Item - 2015.PG8.13
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on December 9, 2015 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Planning and Growth Management Committee on November 16, 2015. It is being forwarded to City Council without recommendations. It will be considered by City Council on December 9, 2015.
PG8.13 - Davenport Community Rail-Rail Grade Separation
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- 17 - Davenport, 18 - Davenport
City Council Decision
City Council on December 9 and 10, 2015, adopted the following:
1. City Council communicate to Metrolinx that it opposes the overpass grade separation option within the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), and supports a tunnel option for this rail grade separation.
2. City Council request Metrolinx to reconsider the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Project and consider the tunnel option.
3. City Council, in acknowledging the good work of Metrolinx and the Province in constructing the Weston Tunnel, request Metrolinx and the Province to adopt a similar approach that integrates community concerns and mitigates the local impact of this initiative.
4. City Council request the Premier of Ontario to intervene in the matter and request the Mayor to meet with the Premier as soon as possible to express Council's concerns with the Metrolinx plans.
5. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to submit the City's position to the Provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change, with copy to the Environmental Commissioner for Ontario.
6. City Council direct staff to reiterate Council's position that elected officials should have seats on the GO / Metrolinx Board.
7. City Council request the City Manager to report back on Metrolinx's response to the City's position.
8. City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the Council's decision on this Item to the local Members of Provincial Parliament.
9. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report in early 2016 on the "Missing Link" initiative and its merits as a key element of the freight rail network serving the City and the GTA.
10. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B to include in subsequent reports, information on the existing cost-sharing agreements and the cost-sharing expectation of Metrolinx for this project.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-85826.pdf
(November 13, 2015) Report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on the Davenport Community Rail-Rail Grade Separation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-85825.pdf
Background Information (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-86443.pdf
(December 9, 2015) Letter from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning addressed to James T. Purkis, Executive Vice President, Regional Express Rail, Metrolinx (PG8.13b)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-86644.pdf
Communications (City Council)
(December 6, 2015) E-mail from Hema Vyas (CC.Supp.PG8.13.2)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from John Apostolides (CC.Supp.PG8.13.3)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Geoff Morgan (CC.Supp.PG8.13.4)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Jennifer Gillespie (CC.Supp.PG8.13.5)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Philip Stewart-Bowes (CC.Supp.PG8.13.6)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Judy Land (CC.Supp.PG8.13.7)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Roger Serpa (CC.Supp.PG8.13.8)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Randall Boessenkool (CC.Supp.PG8.13.9)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Stephen Eddy (CC.Supp.PG8.13.10)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Pamela Rahn (CC.Supp.PG8.13.11)
(December 7, 2015) E-mail from Jacqueline Land (CC.Supp.PG8.13.12)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Jennifer Allan (CC.Supp.PG8.13.13)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Clive Zagno and family (CC.Supp.PG8.13.14)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Scott Dobson (CC.New.PG8.13.15)
(December 8, 2015) Letter from Laura Zegler, Chair, Options for Davenport (CC.New.PG8.13.16)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Dorie Smith (CC.New.PG8.13.17)
(December 8, 2015) Letter from Sam Barbieri (CC.New.PG8.13.18)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Nelia Glover (CC.New.PG8.13.19)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Joseph Taylor (CC.New.PG8.13.20)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Brent Cehan (CC.New.PG8.13.21)
(December 4, 2015) Letter from James T. Purkis, Executive Vice President, Regional Express Rail, Metrolinx (CC.New.PG8.13.22)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/cc/comm/communicationfile-57723.pdf
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from David White (CC.New.PG8.13.23)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Rebecca Pasternak Mirsky (CC.New.PG8.13.24)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Victor Gedris (CC.New.PG8.13.25)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Scott Stevenson (CC.New.PG8.13.26)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Dan Shalinsky (CC.New.PG8.13.27)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Bev Calder (CC.New.PG8.13.28)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Michelle Guy (CC.New.PG8.13.29)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Stacey Paterson (CC.New.PG8.13.30)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Kelly Calheiros (CC.New.PG8.13.31)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Natalka Markulyn (CC.New.PG8.13.32)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Carmine Scioscia (CC.New.PG8.13.33)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Beverley Yu (CC.New.PG8.13.34)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Maureen Brown (CC.New.PG8.13.35)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Chanda Chevannes (CC.New.PG8.13.36)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Erella Ganon (CC.New.PG8.13.37)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Elizabeth Littlejohn (CC.New.PG8.13.38)
(December 8, 2015) E-mail from Jay Bertagnolli (CC.New.PG8.13.39)
(December 9, 2015) E-mail from Christine McKenzie (CC.New.PG8.13.40)
(December 9, 2015) E-mail from Vince Ambra (CC.New.PG8.13.41)
(December 9, 2015) Petition from Councillor Ana Bailão, Ward 18, Davenport, headed "Options for Davenport", containing the names/signatures of approximately 1,096 persons, filed during the Routine Matters portion of the meeting (CC.New)
Motions (City Council)
That :
1. City Council adopt the following recommendations contained in the supplementary report (December 3, 2015) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning [PG8.13a]:
1. City Council communicate to Metrolinx that it opposes the overpass grade separation option within the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), and supports a tunnel option for this rail grade separation.
2. The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division submit the City's position to the Provincial Minister of Environment and Climate Change, with copy to the Environmental Commissioner for Ontario.
3. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, to report in early 2016 on the "Missing Link" initiative and its merits as a key element of the freight rail network serving the City and GTA.
2. City Council request the Premier of Ontario to intervene in the matter and request the Mayor to meet with the Premier as soon as possible to express Council's concerns with the Metrolinx plans.
3. City Council request Metrolinx to reconsider the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Project and consider the tunnel option.
Vote (Amend Item) Dec-10-2015 11:35 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Shiner - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 38 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are John Campbell |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That:
1. In the event that Metrolinx proceeds with the Overpass option for the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to continue to work with Metrolinx in ensuring their fulfillment of key design directions and performance measures, that at a minimum includes the securing of a station at Bloor Street and key necessary mitigating measures/projects to be undertaken by Metrolinx, and to report in early 2016 on the status of this work in order to protect and foster the revitalization of the local community and the City of Toronto for future generations.
That Councillor Bailão be permitted to withdraw her motion 2.
That City Council amend Part 1 of motion 1 by Councillor Shiner by deleting the words "supports a tunnel option for this rail grade separation" and inserting the words "and that Metrolinx and the City develop other feasible options" so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council adopt the following recommendations contained in the supplementary report (December 3, 2015) from the Deputy City Manager and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning [PG8.13a]:
1. City Council communicate to Metrolinx that it opposes the overpass grade separation option within the Davenport Rail Grade Separation Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), and that Metrolinx and the City develop other feasible options.
Vote (Amend Motion) Dec-10-2015 11:32 AM
Result: Lost | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Holyday - motion 3 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 15 | Members that voted Yes are John Campbell, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Paula Fletcher, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Chin Lee, Ron Moeser, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, John Tory |
Total members that voted No: 22 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, John Filion, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, David Shiner, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that were Absent: 8 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Sarah Doucette, Rob Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
Vote (Amend Motion) Dec-10-2015 11:33 AM
Result: Lost | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Holyday - motion 3 - REVOTE |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 11 | Members that voted Yes are John Campbell, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Chin Lee, Ron Moeser, Jaye Robinson |
Total members that voted No: 28 | Members that voted No are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, City Council reconsider the vote on motion 3 by Councillor Holyday.
That:
1. City Council direct staff to reiterate Council's position that elected officials should have seats on the GO / Metrolinx Board.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Dec-10-2015 11:36 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Perks - motion 4a |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 38 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Josh Matlow |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That:
1. City Council request the City Manager to report back on Metrolinx's response to the City's position.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Dec-10-2015 11:36 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Perks - motion 4b |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 39 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That City Council direct the City Clerk to forward a copy of the Council decision on this Item to the local MPPs.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Dec-10-2015 11:37 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Nunziata - motion 5a |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 39 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That City Council, in acknowledging the good work of Metrolinx and the Province in constructing the Weston Tunnel, request them to adopt a similar approach that integrates community concerns and mitigates the local impact of this initiative.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Dec-10-2015 11:38 AM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PG8.13 - Nunziata - motion 5b |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 39 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Shelley Carroll, Raymond Cho, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Pam McConnell, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Ron Moeser, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Jaye Robinson, David Shiner, John Tory, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 6 | Members that were absent are Michelle Berardinetti, Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
That City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B to include in subsequent reports, information on the existing cost-sharing agreements and the cost-sharing expectation of Metrolinx for this project.
PG8.13 - Davenport Community Rail-Rail Grade Separation
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Without Recs
- Wards:
- 17 - Davenport, 18 - Davenport
Committee Recommendations
The Planning and Growth Management Committee submits the item to City Council without recommendation.
Decision Advice and Other Information
The Planning and Growth Management Committee:
1. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to further engage Metrolinx representatives to seek clarification with respect to the commencement of the Davenport Rail Grade Separation TPAP process in January, 2016, rather than commencement in Spring, 2016, as originally committed by Metrolinx, and report directly to the December meeting of City Council on the outcome of those discussions and any further action as may be appropriate.
Origin
Summary
The Davenport Community rail-rail grade separation initiative on the Barrie line is part of the Metrolinx Regional Express Rail (RER) program, which envisions the expansion of 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 is expected to be delivered over the next ten years by Metrolinx. The City of Toronto supports this overall commitment to transit expansion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).
City staff and the public were advised by Metrolinx in the spring of 2015 of their intention to conduct an Environmental Assessment under the streamlined Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the grade separation of the Barrie GO rail line and the CP rail line north of Dupont St, and that the option under consideration is to elevate the GO line on an overpass structure (i.e. the proposed Davenport Corridor Overpass). The preliminary design for the overpass structure is approximately 1.4 km in length, beginning just north of Bloor St W, rising to a rail elevation height of approximately 8.4 m at the CP corridor, and returning back to the existing grade just south of Davenport Rd.
In considering this initiative, City Council adopted motions in March (MM5.33) and July (MM8.40) of this year, supporting a list of issues that Metrolinx needs to address regarding the proposed Davenport Community Overpass, and also requesting that Metrolinx extend its project schedule by two to three months to provide more time to address City staff and community comments.
City staff have subsequently reviewed information provided to date in support of the elevated option, as well as additional work on the assessment of trench and tunnel options, and determined the tunnel option, on balance, represents greater long term City building benefits compared to the overpass option. Key benefits are the removal of visual and noise impacts compared to the overpass, and the translation of these benefits into positive long term societal impacts. However, additional time is required in advance of issuing the TPAP (Transit Project Assessment Process) Notice of Commencement to complete this review and to work with the local community to achieve a balanced solution.
In late October, Metrolinx agreed to pause TPAP Notice of Commencement until Spring 2016, however, in a November 12, 2015, letter from Bruce McCuaig, President and Chief Executive Officer at Metrolinx, this timing was advanced to January, 2016, citing any postponement beyond January would result in delays to increase transit service and electrify the corridor within the 10-year program established by the Province of Ontario.
There is a need to seek clarification from Metrolinx on how pausing this study for a period of 4-5 months to complete a comprehensive review of the options and address community concerns might impact the 10-year service expansion plans on this corridor. Given the fact that the next reporting cycle to bring this matter before Committee and Council will be in January, which is too late to take action on the current Metrolinx TPAP timelines, this report recommends staff be directed to immediately engage Metrolinx to seek clarification on the timing for commencement of the TPAP process, and prepare a supplementary report to City Council's December meeting to provide information on the outcome of these discussions and any further action as may be appropriate.
Concurrent with the Metrolinx Davenport Community Overpass initiative, earlier this year the City of Mississauga, in partnership with the City of Toronto, Milton and Cambridge, retained IBI to undertake a study to determine the feasibility, costs and business case of constructing a bypass route north of the City for freight rail on the CP line. The study was recently completed and notes there is a compelling case to engage Metrolinx, CN, CP and the concerned municipalities in further discussion of this initiative. This could dramatically alter train activity at the Davenport Diamond and hence the need for a rail grade separation at this junction.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-85826.pdf
(November 13, 2015) Report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on the Davenport Community Rail-Rail Grade Separation
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-85825.pdf