)– Queen/Broadview Area– Unilever Lands– King/Cherry– King/ Sherbourne

• Connection to the Danforth Subway at Pape

• Connection to the YUS Line along King

Next Steps

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• With the information gathered through this series of consultation, we will:– Select a preferred corridor based on

technical evaluation and public input– Develop potential alignments within

the preferred corridor

• The next phase of consultation will focus on the potential alignment options within the preferred corridor

Stay Involved

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LAST DAY FOR COMMENTS IS

JULY 3, 2015

Questions?