Item - 2017.EX29.1

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council approve the concepts for the SmartTrack stations outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (November 17, 2017) from the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, as the basis for completing station design work, and authorize the City to act as co-proponents with Metrolinx for, and together commence, the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the SmartTrack stations, which will consider the following station-specific design elements:

a.  St. Clair-Old Weston SmartTrack station will be coordinated with the ongoing work on the St. Clair Avenue West Transportation Master Plan, and all efforts made to advance aspects of that Master Plan concurrently with the station;

 
b.  King-Liberty SmartTrack station will include the consideration of strong connections for pedestrians and cyclists directly into Liberty Village, provision for the King High Line crossing and other enhancements to cycling infrastructure in and through the area;

 
c.  East Harbour SmartTrack station will be fully integrated into the broader Unilever Precinct planning process to support the development of this area as a major employment area;

 
d.  Gerrard-Carlaw SmartTrack station will include entrances that optimize connections with the planned Relief Line station, other transit lines and the broader station area;

 
e.  Lawrence-Kennedy SmartTrack station will feature direct access from the Lawrence Avenue overpass, and will allow for the continued operation of Line 3 until the opening of the Scarborough Subway Extension while optimizing connections to areas of potential future development north of Lawrence Avenue; and

 
f.  Finch-Kennedy SmartTrack station will be integrated with a road-under-rail grade separation being constructed as part of Regional Express Rail, feature direct access from station entrances on Finch Avenue, include new local access roads at the north end of the station to provide for passenger pick up/drop off and consideration of improved access from areas south of the station.

 
2.  City Council request that Metrolinx include strong connections to Bloor Street and all provisions required to improve the network of pedestrian/cycling pathways along the GO corridor that were initiated through the Davenport Diamond Grade Separation project as part of the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) or addenda for the Bloor-Lansdowne GO Regional Express Rail station.

 
3.  City Council request that Metrolinx work in partnership with the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B to advance the Spadina-Front GO Regional Express Rail station, the Rail Deck Park proposal and other aligned capital projects in the rail corridor, and request consideration of a decking structure in the planning, design and engineering work for the Spadina-Front GO Regional Express Rail station, including but not limited to the station's Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) or addenda.

4.  City Council direct staff to continue planning the Eglinton West LRT transit extension concept for the Toronto Segment between Mount Dennis Station and Renforth Station, including:

a. Ten stops as described in Attachment 2 to the report (November 17, 2017) from the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B; and

b. Direct staff to form a working group of community stakeholders in consultation with local councillors, to investigate further grade separation and or tunnelling options to further develop traffic modelling and an enhanced framework that places additional consideration on local community interest.

 
5.  City Council request Metrolinx to engage in discussions with the City on required resources to support timely implementation of the Metrolinx Regional Express Rail program and authorize the City Manager and any other relevant City officials to execute an agreement with Metrolinx to have Metrolinx fund:

a.  Dedicated City staff resources in support of Regional Express Rail implementation in Toronto; and

 
b.  The City's Property Acquisition Unit to provide property acquisition services for transit expansion initiatives to Metrolinx, including the Light Rail Transit and Regional Express Rail programs in Toronto.

 
6.  City Council forward the City's submission on Metrolinx's draft Regional Transportation Plan as outlined in Attachment 5 to the report (November 17, 2017) from the City Manager and the Deputy City Manager, Cluster B, to Metrolinx and the Ministry of Transportation.

In July 2016, City Council conditionally approved the SmartTrack concept, based on initial business cases included in the report EX16.1 Developing Toronto's Transit Network Plan to 2031. The SmartTrack concept includes two components. The first component is an integrated SmartTrack/Regional Express Rail (RER) service on the Kitchener and Stouffville/Lakeshore East GO corridors with service frequencies of 6-10 minute peak service and 15-minute off-peak service at fourteen stations, which includes six new SmartTrack stations. The second component is an extension of the Eglinton West Light Rail Transit (LRT) line from Mount Dennis Station to Renforth (at Commerce Boulevard) with between 8 and 12 stops. The potential for a further extension of the Light Rail Transit to Toronto Pearson International Airport is also under review.

In November 2016, City Council committed funding to advance the planning and design of the SmartTrack concept to a Class 3 cost estimate (approximately 15-30 percent design), at which time City Council will decide whether to commit funding to procurement and construction of SmartTrack. The staged decision-making process for SmartTrack is outlined in the "Stage Gate Process" agreed to by the City and the Province in the report EX19.1 Transit Network Plan Update and Financial Strategy. This report provides recommendations to advance both components of the SmartTrack project.

SmartTrack/Regional Express Rail Integration

The planning and design of the six new SmartTrack stations to be incorporated into the overall SmartTrack/Regional Express Rail integration concept have been further advanced to address the City's policy and planning objectives. Attachment 1 includes the emerging station concepts that have resulted from stakeholder and community consultation and collaboration with Metrolinx. The concepts in Attachment 1 will inform the Environmental Project Reports for each station. The report recommends City Council approve the concepts for the new SmartTrack and GO Regional Express Rail stations, and authorize the City to act as co-proponents with Metrolinx in the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) for the SmartTrack stations, which will commence in the first quarter 2018. This recommendation allows the SmartTrack stations to proceed to the next stage of work. Staff will report to City Council in the second quarter of 2018 to seek authority to proceed to procurement and construction of the new stations. A Class 3 cost estimate and updated funding and financing strategy for the stations will be included in the next report. 

Eglinton West Light Rail Transit Extension

The Eglinton West Light Rail Transit extension includes two components which are currently in different stages of development. The extension from Mount Dennis Station to Renforth (at Commerce Boulevard), which is the segment located in Toronto (i.e., the "Toronto Segment"), is the furthest advanced. In 2016, City Council requested staff to undertake further analysis of potential stop locations included in the approved 2010 Environmental Assessment (EA)/Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP), and to also review potential grade separations for the Toronto Segment. The results of this analysis are outlined in Attachment 2. It is recommended that City Council approve a 10-stop at-grade Light Rail Transit concept for the Toronto Segment of the project and no longer consider grade separations as staff finalize the alignment for the full Light Rail Transit extension.

The City is supporting Metrolinx in its study of a potential extension of the Light Rail Transit from Renforth to Toronto Pearson International Airport (i.e., the "Airport Segment") in partnership with the City of Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA). Further direction on potential alignment options for the Airport Segment is required to finalize the full alignment of the Light Rail Transit project. The City has also initiated a comprehensive traffic modelling study in the Martin Grove Road area to address traffic management concerns. The outcomes of this study may result in further refinement of the Light Rail Transit alignment west of Martin Grove Road. Further public and stakeholder consultation will be undertaken as this work develops. A final alignment for the Light Rail Transit will be recommended to City Council in the second quarter of 2018, at which time staff will seek authority to amend the approved Environment Assessment/Transit Project Assessment Process in partnership with Metrolinx.

Regional Express Rail

Attachment 3 of the report provides an update from Metrolinx on the implementation of Metrolinx's Regional Express Rail program, which is foundational to the SmartTrack/Regional Express Rail integration concept described above. Regional Express Rail is a transformational program to provide increased service on core portions of the GO Rail network. This report recommends City Council request Metrolinx to engage in discussions with the City on required resources to support timely implementation of the Regional Express Rail program and authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Metrolinx to have Metrolinx fund City positions to provide services in support of Regional Express Rail implementation in Toronto.

Regional Transportation Plan

In September 2017, Metrolinx released the Draft 2041 Regional Transportation Plan (the "Draft Plan") for public consultation. The City is working closely with Metrolinx to ensure the elements of the Draft Plan align with the City's transit and transportation policies and priorities. The City and Toronto Transit Commission are key partners in delivering improved mobility outcomes in the region and should be considered a key partner in the next iteration of the Draft Plan. The City has prepared a submission to Metrolinx in response to the Draft Plan which is included as Attachment 5. This report requests City Council forward the contents of the submission to Metrolinx and the Ministry of Transportation. Metrolinx will be reporting back to their Board in December 2017 with a Draft Final Plan.