SmartTrack: Eglinton Avenue West Corridor Feasibility Review

Coordinated Transit Consultation Program Public Information Centre

June 13-25, 2015

Transportation Planning Section | City Planning Division

Overview of Presentation

1. Coordination of rapid transit studies

2. Relief Line Project Assessment

3. Scarborough Subway Extension Project Assessment

4. GO RER/SmartTrack Background

5. SmartTrack: Eglinton Avenue West Corridor Feasibility Review

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Why are we here?

• 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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How is Network Transit Planning Coordinated?• 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 4

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 ModelAn 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

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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

Relief Line Project Assessment

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Relief Line Study Area

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Evaluation Results of Potential Station Locations • 45 potential station

locations were identified and evaluated‒ In Downtown‒ Connection to the

Danforth Subway‒ 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

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ConsultationRelief Line

Consultations are focused on:1. Draft evaluation results for

potential station options2. Potential corridors and

their stations

Corridor ABroadview to

Queen/Richmond

Corridor BPape to

Queen/Richmond

Corridor C Broadview to

King/Wellington

Corridor DPape to

King/Wellington

• Four potential corridors have been identified for further, more detailed consideration

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

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

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Scarborough Subway Extension Project

Assessment

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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

Study AreaScarborough Subway Extension

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Scarborough Subway Extension Current Work

• 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

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ConsultationScarborough Subway Extension

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

corridors• Potential alignments and

station locations

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GO Regional Express Rail

/ SmartTrack

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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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GO 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 Feasibility Review

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The SmartTrack concept builds on RER

SmartTrack Train Technology

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Zurich S-Bahn Source: http://www.stadlerrail.com/media/uploads/factsheets/KISS_DOSBBRE0810e.pdf

Diesel Locomotive Hauled Train

Electric Multiple Unit Train

Electric Multiple Unit trains accelerate faster and can be split into smaller train sets depending on demand.

SmartTrack will use the same trains as GO Transit.

Objectives

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• 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.

Feasibility Review• This feasibility review is only to determine if it is possible to extend heavy rail to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre

• Feasible solutions will require more thorough study and comprehensive engagement with the community and local councillors

• City Council will give direction to staff on next steps in the fall

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Potential Corridors and Conceptual Alignments

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Three corridor options will be tested for feasibility: 1. A continuous heavy rail spur connection from the Kitchener GO

corridor connection by way of Eglinton Avenue West2. A separate heavy rail corridor along Eglinton Avenue West with a

transfer at Mt Dennis3. 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 approved Environmental Assessment for the western portion of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be taken as the base reference case against which other options are evaluated. The LRT plan included potential future access to Pearson Airport.

Potential Corridors and Conceptual Alignments

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1. A continuous heavy rail spur connection from the Kitchener GO corridor connection by way of Eglinton Avenue West

Potential Corridors and Conceptual Alignments

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2. A separate heavy rail corridor along Eglinton Avenue West with a transfer at Mt Dennis

Potential Corridors and Conceptual Alignments

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3. 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

Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Eglinton

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Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Eglinton

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Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Eglinton

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Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Airport

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Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Airport

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Potential Corridors: Continuous Connection - Airport

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Potential Corridors: Separate Service - Eglinton

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Base Reference Case – Eglinton LRT

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Approach to AnalysisThe feasibility of each alignment will be evaluated from the following perspectives:

– Technical (i.e. design and engineering)– Service concept (i.e. ability to integrate with other

transit services)– Financial– Regulatory and legislative– Land use

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Feasibility QuestionsTechnical Analysis: •How could the alignments be constructed?•Could they connect to other existing and planned transit lines?•What would the operational constraints be?

Service Concept Analysis: •What additional infrastructure would be required for SmartTrack to operate on the alignments?•What would be the implication for other services (GO, VIA, UP Express) if additional infrastructure is not added?

Financial Analysis: •What are the estimated costs for constructing, maintaining and operating each of the alignments?

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Feasibility QuestionsRegulatory and Legislative: •What regulatory requirements would apply to the development and operation of the corridor?•What federal and provincial approvals would be required to construct the alignments?

Land-use Analysis: •Would the alignments be compatible with surrounding land uses?•What is the development potential around potential stations?•What impacts could there be on sensitive features?•Is heavy rail appropriate for serving the anticipated ridership considering the surrounding land uses?

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Communications & OutreachThe City and TTC are committed to engaging the public in a way that is transparent, collaborative, inclusive and authentic. The City Planning Division is leading the consultations.

•Communications activities:– Website– Social media

•Consultation and feedback:– Outreach to key community and stakeholder groups as

appropriate– Consultation with City of Mississauga– Traditional public meetings in the review area and across

Toronto– Online consultation 38

TimingEglinton West Corridor

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Current • Identify conceptual alignments• Develop broad screening criteria• Public Consultation in June, 2015

Mid/late Summer

• Evaluate feasibility of conceptual alignments• Rank draft short list of feasible conceptual

alignments• Consultation with City of Mississauga• Public Consultation in September, 2015

Fall • Report to Council on feasible conceptual alignments with recommended option at the same time as reporting on SmartTrack/RER – November, 2015

Future Work (if required)

• Final project review (Transit Project Assessment Process) in 2016

Questions

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