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Decongesting Toronto’s Transportation (Circulatory) System
One LRT Line at a Time…
Circulation is to the Heart as….
Circulatory systemPresent State: arteries
cloggedProblem: blood vessels
restricted or blocked slowing down blood flow
Solution: increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol
Transportation is to Toronto
Transportation SystemPresent State: roads congestedProblem: movement of people, goods and
services restricted or blocked slowing down traffic flow
Solution: increase sustainable transportation and decrease single occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips
Blocked vs. Flowing Roads
BLOCKEDFLOWING
Council Agrees
December 2011 Council voted to make TTC an essential service
January 2011, 3 of 5 City funding requests to Province were transportation related (road projects, transit projects & TTC operating costs)
Supporting May 2011 rollout of BIXI program (downtown bike share program over short distances)
The Purpose of an LRT
Use available road space more efficiently Move people instead of vehicles Revitalize communities via streetscapes Easier/affordable access for everyone
…to work…to the game
…to the store …to school
…to the Dr.
Why Finch West?
Primary urban street providing continuous east-west mobility
3 areas designated as Growth Avenues bringing in more riders Yonge St to Bathurst St Jane & Finch intersection Weston Rd section in Emery Village
Servicing priority neighbourhoods and thousands of low income families
Existing road length will accommodate tracks Route includes York U and Humber College
Why an LRT?
2,000 riders per hour (peak time) needed to sustain buses in mixed traffic
10,000 riders per hour (peak time) needed for subway to be economically efficient
The practical choice….LRTFinch West LRT forecasts 2,300 to 2,800
riders per hour (peak time)Many more societal/local benefits
Benefits: Economy
Stimulates the job marketLarge-scale: manufacturing, operations,
maintenance, energy productionSmall-scale: local job creation
Stimulates local businesses Greater visibility/exposure Influx of new customersNew businesses emerge
Benefits: Safety
Pedestrian/CyclistsWelcoming road design to pedestrians
Signalized crossoversPedestrian platforms at LRT stopsMore “eyes on the street”Revitalized streetscape
Secure cycling routeBike lanes separating cyclists from vehicles 17 km of bike lanes
Benefits: Health
Large-scale Cleaner energy source (electrical) Decreases green house gases and disease causing
pollutants Improve air quality Decrease respiratory diseases Decrease hospitalizations & health care costs
Small-scale Promotes local active transportation
(walking and cycling)
War on Cars?
2 vehicular lanes in east-west direction Vehicular access remains the same
Left turn lanes and signalized intersections Vehicular traffic controlled
Reduce single occupancy vehicular (SOV) trips Vehicular traffic moves quicker
Bike lanes Vehicular traffic not slowed down by cyclists
Raised platform Vehicular traffic restricted to designated
u-turn and left turn crossings
VS.
Finch LRT Cross Section
Problem Solution
Problem - raised platform Solution - road markings designating LRT
restricted zones with enforcement/penalties Outcome – does not restrict/disrupt vehicular
traffic for commuters, deliveries and emergency services
A Growing Finch Ave W…
Growth Plans/Development Finch Centre Area Growth Plan Emergy Village Growth Plan York University Growth Plan Downsview Growth Plan Finch/Sentinel Condo Development
Institutional Growth Humber College New Master Plan to serve a
growing student population Additional growth and investment at North York
General and Etobicoke General Hospital
The BIG Picture - Toronto
“…only a comprehensive, regional transit plan will help clear our roads and manage commuting times. Ford and his administration need to see the bigger picture and get cracking.”
Editorial, North York Mirror, Feb 4, 2011
70% of Torontonians drive cars to work and spend on average 80 minutes each day commuting
Toronto ranked the worst for commuting time when compared with 19 international cities
Source: Toronto Board of Trade Study, March 2010
The BIG Picture - GTHA 25 YEARS FROM NOW
Transportation Mode / Commute Times TODAY NO ACTION ACTION
Population over 6 million 8.6 million 8.6 million
Average distance travelled by car per day per person 26 25 19
% of people living 2 km of rapid transit 42% 47% 81%
Total length of rapid transit service in GTHA 500 km 525 km 1,725 km
% of commuters with 45 min or less commute by transit 38% 30% 56%
% of commuters with 45 min or less commute by car 60% 49% 63%
Average time spent commuting per day per person 82 min 109 min 77 min
Source: The Big Move, Metrolinx, November 2008
LRT Lines vs. Subway Line
LRT Plan vs. Light LRT Plan
Calgary LRT A Success!
2nd busiest LRT in North America Carries 270,000 people on the average
weekday, half of all Calgary transit riders First line opened May 1981 grown to three
lines with 38 stations Fourth line underway 2 more lines planned Annual number of riders has more than
doubled over the past decade to 75.8 million, far outpacing the growth in the city’s population. Source: Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail, Jan 29, 2011
LRT Myths
Myth #1 – Surface trains will not work in the winter.False - LRT still runs in Calgary and Edmonton during
the winter months.
Myth #2 - Impractical to build rail lines on low-density suburban routes like Sheppard, Finch and Eglinton.
False - Calgary’s LRT goes through less-dense terrain, passing sprawling subdivisions and malls. People take the bus or drive their cars to LRT stations, then ride the LRT to jobs downtown. Nearly half of all downtown workers arrive by LRT.
Calgary C-Train (LRT)
“Our experience out here in Calgary is that it actually works very, very well,” says Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi when asked about Mr. Ford’s plan to kill LRT. “I think sometimes people are a bit scared of it because they think it’s like streetcars running in traffic. But if it’s done well it can work brilliantly at a fraction of the cost of going underground.”
Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail, Jan 29, 2011
LRT Examples
LRT in Oregon (USA)LRT in Houston, Texas (USA)
Candidate for Toronto LRT
Complete Streets – “streets for everyone”
Incorporate all transportation modes (driving, public transit, cycling & walking)
Designed and operated to allow safe access for all users (disabled, seniors, youth…everyone)
Complete Streets – “streets for everyone”
Let's work towards B!
A B