Decongesting Toronto’s Transportation (Circulatory) System

One LRT Line at a Time…

Circulation is to the Heart as….

Circulatory systemPresent State: arteries

cloggedProblem: blood vessels

restricted or blocked slowing down blood flow

Solution: increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol

Transportation is to Toronto

Transportation SystemPresent State: roads congestedProblem: movement of people, goods and

services restricted or blocked slowing down traffic flow

Solution: increase sustainable transportation and decrease single occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips

Blocked vs. Flowing Roads

BLOCKEDFLOWING

Council Agrees

December 2011 Council voted to make TTC an essential service

January 2011, 3 of 5 City funding requests to Province were transportation related (road projects, transit projects & TTC operating costs)

Supporting May 2011 rollout of BIXI program (downtown bike share program over short distances)

The Purpose of an LRT

Use available road space more efficiently Move people instead of vehicles Revitalize communities via streetscapes Easier/affordable access for everyone

…to work…to the game

…to the store …to school

…to the Dr.

Why Finch West?

Primary urban street providing continuous east-west mobility

3 areas designated as Growth Avenues bringing in more riders Yonge St to Bathurst St Jane & Finch intersection Weston Rd section in Emery Village

Servicing priority neighbourhoods and thousands of low income families

Existing road length will accommodate tracks Route includes York U and Humber College

Why an LRT?

2,000 riders per hour (peak time) needed to sustain buses in mixed traffic

10,000 riders per hour (peak time) needed for subway to be economically efficient

The practical choice….LRTFinch West LRT forecasts 2,300 to 2,800

riders per hour (peak time)Many more societal/local benefits

Benefits: Economy

Stimulates the job marketLarge-scale: manufacturing, operations,

maintenance, energy productionSmall-scale: local job creation

Stimulates local businesses Greater visibility/exposure Influx of new customersNew businesses emerge

Benefits: Safety

Pedestrian/CyclistsWelcoming road design to pedestrians

Signalized crossoversPedestrian platforms at LRT stopsMore “eyes on the street”Revitalized streetscape

Secure cycling routeBike lanes separating cyclists from vehicles 17 km of bike lanes

Benefits: Health

Large-scale Cleaner energy source (electrical) Decreases green house gases and disease causing

pollutants Improve air quality Decrease respiratory diseases Decrease hospitalizations & health care costs

Small-scale Promotes local active transportation

(walking and cycling)

War on Cars?

2 vehicular lanes in east-west direction Vehicular access remains the same

Left turn lanes and signalized intersections Vehicular traffic controlled

Reduce single occupancy vehicular (SOV) trips Vehicular traffic moves quicker

Bike lanes Vehicular traffic not slowed down by cyclists

Raised platform Vehicular traffic restricted to designated

u-turn and left turn crossings

VS.

Finch LRT Cross Section

Problem Solution

Problem - raised platform Solution - road markings designating LRT

restricted zones with enforcement/penalties Outcome – does not restrict/disrupt vehicular

traffic for commuters, deliveries and emergency services

A Growing Finch Ave W…

Growth Plans/Development Finch Centre Area Growth Plan Emergy Village Growth Plan York University Growth Plan Downsview Growth Plan Finch/Sentinel Condo Development

Institutional Growth Humber College New Master Plan to serve a

growing student population Additional growth and investment at North York

General and Etobicoke General Hospital

The BIG Picture - Toronto

“…only a comprehensive, regional transit plan will help clear our roads and manage commuting times. Ford and his administration need to see the bigger picture and get cracking.”

Editorial, North York Mirror, Feb 4, 2011

70% of Torontonians drive cars to work and spend on average 80 minutes each day commuting

Toronto ranked the worst for commuting time when compared with 19 international cities

Source: Toronto Board of Trade Study, March 2010

The BIG Picture - GTHA    25 YEARS FROM NOW

Transportation Mode / Commute Times TODAY NO ACTION ACTION

Population over 6 million 8.6 million 8.6 million

Average distance travelled by car per day per person 26 25 19

% of people living 2 km of rapid transit 42% 47% 81%

Total length of rapid transit service in GTHA 500 km 525 km 1,725 km

% of commuters with 45 min or less commute by transit 38% 30% 56%

% of commuters with 45 min or less commute by car 60% 49% 63%

Average time spent commuting per day per person 82 min 109 min 77 min

Source: The Big Move, Metrolinx, November 2008

LRT Lines vs. Subway Line

LRT Plan vs. Light LRT Plan

Calgary LRT A Success!

2nd busiest LRT in North America Carries 270,000 people on the average

weekday, half of all Calgary transit riders First line opened May 1981 grown to three

lines with 38 stations Fourth line underway 2 more lines planned Annual number of riders has more than

doubled over the past decade to 75.8 million, far outpacing the growth in the city’s population. Source: Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail, Jan 29, 2011

LRT Myths

Myth #1 – Surface trains will not work in the winter.False - LRT still runs in Calgary and Edmonton during

the winter months.

Myth #2 - Impractical to build rail lines on low-density suburban routes like Sheppard, Finch and Eglinton.

False - Calgary’s LRT goes through less-dense terrain, passing sprawling subdivisions and malls. People take the bus or drive their cars to LRT stations, then ride the LRT to jobs downtown. Nearly half of all downtown workers arrive by LRT. 

Calgary C-Train (LRT)

“Our experience out here in Calgary is that it actually works very, very well,” says Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi when asked about Mr. Ford’s plan to kill LRT. “I think sometimes people are a bit scared of it because they think it’s like streetcars running in traffic. But if it’s done well it can work brilliantly at a fraction of the cost of going underground.”

Marcus Gee, Globe and Mail, Jan 29, 2011

LRT Examples

LRT in Oregon (USA)LRT in Houston, Texas (USA)

Candidate for Toronto LRT

Complete Streets – “streets for everyone”

Incorporate all transportation modes (driving, public transit, cycling & walking)

Designed and operated to allow safe access for all users (disabled, seniors, youth…everyone)

Complete Streets – “streets for everyone”

Let's work towards B!

A B