6/9/2015 Relief Line Project Assessment Stakeholder Advisory Meeting #2 June 9, 2015 Meeting Purpose Report on the Evaluation Results for Potential Station Locations Seek your Input on Potential Corridors 2 1
Tonight s Agenda 6:15 Welcome and Introductions 6:30 Study Update Presentation Coordination of transit planning initiatives Project status Evaluation results for potential station locations Potential corridors Next steps 7:15 Potential Corridors Group Discussions Feedback on pros and cons for each corridor Identify a preferred corridor Consider potential alignments within preferred corridor 8:30 Wrap up Remarks 3 What we heard from you in March Request meeting information one week in advance Simplified information (both visuals and accessible text) Surveys and questionnaires are a good format for SAG members to distribute to their constituents for feedback to be reported at the SAG meetings Requests for presentations and follow up meetings (Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association) 4 2
Coordination of Transit Planning Initiatives 5 How is Network Transit Planning Coordinated? Metrolinx, the City and TTC are all working together Four major transit initiatives are interrelated: GO Regional Express Rail (RER) Scarborough Subway Extension SmartTrack concept Relief Line Other projects planned or under construction: Finch West LRT Toronto York Spadina Subway Extension Sheppard East LRT Eglinton Crosstown LRT 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 6 3
Public Engagement for Transit Planning Initiatives 7 Yonge Relief Network Study (YRNS) 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 complimentary: Relief Line Project Assessment is determining a preferred alignment between Danforth and Downtown 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. 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. 8 4
Study Status 9 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 thelong list of potential station options anddraft draft evaluation criteria Now we are seeking feedback on 1) evaluation results of station location options and 2) potential corridors WE ARE HERE 10 5
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. 11 Evaluation Process WE ARE HERE 12 6
Evaluation Framework SERVING PEOPLE STRENGTHENING PLACES SUPPORTING PROSPERITY Evaluation criteria based on principles and criteria developed during the Official Plan Review process Feeling Congested? 13 Station Locations Evaluation Results 14 7
6/9/2015 Evaluation Results of Potential Station Locations 45 potential station locations were identified and evaluated In Downtown Along the Danforth Key activity areas, east and west of the Don River Preliminary evaluation has identified those that best achieve objectives for the project and the communities 15 Downtown Stations 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 16 8
6/9/2015 Connection to the Danforth Subway 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 The public right 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 rights of way 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 17 West of the Don River 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 18 9
6/9/2015 East of the Don River Key Station Evaluation Findings: Pape / Gerrard has good redevelopment potential and offers opportunities for multiple connections to existing and future transit f 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 19 Questions and Comments about Station Evaluation Res lts Results 20 10
Potential Corridors 21 Development of Potential Corridor Options Considered evaluation results of station locations Determined best connecting stations in Downtown and to Danforth Subway Identified best opportunities for future expansion to the west and north Need to link key activity areas with highest potential, based on city building criteria 22 11
6/9/2015 Potential Corridors Four potential corridors have been identified for further, more detailed consideration These corridors have the h d h h highest potential to address the full range of project objectives and city building criteria Potential corridors and their stations will be further l t d to t identify id tif a evaluated preferred corridor 23 Corridor A Broadview to Queen/Richmond 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 24 12
6/9/2015 Corridor B Pape to Queen/Richmond 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 25 Corridor C Broadview to King/Wellington 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 26 13
6/9/2015 Corridor D Pape to King/Wellington via Queen Street 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 27 Questions About the Potential Corridors 28 14
Small Group Discussions Small Group Discussions 1. Review the potential corridors (pros and cons) 2. Select a preferred corridor 3. Identify potential alignment(s) with stations 4. Report back to the whole group 30 15
Considerations Alignment should follow public rights of way as much as possible to minimize impacts to private property Stations: redevelopment opportunities, connections to surface transit/bus terminal, entrances, passenger pick up and drop off Subway operations: curves and grades Challenges in tunnelling / crossing the Don River 31 Wrap Up 16
Next Steps Eight public meetings are being held across the city June 13 27 Over the summer, we will: Evaluate potential corridor options to determine a preferred corridor Identify potential alignments and stations for the preferred corridor Next round of consultation (September) will focus on a preferred corridor, including potential alignments/stations 33 Stay Involved 34 17
Thank You 18