Toronto LRT Information Blog

I have been on the fence about concrete medians. Cited as being necessary for emergency vehicle use as well as possible replacement bus service, I more or less accepted them even though they typically drive the cost per kilometre of light rail construction from about $30 million to $50 million. My main issue was that the TTC was not considering the use of side-of-the-road running where it was practical, such as Brentcliffe to Don Mills and the Richview Expressway lands on Eglinton.

Now, I have seen an alternative that turns this around…

This is in Essen and it strikes me that it would be less expensive than total concrete encasement, both for initial construction as well as later maintenance. If anyone has cost details on this, let me know.

There will be one public meeting dealing with the proposed alignment of the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT at Humber College. Specifically, it involves an official plan amendment dealing with the portion of the line from the intersection of Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard to a terminal at the campus of Humber College located at 203 to 207 Humber College Boulevard.

It will be at City Hall Council Chamber (100 Queen West) on June 16, 2010. The time will be at 10:15 am, or as soon as possible thereafter. Detailed information regarding the proposal, including background information and material and a copy of the proposed Official Plan Amendment may be obtained by contacting Mike Wehkind at 416-392-8572, or by email at mwehkind@toronto.ca

I will post a copy of the notice when one becomes available electronically, or when I scan in the hard copy I have.

At its meeting of May 17, 2010, the City of Toronto Executive Committee recommended that Toronto City Council approve the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) project with an underground service connection to the Sheppard Avenue East Maintenance and Storage Facility. Further details with a map showing the connection track are on this document.

The connection involves a single track in the middle of the tracks on Sheppard starting about half way between Washburn Way and Gateforth Drive and descending into a portal about half way between Gateforth Drive and the top platform for the connection. The converted and extended SRT will pass under Sheppard Avenue at this stop and the connecting track will form a wye with the east (northbound) track of the SRT.

Unfortunately, this connection design eliminates any possibility of future interlining between the two routes. The one thing that may be possible would be to allow out of service SRT trains to continue in revenue service along Sheppard as they head for the car-house, as they do in Melbourne.

The City of Toronto and the TTC have completed an Environmental Project Report on the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT. A copy of the official notice can be seen here.

The 30-day review period started March 24 and runs to April 22. See the notice for the list of locations where the report may be viewed.  It will be officially available online only until April 22, but I have placed a copy of it here (with file sizes in parenthesis):

• Cover and Table of Contents (98 k)
• Executive Summary (290 k)
• Chapter 1 (1.2 M)
• Chapter 2 (3.1 M)
  • Plates, Part 1 (3.0 M)
  • Plates, Part 2 (3.8 M)
• Chapter 3 (1.1 M)
• Chapter 4 (1.3 M)
• Chapter 5 (46 k)
• Chapter 6 (33 k)
• Chapter 7 (410 k)

• Chapter 8 (28 k)

There are also 19 parts of appendices. I expect to add them here, but for now you can go to the official link.

The City of Toronto and the TTC have completed an Environmental Project Report on the Eglinton-Crosstown LRT. A copy of the official notice can be seen here.

The 30-day review period started March 12 and runs to April 11. See the notice for the list of locations where the report may be viewed.  It will be officially available online only until April 11, but I have placed a copy of it here (with file sizes in parenthesis):

• Cover and Table of Contents (2M)
• Executive Summary: Part A (1.2 M) and Part B (1.9 M)
• Section 1 (1.4 M)
• Section 2 Part A (1.5 M - sections 2. to 2.5.3.2 )
• Section 2 Part B (2.1 M - sections 2.5.3.3 to 2.8.2.1)
• Section 2 Part C (2.5 M - sections 2.8.2.2 to 2.12.2.4)
• Section 3 Part A (3.7 M - sections 3. to 3.5.3.1)
• Section 3 Part B (4.9 M - sections 3.5.3.2 to 3.5.6.3)
• Section 3 Part C (4.8 M - sections 3.5.7 to 3.5.7.2)
• Section 3 Part D (4.2 M - sections 3.5.7.3 to 3.5.8.4)
• Section 3 Part E (2.8 M - sections 3.5.8.4 to 3.6.2.3)
• Section 3 Part F (4.9 M - drawing key plus drawings 1 to 46)
• Section 3 Part G (2.6 M - drawings 47 to 65)
• Section 3 Part H (2.0 M - drawings 66 to 89)
• Section 4 Part A (3.2 M - sections 4. to 4.1.2.2)
• Section 4 Part B (4.2 M - sections 4.1.2.3 to 4.2.4.1)

• Section 5-7 and Glossary & References (1.6 M)

There are also three volumes of appendices (in 44 parts!). I expect to add them here, but for now you can go to the official link.

I have a few reservations about their conclusions and am considering submitting these in writing over the next couple of weeks. I will update this post before I forward them.