Item - 2015.EX2.2

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.         City Council direct the City Manager, in partnership with the Province, to carry out the accelerated SmartTrack work plan as described in the report (January 16, 2015) from the City Manager.

2.         City Council request the Province and Metrolinx to include the following additional SmartTrack elements in the design and review of Regional Express Rail (RER) on the Stouffville/Lakeshore East GO corridor from Unionville to Union Station, and on the Kitchener GO corridor from Mount Dennis to Union Station:

a.         A service frequency of better than 15 minutes;

b.         All-stop service in both directions;

c.         Accelerated electrification of the entire SmartTrack line;

d.         Transit service integration;

e.         Integrated fares between GO Transit and the Toronto Transit Commission;

f.          Seven additional stations on the Stouffville GO/Lakeshore East GO corridor (totaling 14 with Union Station); and

g.          Four additional stations including one south of Bloor Street between Queen Street and Dundas Street West, plus the already planned new station at Mount Dennis on the Kitchener GO corridor.

3.         City Council direct the City Manager, in partnership with Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission, to undertake a feasibility study of SmartTrack options on the Eglinton Avenue West corridor, from Mount Dennis station to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre, including:

a.         At least 3 stations;

b.         Integration with the Kitchener GO corridor/ Regional Express Rail plan;

c.         Public consultation to inform the study; and

d.         Preparing the feasibility study as a background study for the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), subject to further Council direction.

4.         City Council request the City Manager in collaboration with provincial officials and other funding partners to prepare:

a.         A strategy for the sharing of the capital costs of implementing the SmartTrack enhancements to Regional Express Rail as referenced in Recommendations 2 and 3 above; and

b.         A strategy for the financing of the City's share of the capital costs as identified above.

5.         City Council amend the 2015 Interim Estimates in Item EX1.6 to include additional funding of up to $850,000 in the 2015 interim capital estimates, of the Transit Expansion Initiatives capital project and to include additional funding of up to $900,000 in the 2016 capital budget estimates, to conduct the studies, and analyses, as outlined in Recommendation 2 and 3 above.

6.         City Council request the Province and Metrolinx to work in partnership with the City and other affected municipalities on the Regional Express Rail public outreach and engagement strategy, and include SmartTrack as a component of the strategy.

7.         City Council direct the City Manager, in partnership with the Province, Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission, to prepare a report for Executive Committee consideration for Fall 2015 on the following:

a.         Kitchener GO and Stouffville/Lakeshore East GO Regional Express Rail /SmartTrack service concept, infrastructure plan, and business case analysis;

b.          Eglinton West Corridor feasibility study findings described in Recommendation 3 above, including options for rapid transit on the Eglinton West Corridor;

c.         High level cost estimates and planning analysis for all three corridors;

d.         Capital cost sharing and City financing strategy;

e.         Plan for undertaking additional Environmental Assessments (EAs) that may be required on all corridors; and

f.          Update on public consultation activities.

8.         City Council request the City Manager to include an additional initial element of the feasibility study outlined in Recommendation 3 above, to assess whether or not a further option should be screened into the review of SmartTrack (i.e. continuing SmartTrack north from the Mount Dennis station to the airport area, including the existing Weston GO station, and two additional stations at Islington and Woodbine and then connect to the Airport Corporate Centre by way of a new heavy rail link) and to report on the results of the screening at the first public consultation.

9.         City Council request the Toronto Transit Commission to report to Executive Committee in Fall 2015 on a service integration plan that highlights dedicated express bus routes for efficient connections to proposed SmartTrack stations, where applicable.

On July 24, 2014, the Ontario Legislature passed the Building Opportunity and Securing Our Future Act (2014 Budget Measures), which included a $15 billion commitment to funding transit expansion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The Province made a commitment to deliver Regional Express Rail (RER) which envisions expanding GO Transit rail service across all corridors. RER will provide two-way, all-day, GO service as frequent as every 15 minutes through electrification of provincially owned GO rail corridors. The RER program will be delivered over the next ten years by the Province's regional transportation agency, Metrolinx.

The SmartTrack plan builds upon the provincial RER initiative, and proposes a 53 kilometre, all-day two-way frequent service operating within two GO Rail corridors (Kitchener and Stouffville/Lakeshore East) and a new heavy rail corridor along Eglinton Avenue West to the Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre. With connections to Mississauga and Markham, the regional line proposes 22 station stops, of which 13 are new. The proposal indicates the project is to be delivered within 7 years. The SmartTrack plan requires approval from both City Council and the Province, as the line would be delivered and operated on provincially owned GO Transit rail corridors.

On December 11, 2014, City Council directed the City Manager to work with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the Provincial Government and its agencies to provide an accelerated work plan for a review of the SmartTrack and RER plans. A joint review of the infrastructure requirements, planning, social, economic development considerations, and incremental costs of implementing the SmartTrack plan will be undertaken through several phases of work outlined in this report.

Metrolinx has a work plan for RER which includes developing the service concept (i.e. frequency, type of service), identifying infrastructure needs, and developing a phasing strategy to determine the optimal sequencing of delivering RER to all GO rail corridors. Metrolinx is also undertaking a business case analysis to prioritize RER with other Next Wave projects identified in The Big Move regional transportation plan. Metrolinx will be submitting its business case analysis for RER, and other Next Wave projects to the Province in Q2 2015. A response from the Province is anticipated by Q3 2015.

The City has established a joint committee with the Ministry of Transportation, Metrolinx, and the TTC to integrate the SmartTrack plan with RER. The committee has prepared an accelerated work plan which compresses the schedule typically required to review a complex intergovernmental project like SmartTrack. Given the aggressive timelines committed to by the Province on the delivery of RER, the additional work to assess SmartTrack enhancements has been factored into the work plan.

The City and TTC will work with Metrolinx to incorporate SmartTrack in the business cases for Kitchener GO and Stoufville/Lakeshore East GO corridors for provincial consideration. The results of these business cases as approved by the Province will be presented to Council in the fall. The technical feasibility of rapid transit options on a new rail corridor along Eglinton West to Mississauga Airport Corporate Centre will also be reviewed. The City's preliminary business case for SmartTrack on the Eglinton West Corridor will be presented to the Province and City Council in fall 2015.

The work plan proposes, if required, a second report to City Council early in 2016 to provide the final business case, funding strategy and implementation plan for the Eglinton West Corridor, subject to further Council direction.

Ongoing negotiations regarding project governance, financing and project delivery are underway among City and funding partners. Staff recognize the work plan envisioned may require adjustment reflective of intergovernmental discussions and further direction from City Council.