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THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF YORK

 

 

 

REPORT NO. 4

OF THE REGIONAL

YONGE SUBWAY ADVISORY TASK FORCE

MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 15, 2008

 

 

For Consideration by the

Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee of

The Regional Municipality of York

on November 13, 2008

 

 

 

Chair:               Mayor D. Barrow

 

Members:                     

                        Regional Councillor J. Frustaglio

                        Regional Councillor B. Hogg

                        Regional Councillor J. Jones

                        Mr. J. Ricciuti

                        Mayor F. Scarpitti, Vice-Chair

                        Mr. D. West

                        Regional Chair B. Fisch, ex officio

                        Councillor D. Shiner, ex officio

 

Also Present:     Regional Councillor V. Spatafora

 

Absent:             Councillor V. Burke

            Mayor L. Jackson

                        Mr. B. O'Donnell

                        Councillor A. Shefman

                        Mr. H.T. Wilson

 

Regional Staff:   N. Garbe, P. May, B. Tuckey

 

Rapidco Staff:    D. Albers, D. Clark, J. Hulse, M.F. Turner, K. Webber

 

Others:             T. Middlebrook, Owner's Engineer, R. Staples, YC2002;

J. Anderton, A. Bassios, T. Myatt, Town of Richmond Hill

 

The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force began its meeting at 9: 10 a.m. on October 15, 2008.

 

 

1  UPDATE - COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

 

The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force advises the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee of the following matters having been considered by the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force with the following action:

 

 

[Click here to view a .pdf file of the Presentation to this meeting]

 

A.  PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS

 

1.  Yonge Subway Public Consultation Centre (PCC)

     September 25, 2008

 

Mary-Frances Turner, Vice-President, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, advised the Task Force members that the second Yonge Subway public meeting was held on September 25, 2008, with over 400 people attending from York and Toronto.

 

The public meeting consisted of a presentation and review of the current status of the project. The session was interactive with questions and answers and also included a web based segment with over 100 people interacting over the internet and responding to the survey questions on-line.  This web segment continues to be live and the information provided at the meeting is available at www.vivayork.com.

 

Tom Middlebrook, Owner's Engineer, reviewed the responses received at the public meeting relating to the Longbridge/Langstaff station, Clark station, Steeles terminal facilities and Richmond Hill station alignment. A visual preference survey was also conducted for the bridge elements that convey a heritage image for the East Don River.

 

Stakeholder Consultation

Ms. Turner informed the Task Force members that the following dates of stakeholder consultations have been held to date: Richmond Hill Centre stakeholders on September 18, October 2 and October 6, 2008;  CAO's and Commissioners on September 19 and a Steeles and line station workshop with technical and municipal stakeholders was held on October 9, 2008.  Toronto PCC's have been held on September 23, 29 and October 9, with a further public meeting scheduled for October 16 relating to the Cummer/Drewry and Steeles stations.

 

Landowner meetings have also been held with the Ladies Golf Course and residents at 7822  and 7811 Yonge Street.

 

Mr. Middlebrook provided an overview of the Yonge subway extension highlighting the six proposed stations (Cummer/Drewry; Steeles; Clark; Royal Orchard; Longbridge/Langstaff and Richmond Hill Centre); two terminal stations (Steeles and Richmond Hill Centre); the bridge over the East Don River and alternative alignments into Richmond Hill. He noted that the optimum distance between stations was 1 km, and the distances for the six proposed stations varied from 794 m to 1668 m.

 

Construction Methodology

Mr. Middlebrook reviewed the construction methodology. A diagram indicating the locations of subway stations, proposed cut and cover construction, tunnelling and potential launch sites for the tunnel boring machine, and bridge construction was reviewed.

 

Discussion included the number of tunnel boring machines to be used and procurement strategies being investigated to best offset the construction schedule for stations.

 

It was noted that traffic congestion was a major concern with station construction and a ring road south of the Cummer/Drewry station was suggested.

 

Further clarification was also requested regarding the number of buses (including local service and GO) that would be running between Finch and Steeles during peak hours once the Yonge Subway extension was completed and whether the local service to the Finch station would continue at the same level.

 

Mr. Middlebrook also noted that the number of bus bays would decrease at the Finch station from 30 to 10.

 

Capacity Improvements

A summary of capacity improvements included the following:  closer spacing of trains (six cars each); a seventh car added to trains; new subway cars having increased capacity; the transfer of approximately 2300 riders to the Spadina subway; and the addition of 2900 new parking spaces at the Spadina subway extension.  This would result in a 30 per cent increase in capacity.

 

 

2. Project Update

 

Steeles Station

Mr. Middlebrook stated that with respect to the Steeles Station placement, meetings have been held with municipal stakeholders and discussions are progressing. Dual service terminals on both the north and south side are still being studied. Various scenarios and conceptual diagrams for the Steeles station were discussed, including stacked bus terminals and two underground options. Discussions with landowners have also begun. Other considerations include putting in infrastructure to support future development and costs relating to underground vs above ground stations.

 

Ms. Turner noted that staff is continuing to look at the overall economic equation for all options and is not making a recommendation at this time. Cost analysis and breakdowns will be made available once the background investigations are complete. Impact to existing land uses, business and traffic disruption and road deviation issues will also be addressed.

 

Richmond Hill Centre Alignment

Mr. Middlebrook reviewed the following key considerations at the Richmond Hill Centre which are to provide transit services to an estimated 80,000 passengers per day:

·         Compact transit intermodal

·         Support commuter parking

·         Integrate with Langstaff Transit Oriented Development

·         Integrate with Richmond Hill Transit Oriented Development

·         Pedestrian access to intermodal

·         Pedestrian access to GO

·         Proximity to GO rail

·         Protect woodlot and other natural features

·         Minimize construction impact on Yonge Street

·         Minimize impact to stable residential

·         Integrate with 407 transitway

·         Minimize impact on storm water pond and Pomona Creek

·         Minimize impact on hydro corridor

 

Ms. Turner advised that resolutions have been received from the Town of Markham, the Town of Richmond Hill and the City of Vaughan endorsing options A and C for the Richmond Hill Centre alignment. 

 

The City of Vaughan requested that in finalizing the alignment the location of and access to the Longbridge/Langstaff subway station take into consideration the opportunities for pedestrian access to the residential community on the west side of Yonge Street and that an ecologically sensitive park and ride facility be developed. 

 

Markham provided support for the "C" alignment provided that aspects of pedestrian integration with the emerging community south of Langstaff were incorporated.

 

Metrus Properties also confirmed that it supported options A and C.

 

Ms. Turner stated that progress is being made with the technical issues and that the project is continuing to move forward on schedule.

 

 

3. Metrolinx Update

 

Metrolinx released its Draft Regional Transportation Plan on September 23, 2008.  The top 15 priorities for early implementation include:

·         Viva Highway 7 and Yonge Street through York Region

·         Spadina subway extension to Vaughan Corporate Centre

·         Yonge subway extension to Richmond Hill Centre

 

Ms. Turner stated that we are now in the formal six-month EA process.

 

 

4. Municipal Technical/Policy Co-ordination Update

 

Major Land Use Studies

 

Regional staff are playing a supporting and co-ordinating role in the following studies:

 

·         Markham Planning Studies – Langstaff Study and Yonge Street Corridor

·         Richmond Hill Study – Richmond Hill Centre Master Plan

·         Vaughan Planning Studies – Yonge Street Corridor North and South

 

 

5. Next Steps

 

Ms. Turner advised the Task Force of the following next steps:

·         The Toronto Public Consultation Centre will be held October 16, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the North York Civic Centre with the interactive presentation beginning at 7:00 p.m.

·         October and November will continue stakeholder consultations

·         November 17 will be a presentation to the Richmond Hill Committee

·         November 17 – Vaughan Committee presentation

·         November 19 – next meeting of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force

·         November 25 – Markham DSC presentation

·         November 26 – Final Public Consultation Centre No. 3 in York Region, at 7:00 p.m., Premiere Ballroom & Conference Centre

·         November 27 – Presentation to the Society for the Preservation of Historic Thornhill

 

 

OTHER BUSINESS

 

Mayor Barrow noted that York Region was fortunate to be included in the top 15 priorities of the Metrolinx Draft Transportation Plan and thanked Regional Chairman Bill Fisch for his participation on the Metrolinx Board.

 

The next meeting of the Task Force will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Committee Room 2, Town of Richmond Hill Municipal Offices.

 

 

 

The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force meeting adjourned at 10:44 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

October 15, 2008                                                                                D. Barrow

Richmond Hill, Ontario                                                             Chair

 

Karin Price, Committee Co-ordinator

Tel. (905) 830-4444 x 1322