Scarborough Transit Expansion
Progress Report
November 2023
COMMST 191
Derek Chu
Introduction
The Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) is a 7.8 km project by Metrolinx
Infrastructure Ontario that is replacing the Scarborough Rapid Transit (Line 3) [1]. The project
will have 3-stops [2] and extend to the existing Toronto Transit Commission Bloor-Danforth
Line 2, making it faster and easier for riders to get where they need daily [1]. The subway will
have a 10.7 m internal diameter that will run from Sheppard Avenue East and McCowan Road to
Midland Avenue and Eglinton Avenue East, accommodating trains going in both directions [1]. I
am writing a recommendation report regarding a better alternative to the SSE. The report will go
in-depth about a recommendation for developing a Scarborough Light Rail Transit over the SSE.
Work Completed
The recommendation report is progressing well. Research found supports the
recommendation of transit expansion via light rail transit over a subway. [3] is a source I intend
on using for the recommendation report as it provides an analysis of the Scarborough Subway
Extension. I have compiled a list of sources I intend on utilising for the report and have
summarised a few of them to ease the trouble of searching for information.
During the research phase, I faced a few obstacles when uncovering sources. Although
functioning now, Knovel, an engineering data and technical references database, blocked a
document I intended on using. Fortunately, Knovel was later unblocked, allowing me to utilise
the document’s information. Springerlink also had a lack of sources related to the topic, resulting
in the need to seek scholarly articles from Google Scholar.
Work Remaining
More sources must be found to support the recommendation of an LRT over a subway
and begin the first draft of the report. I intend on developing an outline for the report alongside
the research phase to assist in discovering what information is missing and what is already
present. Upon completion of the research phase and report outline, the writing phase of the report
and the citing of sources will be all that remains.
Cost
Approximately 2 hours have been spent reading, summarising, and organising the
information of the found sources. 3 hours is the expected amount of time that will be required for
the completion of research and the report outline. For the writing phase, approximately 8 hours,
spread across 8 days, is expected for the completion of the recommendation report.
Overall Assessment
There have been no delays to the project at this point. Two-thirds of the work is yet to be
completed, but the schedule is reasonable and following it will ensure no delays occur. As each
step is planned with an approximated timeline, I expect that the project will be completed, tested,
and revised by the deadline, December 1.
References
Designing and Constructing the Advance Tunnel
for the Scarborough Subway Extension
[1] M. Dutton, A. Raedle, U. Konrad, J. Ferrero, K.P. Iman, W. Trisi, “Designing and
Constructing the Advance Tunnel for the Scarborough Subway Extension,” Society for
Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Englewood, CO, United States, 2023.
[1] describes the primary procurement activities and design highlights of the
Summary
precast concrete tunnelling for the Advance Tunnel of the Scarborough
Subway Extension.
[1] provides the Scarborough Subway Extension’s procurement activities,
design highlights, and construction path. The information is relevant for
Relevance
understanding the effect of construction for the SSE. The intended audience of
[1] is professionals/experts in the fields of civil engineering, tunnel
construction, and infrastructure development who are involved in the
planning, designing, and construction of the SSE.
[1] was created by 6 authors, 5 of whom are working under a variety of
Authority
engineering firms and 1 working under Metrolinx. Citations have been
provided in the report.
[1] was published in 2023 and provides current procurement activities and
Date
design highlights of the concrete tunnel lining for the Advance Tunnel for the
SSE. The information is up-to-date and is relevant for the understanding of the
Scarborough Subway Extension’s progress.
Appearance The formatting in [1] is professional and utilised outside references to
and Accuracy
strengthen the claims of the report.
[1] has been made available to inform professionals/experts in the fields of
Reason
civil engineering, tunnel construction, and infrastructure development who are
involved in the SSE project about the status of the project.
Scarborough Subway Extension
Preliminary Design Business Case
[2] “Scarborough Subway Extension Preliminary Design Business Case,” Metrolinx,
Toronto, ON, Canada, 2020.
[2] is a preliminary design business case that assesses the effectiveness of the
Summary
Scarborough Subway Extension in its current conception, in comparison to a
Business as Usual (BAU) scenario; which is the basis for an investment
decision.
[2] provides information regarding benefits of the Scarborough Subway
Extension and the costs associated with the project. Incorporating the benefits
Relevance
of the SSE allows for synthesizing and contrasting of ideas to strengthen the
proposed recommendation of the report.
No explicit author is provided for this document, but it is published under
Metrolinx, the governing agency involved in the Scarborough Subway
Authority
Extension. Metrolinx is a reputable source despite the lack of citations as it is
a primary source.
[2] was published in February 2020. The status and budget of the Scarborough
Date
Subway Extension could be outdated but the overall benefits will likely
remain the same, allowing for the information to be applied to the report.
[2] presents information in a professional manner and can be trusted to be
Appearance
and Accuracy accurate because it is a primary source.
The information provided in [2] was made to present the assessment of the
Reason
effectiveness of the Scarborough Subway Extension and compare it to a
Business as Usual scenario. This comparison is used as grounds for the
investment decision.
Note: [2] Missing Author
Choices for
Scarborough
[3] A. Sorensen, P.M. Hess, “Choices for Scarborough,” University of Toronto,
Toronto, ON, Canada.
[3] approaches the proposals for transit in Scarborough and presents the
Summary
findings that indicate a LRT line being the more effective transit expansion
than the Scarborough Subway Extension.
[3] provides key information in supporting the recommendation report as it
Relevance
contains the same proposal as my recommendation report. The findings of [2]
can be used directly in the report to strengthen the proposal.
Both authors of [3] have achieved their Ph.D. 's and are professors at the
Authority
University of Toronto, a globally top-ranked publish research university.
Although [3] is missing the date, the document may be assumed to be
published in 2015 or after as various 2015 sources are utilised. The
Date
information within [3] about the Scarborough Subway Extension could be
outdated, but the benefits of a Scarborough LRT would not be.
[3] is presented professionally and contains many citations. Figures and tables
Appearance
and Accuracy are also utilised to further strengthen the proposal of [3].
The information in [3] has been made available in order to propose the
Reason
Scarborough LRT project to take over the Scarborough Subway Extension.
The research has been funded by the University of Toronto and [3] has been
written with the intention of persuading the City of Toronto and Metrolinx to
replace the SSE with a Scarborough LRT project.
Note: [3] Missing Year