FINCH WEST LRT PROJECT

July 9, 2014 | Julius Banquet Centre

2201 Finch Avenue West

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Metrolinx, an agency of the Government of Ontario under the Metrolinx Act,

2006, was created to improve the coordination

and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and

Hamilton Area (GTHA).

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Metrolinx

Toronto Transit Projects

Toronto Transit Projects

• Finch West LRT: represents $1B of the $8.4B investment by the Government of Ontario to expand and improve transit in Toronto

• 2010: the City of Toronto completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of bus service on Finch Avenue from Finch Station at Yonge Street on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway line to Humber College

• November 2012: Metrolinx, the City of Toronto and the TTC signed a Master Agreement which included the Finch West LRT project

• Metrolinx is responsible for the project delivery, and TTC (under contract with Metrolinx) will operate the service.

Finch Avenue: Current Situation

• The 36 Finch West bus is top 3 busiest bus routes in Toronto with about 42,600 passengers per weekday.

• Frequent bus service operating in mixed traffic and so

close together results in “bunching.”• Forecasted demands (to 2031) would require 32 to 39

‘articulated’ buses or 45 to 55 ‘standard’ buses per hour.

Proposed Alignment

• 11 kilometres of light rail transit in a neighbourhood that needs more transit: along Finch Avenue from Finch West subway station (at Keele Street) to Humber College.

• Replaces 35 morning and 29 afternoon peak period buses from existing lanes of traffic

• Provides rapid transit to 42,600 passengers per weekday• Up to 18 stops along the alignment• Provides rapid transit connection at Finch West Station

(of the new Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension).

Project Details

• LRT service supports existing and future ridership demands. – The projected ridership for the Finch corridor is 2,800

passengers per hour in the peak direction by 2031.

• LRT cars can be added or removed easily, thus providing flexibility to accommodate ridership demands.

• The existing 36m right-of-way along the majority of Finch Avenue will be able to accommodate the addition of the LRT trackway and maintain two lanes of through traffic in either direction.

Why LRT?

High Capacity

A light rail vehicle car carries about three times the number of passengers as a bus.

• The LRT will provide service that is over 20% faster than buses in mixed traffic today.

• Priority signaling at intersections will also make the service more reliable.

• Designated bicycle lanes, which currently do not exist along Finch, will be provided along the entire length of the LRT corridor.

• An investment in improved transit provides the opportunity for an enhanced streetscape to accommodate future growth along Finch Avenue.

Project Benefits

Reliable. Convenient. Comfortable.

• dedicated transit line for reliable service

• predictable travel times• traffic signal coordination• automated fare vending

machines• next vehicle arrival screens• similar to Highway 7 viva

rapidways currently under construction

Proven Technology

• LRTs are used around the world, including cities with climates similar to Toronto like Edmonton, Calgary and Minneapolis, and international cities like Paris and Stockholm.

Accessible. Multiple Doors. PRESTO.

• Multiple entrances and low floors to ensure fast and accessible boarding.

• Each vehicle will use PRESTO proof-of-payment system.

Made-in-Ontario Technology

• 4 sets of doors per car (2 single, 2 double)• up to 2 cars per trip can be supported on Finch• high-tech, air conditioned vehicles made in Thunder Bay• LRT service will be operated by TTC and fully integrated

into the existing Toronto transit system

Typical Surface Alignment

• The LRT will run on dedicated lanes in the middle of the roadway. • Finch Avenue will be widened to maintain existing lanes of traffic.*

(*Some narrowing at the CP Bridge west of Highway 400.)

Typical Alignment: Intersection

Typical Left Turn Arrangement

• Mid-block exits guided to traffic signals for left turns.

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Project Status

• The Finch West LRT represents a $1B investment in expanded and improved transit in the City of Toronto. • The project is fully funded and approved.• EA completed in 2010.

• preliminary/detailed design engineering work: 2014-2016• construction: 2016-2020• in-service: 2020

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Consideration of Potential Impacts

• Metrolinx will build on the approved Environmental Assessment for the Finch West LRT.

• In the design process that is now beginning, Metrolinx will address potential impacts to the local community.

• Key elements to be addressed include:• trucking access along Finch Avenue and

throughout the community• traffic impacts• streetscape along Finch Avenue

Financial Close

Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued

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2019 2020 2021

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Issued

Design and Construction Timeline

Project Timeline

2015 2016 2017 20182009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Maintenance & Storage Facility Environmental Assessment Consultations

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Questions?

WEBSITE www.metrolinx.com/finchwest

EMAIL finchwest@metrolinx.com

PHONE 416-782-8118

TTY 1-800-387-3652