Eglinton West LRT Update

Transcription

1 Eglinton West LRT Update Community Consultation Update May 16, 2016

2 Background Rapid transit along Eglinton Ave between Kennedy Station and Pearson Airport was included in the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (The Big Move) in 2008 The TTC and City of Toronto completed an Environmental Assessment in 2010 for an LRT along Eglinton Avenue West as part of the Transit City Plan Initial funding for the Crosstown LRT has allowed for construction to start between Mt. Dennis and Kennedy Station in the east In 2015, the City of Toronto and TTC, with input from Metrolinx, began planning for SmartTrack, which included at that time a heavy rail option on the Eglinton West corridor The SmartTrack Western Corridor Feasibility Study was undertaken by the City of Toronto and concluded that an LRT was the preferred option for the corridor; in March 2016, Toronto City Council directed its staff to work with Metrolinx to study LRT options Metrolinx and the City of Toronto are now studying options to enhance the design of the LRT, including optimizing the number of stations and considering potential grade separations; this work is still in its early stages 2

3 SmartTrack Western Corridor Feasibility Study Findings Study considered feasibility of SmartTrack corridor options connecting Mount Dennis Station and the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre Heavy rail would need to be grade-separated from other traffic and pedestrians (tunneled or elevated) Heavy rail on Eglinton would have significant community impacts Disruptions to Eglinton Flats and Black Creek Extensive property takings Impacts to municipal roads and bridges New infrastructure/tracks would be needed along Eglinton and Kitchener GO Corridor 3 Costs Heavy Rail - Northern Corridor Heavy Rail - Eglinton Corridor Light Rail - Eglinton Crosstown Extension $2.7 - $4.8 Billion $3.7 - $7.7 Billion $1.3 - $1.4 Billion

4 Current Proposal RER/SmartTrack Integration Analysis Covers Two Parts 1. Options to integrate GO Regional Express Rail and SmartTrack on the Stouffville and Kitchener GO Rail corridors 2. Options for LRT on Eglinton Avenue West 4

5 Approved Environmental Assessment Early plans for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT extended from Kennedy Rd in the east to Pearson Airport in the west The EA did not finalize the alignment at Pearson Airport Commitments were made for further traffic analysis and community consultation EA Approved LRT Option ( ) 2010 EA Alignment: 14 stops on Eglinton West 3 stops to the airport Surface alignment Link between Mississauga Transitway and Eglinton Crosstown (currently under construction 5

6 Key Questions on the 2010 EA Why does the LRT need to run in the median of Eglinton rather than to the north or south of the road? The entire Toronto LRT Program uses median running LRT designs because it allows for better traffic operation The transit lanes do not block access to property or minor streets and in turn transit vehicles are not blocked by right-turning automobiles; LRT vehicles in centre lanes are more easily and more safely controlled at intersections when they are in the centre of the road rather than on either side; and A similar amount of right-of-way is required regardless of whether the transit lanes are on the side or in the centre New development along the north side of Eglinton Avenue complicates running the LRT to the north of the traffic lanes 6

7 Key Questions on the 2010 EA Will the LRT take lanes away from traffic on Eglinton? Some site-specific modifications were included but the current four lanes of traffic are maintained across the entirety of the corridor Will the LRT require left hand turn restrictions? 7 The 2010 EA included special left turn designs at major intersections, where drivers would have to perform a U-turn beyond the intersection and turn right at the desired cross-street The local community has expressed significant concern with this arrangement The 2010 EA also acknowledged that further traffic analysis was required and a commitment was made to the community to study the matter further New detailed traffic analysis that considers community concerns will be undertaken as planning on this project proceeds

8 Eglinton West LRT Options Option Number of Stops Suggested Stop Locations Degree of Grade Separation 1. EA Approved - Designed for Local Access at Airport At grade 2. Speed and Access Balance 8 +3 at Airport At grade 3. Maximize Speed at Airport At grade 4. Grade Separated at Intersections 5. Reduced Stops + Highest Speed at Airport at Airport Grade separated at major arterials Elevated or underground 8

9 Benefits of the Project: Making Eglinton Work Extending the Crosstown LRT along Eglinton West could give residents of Central Etobicoke access to a rapid transit corridor across Toronto and Mississauga New connections, currently under construction, at Renforth Gateway and Mt. Dennis, will provide fast and reliable transit connections across the region Connections to the West Direct route to Pearson Airport Mississauga Transitway BRT Connections to the East GO Regional Express Rail (to Union Station and Brampton/Kitchener) UP Express TTC Subway at Eglinton West station Mississauga Midtown Yonge/Eglinton Kennedy Station 9 Mt Dennis Mobility Hub Study

10 Benefits of the Project: Improved Transit Travel Time The LRT would improve transit travel time to a variety of destinations across the region including Pearson Airport and its surrounding employment lands, Mississauga and mid-town Toronto Below is an example of how it would improve travel time from Martingrove C.I. to Union Station in downtown Toronto during the morning rush hour: Martingrove Collegiate Institute to Union Station: Today using TTC Future With LRT and GO RER TTC 32A Bus East to Eglinton West Station, Line 1 Subway south to Union Station LRT East to Mt. Dennis, GO RER South to Union Station 1 hour, 4 minutes minutes 10

11 Eglinton West LRT Next Steps Business case analysis, including: Strategic analysis advancing understanding of the effects of stop spacing and grade separation on traveler behaviour, local traffic and travel patterns Ridership modelling Community impacts analysis Capital cost and operating cost estimates Economic analysis Feasibility analysis Further detailed Traffic Analysis and Micro-Simulation Finalize alignment at Pearson Airport Continued community consultation 11

12 Estimated Timelines Enhanced Options Initial Business Case Grade Separation Analysis Confirm Number of Stops Detailed Traffic Analysis Alignment to Pearson Airport Continued Meetings with GTAA June 2016 Metrolinx Board and Toronto City Council Meetings Further Project Definition Work Bus Network Analysis (with MiWay and TTC) Refine Transport Demand Modelling Review Property Requirements Interface with Renforth Gateway Possible EA Amendment Continued Collaboration with City of Toronto and City of Mississauga Community Consultation 12