Proposed plan would see transit right-of-way on busy street

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Toronto's transit system is set to take a huge leap forward with the introduction of a new light rail line running along Eglinton Avenue.

Transit City, the authority tasked with improving the city's light rail and public transit system, is currently conducting an environmental assessment and examining the viability of a light rail right-of-way running from Kennedy station in Scarborough to Renforth Drive in Etobicoke and possibly as far as Pearson airport.

"Eglinton was established as part of (Toronto's) official plan as a higher-order transit corridor," said Stephanie Rice, Eglinton Crosstown LRT project manager. "It's in the early planning stages right now and we're looking at where we can put proper stop and station locations."

The majority of the line would operate as a streetcar right-of-way along the surface of Eglinton Avenue, although there will be sections where the line is forced underground due to the narrowing of the busy street.

"The main issue we've found with the right-of-way is that between Jane and Leslie, over that section the road isn't wide enough to have 20 to 25 metres of right-of-way in the middle of the street and two lanes of traffic," Rice said. "There will be areas where the line will go underground and we're determining where we'll be transitioning the service (from a surface line) to underground."

The LRT would replace buses along the busy Eglinton Avenue stretch, providing a more reliable, faster and more environmentally friendly alternative to the current transit system.

"The operating speeds on the line will be improved, and the other benefit to having a right-of-way is that the service becomes much more reliable," Rice said. "And because it's electric-powered and isn't run on diesel fuel, there will be some environmental benefits."

Details concerning the project are far from settled, and the City of Toronto is hosting a number of upcoming open houses to showcase the preliminary plans and hear feedback. The city is also uploading more information onto its Transit City website (www.toronto.ca/involved) regularly.

Rice said she hadn't heard many concerns over the possibility of adding a streetcar right-of-way along Eglinton at this point. Given the contentious nature of the St. Clair streetcar right-of-way, however, she said she hopes to use the open houses to help clear up any concerns residents may have.

"We haven't heard much so far, but we're getting in touch with people to get them out to the open houses," she said.

The community open houses will begin on Thursday, Aug. 14, with the inaugural meeting taking place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Forest Hill Memorial Arena. For details on the project or the upcoming open houses, visit www.toronto.ca/involved or call 416-392-6900.

 

Open house information

Thursday, Aug. 14

Forest Hill Memorial Arena, 340 Chaplin Cres.

6:30 to 9 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 19

Leaside Arena, 1073 Millwood Rd.

6:30 to 9 p.m.

 

Monday, Aug. 24

Humber Valley United C, 76 Anglesey Blvd.

6:30 to 9 p.m.

 

Wednesday, Aug. 27

Don Montgomery Community Rec Centre, 2467 Eglinton Ave. E.

6:30 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 4

Richview Baptist Church 1548 Kipling Avenue (just north of Eglinton Ave W.) )

6:30 to 9 p.m.