Why Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
Metrolinx’s The Big Move
approved in November 2008
identifies LRT on Don Mills /
Leslie Street from the Bloor /
Danforth Subway to Highway 7
The Don Mills Road LRT is part of
Toronto’s Transit City Plan and a
planning study is currently
underway south of Steeles
Avenue
Recommendations from York
Region’s Draft Transportation
Master Plan Update identifies
Don Mills Road / Leslie Street as
a Rapid Transit Corridor
What are we studying?
We are undertaking a transit planning and assessment study
for light rail transit on Don Mills Road and Leslie Street from
Steeles Avenue to Highway 7.
Phase 1 (Spring and Summer 2009)
The first phase of the study will define the specific details of the LRT system,
including:
Number and locations of stations
Cross-sectional elements (landscaping, pedestrian features, bike
lanes, etc.)
Intersection configuration
Requirements for special track work
LRT system requirements including electrical substations
Terminal facility needs and interface with the Highway 7 Transitway
and Highway 407 Transitway
Phase 2 (Fall 2009 and Winter 2010)
The environmental effects and mitigation for the preferred transit project will be
assessed in accordance with the Transit Project Assessment Process, O.Reg. 231/08
during Phase 2.
Study Area
Motions have recently been received from the Town of
Markham and the Town of Richmond Hill to extend the
study area to Major Mackenzie Drive.
This request has been acknowledged and is currently
under review.
Metrolinx | The Big Move
Source: M etrolinx The Big Move Schedule 1
Metrolinx has identified a
possible extension of the
proposed Finch LRT line to Don
Mills Road, terminating at Don
Mills Station
Don Mills Road / Leslie Street Rapid
Transit from the Bloor/Danforth
subway to Highway 7 has been
identified in the Metrolinx Regional
Transportation Plan within the first
15-year time horizon.
City of Toronto | Transit City
Toronto is currently
undertaking a planning study
for an LRT line in the Don Mills
corridor from Steeles Avenue to
the Bloor / Danforth Subway.
The first round of public
consultation was held in June
2008. Further information can
be found on their project
website:
http://www.toronto.ca/involved/
projects/don_mills/index.htm
Source: City of Toronto Transit City Light Rail Plan Update (February 2009)
Transportation
York Region | Master Plan Update
2021
Transit priority improvements from
Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie
Drive (may include transit signal
priority, HOV lanes, queue jump
lanes, etc.)
Rapid Transit
Corridor from
Steeles Avenue to
Hwy 7
2031
Rapid Transit Corridor
from Steeles Avenue to
Major Mackenzie Drive
What are the Existing Conditions in
the Study Area?
Shaar Shalom
Synagogue
Looking north on Don
Mills Road
Sim onston Park
N
B
on
st
on
John St
m
Si
d
lv
Simonston Blvd
Steeles Ave
Looking north on Don
Mills Road
Paddock Park
Shops off Steeles and 404
Plaza
Looking north on Don
Mills Road
What are the Existing Conditions in
the Study Area?
Leslie Street crossing the
railroad
Germ an Mills Creek
The hydro corridor
Dr
hur
st
N
1 4 th L n
Ly n
d
CN R
n
nL
John
e
Gre
St
Ascot Mansions
Condom inium
Bishop Star Plaza
Looking south on Leslie Street
south of the CNR crossing
Germ an Mills Creek
Jesus the King Melkite Catholic
Church and Lyndhurst Day Nursery
Looking south down Leslie
Street
Looking south down Leslie
Street
What are the Existing Conditions in
the Study Area?
The Hydro Corridor Trail
west from Leslie Street
Looking north on Leslie
Street
Times Square (northwest
corner of Leslie and
Highw ay 7)
Viva stop on Highw ay 7
Hwy 7
Minth
o rn B l
r
Commerce V alley D
Hwy 407
N
vd
St. Robert’s Catholic School
Looking north on Leslie
Street at Highw ay 407
Southeast corner of Leslie Street
and Comm erce Valley Drive
Southeast corner of Leslie
Street and Highw ay 7
Northeast corner of Leslie
Street and Highw ay 7
Land Use
Frontage Conditions
Trails and Open Space
Connections
Environmental Features
Transit Connections
The Natural Environment
The study area is home to a unique natural environment
Natural vegetation communities in the study area include:
Fresh-moist lowland deciduous forest (near German Mills Creek)
Dry-moist old field meadow (in the hydro corridor)
The Town of Markham Official Plan identifies the Hydro Corridor as a “Special Policy” area and German Mills Creek
as “Valley Lands”.
German Mills Creek, a non-navigable watercourse, is part of the East Don Watershed.
A rare species of vegetation exist near German Mills Creek - Honey Locust.
Street trees provide a barrier between the traffic on Leslie Street and the nearby residential neighbourhoods.
The Hydro Corridor
German Mills Creek
Street trees near Leslie Street
Archaeology
The Towns of Markham and Richmond Hill have a rich cultural heritage:
55 archaeological sites have been registered within 2 km of the study area
Areas that may require a further Stage 2 archaeology assessment include:
Simonston Park
Paddock Park
The north side of German Mills Creek, east of Leslie Street
The Hydro Corridor
Simonston Park
Paddock Park
What are the Projected Transit
Ridership Forecasts?
Transit Ridership is growing:
Highway 7 & Leslie Street is a key
destination – the peak direction of the
corridor is oriented toward Highway 7
What is a Typical Modern LRT Vehicle?
A typical modern LRT vehicle has the
following features:
Large capacity
Fully accessible low-floor vehicles
Boarding at all doors
Operator cabs at both ends
No emissions produced directly by the vehicle
High efficiency
Low operating costs
Low noise
Copyright 2007 Thierry Leleu
Transitway Typical Section
Midblock
At Stations
What comes with LRT?
Commuter
Parking
Special Track
Work
Provides convenient
access for riders
further from stations
Crossover and
storage tracks
Catenaries
Electrical
Substations
Transmit traction
power to the LRT
vehicle
Required to supply
traction power to
the LRT
What comes with LRT?
Passenger Pick Up &
Drop Off (PPUDO)
Traffic, transit and
pedestrian facilities
Boulevards and
medians
Vivastations
Design Elements
Key Station Locations
Stations will provide access to potential riders, transit connections, and destinations.
The large circles represent a 400 m radius from the proposed station node locations
Station spacing is in metres
What’s Important in Planning the
Highway 7 Transit Hub?
The Highway 7 / Leslie Transit Hub will
be a key junction in the Region’s
transit network and will be part of a
growing destination.
Transit
Connections
Convenient pedestrian access
Minimal transfer times
Year-round protection from the weather
Integration with the surrounding
environment
Highway 7
Transitway
LESLIE S
T
HIGHWAY 7
Leslie LRT
What’s next?
Development of
Alternative
Solutions
Stay Involved!
Visit www.vivanext.com
First PCC 1
Development of Alternative
Designs
Public and Agency Workshops
PCC 2
EA Documentation
To be coordinated with Toronto/TTC
Public and Agency Workshops
PCC 3
Approval
June 10, 2009
August 2009
October 2009 November 2009
December 2009
February 2010
Thank You
Your input is important and
appreciated
Your views and opinions matter to us. You can
share your thoughts by completing a comment
sheet tonight or by June 24, 2009.
If you have any questions or comments
after tonight’s meeting, please contact:
Dale Albers
Chief Communications Officer
York Region Rapid Transit Corporation
1 West Pearce Street, 6th Floor
Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3K3
Phone: 905-886-6767
Fax: 905-886-6969
Dale.Albers@york.ca
Steve Mota, P.Eng.
Project Manager
Regional Municipality of York
Transportation and Works Dept.
17250 Yonge Street
Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 6Z1
Phone: 905-764-6345 ext 5056
Fax: 905-895-0191
Steve.Mota@york.ca
Scott Thorburn, P.Eng.
Consultant Project Director
URS Canada Inc.
75 Commerce Valley Drive East
Markham, Ontario, L3T 7N9
Phone: 905-882-3534
Fax: 905-882-4399
e-mail: Scott_Thorburn@urscorp.com