Toronto Council OKs new light rail work
Toronto has given the green light to even more light rail transit (LRT) work.
Council voted unanimously on June 15 to advance work on the Eglinton East and Waterfront East LRT projects.
The Eglinton East LRT is a planned, 15-kilometre line that will run from Kennedy Station through the University of Toronto Scarborough to Malvern, with as many as 21 stops and connections to GO Transit.
The Waterfront East line, meanwhile, will serve the East Bayfront area along Queens Quay, from Bay Street to Cherry Street, connecting north to the Distillery District and south to Commissioners Road.
“We’re seeing unprecedented transit expansion in our city,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “These two LRT projects are just as important as the other major transit projects already under construction. For the first time in our city’s history, we have a more than $28 billion transit plan approved and funded by all three governments – the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto. I am just as determined to get both the Eglinton East LRT and Waterfront East LRT built because I know they will make a meaningful difference for everyone travelling in these areas.”
The Eglinton East line will provide transit access to historically underserved communities, travel through or adjacent to seven Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and bring higher-order transit within walking distance to 49,000 residents.
Council has directed staff to advance the Transit Project Assessment Process and 10 percent design for a distinct service concept with an at-grade connection at Kennedy Station. The service concept will provide an estimated $2.1 billion in cost savings, reduce construction by up to four years, reduce property impacts for 21 properties on Eglinton Avenue West, and provide design and operational flexibility, allowing for more frequent service as needed.
City of Toronto staff will continue to refine the design of an at-grade Kennedy Station connection, with the goal of enhancing the transit customer experience. Following further work on the distinct service concept, staff will report back in Q3 2023 with a Class 4 cost estimate and updated initial business case.
The Waterfront East line, meanwhile, is being designed via a partnership between the city, the Toronto Transit Commission and Waterfront Toronto.
Since December 2020, the design of the Waterfront East LRT has been advanced to close to 30 percent. The latest council vote directs city staff to finalize the 30 percent design, and conduct an assessment of constructability and coordination with other major infrastructure projects in the area.
The results of this work will be reported in the second quarter of 2023, along with a recommended scope, updated cost estimate, and a funding, financing and implementation strategy for the project.