Notice of Commencement of the Transit Project Assessment Study and Open Houses

The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) are holding two Open Houses where you can learn more about this transit project, ask questions and share your comments. Details are as follows:

• April 12, 2010
  6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
  Jean Vanier CSS (959 Midland Avenue)

• April 15, 2010
  6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
  Chinese Cultural Centre (5183 Sheppard Avenue East)
  

Background
As part of Transit City, the City of Toronto and TTC are planning the conversion and extension of the existing Scarborough Rapid Transit (RT) line. The project will support economic development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide effective alternatives to driving. The project will double the passenger capacity of the Scarborough RT and provide fast, reliable and accessible service.

At the Open Houses, TTC and the City will present the preferred design for the Scarborough RT conversion and extension, as well as the identified environmental impacts, proposed mitigation measures and proposed methods of construction.

The existing Scarborough RT line runs 6.5 kilometres from Kennedy Station to McCowan Road. Because the existing vehicles are reaching the end of their life expectancy, the existing exclusive right‐of‐way and stations must be modified to accommodate new LRT vehicles and to expand ridership capacity. The new LRT vehicles will be the same as those to be used on other Transit City Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines.

At Kennedy Station, improvements will also include a more direct connection between the Scarborough RT and Bloor‐Danforth Subway platforms. Plans will also accommodate the new Eglinton Crosstown and Scarborough‐ Malvern LRT lines.

The 4.9 kilometre extension of the Scarborough RT from McCowan Road to Malvern Town Centre will provide rapid transit to northeast Scarborough, including a direct connection to the Sheppard East LRT. The first phase of the project will extend the line 3.4 kilometres from McCowan Station to Sheppard Avenue East, via an exclusive right‐of‐way. The second phase will extend the line 1.5 kilometres to Malvern Town Centre. New bus terminals are planned at Sheppard Avenue and Malvern Town Centre.

The Process
The environmental impact of the Scarborough RT Conversion (including Kennedy Station improvements) and Extension will be assessed in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08, Transit Projects and Greater Toronto Transportation Authority Undertakings (2008). An Environmental Project Report is being prepared as part of the Transit Project Assessment process.

Official Plan Amendment
An Official Plan Amendment will be required to amend the City’s Official Plan, Map 4 ‐ Higher Order Transit Corridors and possibly Map 5‐ Surface Transit Priority Network, to reflect the extension of the Scarborough RT north east from its existing terminus at McCowan Station.

Next Steps
Following the Open Houses, there will be an opportunity to incorporate feedback. Within 120 days, a formal public notice of study completion will then be issued. At that time, an Environmental Project Report will be made available for a 30 day review period on the project website: www.toronto.ca/transitcity (see: Extension of the Scarborough Rapid Transit & Kennedy Station Improvements). The Notice of Completion will include a number of locations to review a hard copy of the report.

For more information
If you would like to provide comments or obtain more information, please contact:

Rick Thompson
Chief Project Manager
Scarborough RT Project
Toronto Transit Commission
Transit City Department
5160 Yonge Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON M2N 6L9
Tel: 416‐392‐6900
Fax: 416‐338‐0251
TTY: 416‐397‐0831
srt@ttc.ca
http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/transit_city/index.htm