15-03 Relief Line Public Meeting Presentation

March 2015 Public Meetings

Why Are We Here Today?

Relief Line Project Assessment

1. Transit Planning in Toronto

2. Setting the Context

3. How Do We Address the Challenges?

4. Potential Station Areas

5. Evaluation Process and Framework

6. Public Consultation

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Network Transit Planning

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The Relief Line is being planned in the context of the overall Transit Network

25 Rapid Transit Projects are being reviewed as part of the “Feeling Congested?” Official Plan Review Process

How is Network Transit Planning Coordinated?

• Relief Line, SmartTrack and the Scarborough Subway Extension studies are interrelated – work is being coordinated for all three projects by City Planning

• Transit studies are all being led by City Planning, as part of overall transit network planning, in partnership with TTC

• Work on the Relief Line will inform the other projects and vice versa

• We are currently in the process of undertaking the integrated assessment

• We are seeking your input tonight on the Relief Line study

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Relief Line, Scarborough Subway Extension and SmartTrack

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Coordination of SmartTrack/RER and Relief Line

• Metrolinx and the Province are developing Regional Express Rail (RER) to provide 15 minute all-day transit service on all 7 GO corridors.

• SmartTrack is a part of RER, comprising elements on 3 of the 7 corridors.

• SmartTrack is expected to provide some relief to the Yonge Subway and may delay the need for the Relief Line. This needs to be assessed.

• The Metrolinx Yonge Relief Network Study will inform the timing of the Relief Line.

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Key Dates for Related Transit Studies

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• Consultation will be coordinated to ensure emerging findings of all initiatives are discussed in public meetings for these projects

• All of these rapid transit projects (Relief Line, Scarborough Subway Extension and SmartTrack/RER) have a target delivery of key findings for late 2015 –early 2016

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Network Transit PlanningThe Relief Line is being planned in the context of the overall transit network

Local Transportation Planning Context Other initiatives and improvements that we will consider

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Building Toronto

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The Official Plan envisions a safe city that evokes pride, passion and a sense of belonging – a city where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a good quality of life.

A city with…

A comprehensive and high quality affordable transit

system that lets people move quickly and conveniently

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How did we get here?

2008 Metrolinx Big Move Includes Relief Line in 25-year regional transit network plan

2009 City Council Approves Yonge North Extension EA, contingent on Relief Line

City/TTC commence study to determine need for the Relief Line

2012 Downtown Rapid Transit Expansion Study Study concludes that initial phase of Relief Line and GO Transit improvements would help solve congestion on the transit network

2012 Relief Line identified as part of the “Next Wave” of transit projects

Relief Line identified by Metrolinx as a priority for future transit investment

2013 Ongoing Official Plan review identifies Relief Line as a top performing rapid transit project

Relief Line identified by City as a priority rapid transit project

2014 Yonge Relief Network Study launched Metrolinx commences work on a regional approach to addressing congestion on the Yonge Subway

2014 Relief Line Project Assessment launched City/TTC commence planning for the preferred route alignment and station locations for the Relief Line

Where Are We in the Study Process?

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• Transfer between Bloor-Danforth and Yonge Subway Lines is seriously constrained

• Yonge Subway is currently over-capacity south of Bloor Station

• Capacity improvements now underway on Line 1 (YUS) include:‒ New “Toronto Rocket” Subway

Trains (+10% capacity)‒ Automatic Train Control (+25%

capacity)

• Crowding on the King and Queen Streetcar is deteriorating the quality of transit service

Existing Crowding and Congestion

16

0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

24,000

28,000

32,000

36,000

40,000

Travel Today2031 Ridership Estimate2031 Ridership Estimate with Yonge line extension to Richmond Hill

Pas

sen

ger

Per

Ho

ur

in t

he

Pea

k D

irec

tio

n

Capacity Today (26,000)

2031

Forecasted

Riders

2031

Forecasted

Riders, with

Yonge Line

Extension

Riders

Today

Existing levels of crowding and congestion will continue to deteriorate without transit expansion

Future Conditions will Further Deteriorate Service

• Even with planned and funded improvements to Line 1 (YUS) by 2031 additional investment will be needed to accommodate growth

• Future extension of the Yonge Subway north will increase ridership

• Continued growth in the Downtown will attract ridership‒ 51% of GDP

‒ 33% of jobs (446,000)

‒ 557,000 m2 of office space being planned and under construction

‒ 18% Population Growth Between 2006-2011 (four times higher than the City as a whole)

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0

4,000

8,000

12,000

16,000

20,000

24,000

28,000

32,000

36,000

40,000

Travel Today2031 Ridership Estimate2031 Ridership Estimate with Yonge line extension to Richmond Hill

Pas

sen

ger

Per

Ho

ur

in t

he

Pea

k D

irec

tio

n

Future Capacity (33-38,000*)

Capacity Today (26,000)

2031

Forecasted

Riders

2031

Forecasted

Riders, with

Yonge Line

Extension

Riders

Today

Additional transit capacity is needed to meet anticipated demand on the Yonge Subway Line

* DRTES used a capacity of 38,000 , the maximum potential for signalling improvementsActual capacity is expected to fall between 33,000 to 38,000 .

Relief Line Can Address Crowding and Congestion on the Transit Network

Lin

e 1

-Y

US

Sherbourne

Wellesley

Rosedale

Bay

The Relief Line will ease congestion at Yonge-Bloor by providing an alternative route to downtown

Source: DRTES Phase 1 Strategic Plan2031 Modeling includes Yonge Subway Extension

Line 2 - BD

Yonge -Bloor

Transfers at Yonge-Bloor will be reduced by 30% and Line 1 (Yonge) riders will be reduced by 12%

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Initial Phase of Relief Line Addresses Downtown Streetcar Crowding

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Source: DRTES Phase 1 Strategic Plan*Assumes the Yonge Subway Extension and modelled on a conceptual King Street corridor

Queen

King

The Relief Line reduces crowding on the downtown streetcar system, on both the Queen and King Lines

St. Andrew

Osgoode

Union

King Streetcar

Queen StreetcarUp to 35% of streetcar riders coming into Downtown from the east will be redirected to the Relief Line.

Weekday ridership on the TTC’s busiest routes

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Source: TTC Operating Statistics (2012-2013) and MADITUC Model

731,880

509,810

178,000

57,300 55,400 55,400 49,440 48,700 44,400 44,000 44,000 40,290

-

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

* Relief Line Initial Phase *based on 2031 ridership forecast

The initial phase of the Relief Line would be the TTC’s third busiest route.

Rid

ersh

ip

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Preferred Technology: Subway

• Subway is the right technology for the Relief Line:

‒ Serves transit network needs in terms of capacity, frequency, station spacing

‒ Addresses congestion and crowding problems on the Line 1 (Yonge) and at Yonge-Bloor Station

‒ Supports growth in the City, especially downtown

‒ Can use existing facilities for vehicle storage and maintenance

Potential Station Area Options

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Policy Framework

Key Destinations

Planning Framework Transit Connections

Opportunities for Change Transit Oriented Development

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Potential Station Area Options: 3 Areas of Focus

Potential Downtown Station Options

Key Activity Centres –Potential Station Area Options

Potential Danforth Subway Connection

Existing Stations


Potential Downtown Connections

Potential Danforth Connections

Potential SmartTrack Stations

Rapid Transit

Potential SmartTrack

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Existing Stations





Rapid Transit


Key Activity Centres –Potential Station Area Options

Will be assessed based on:– Neighbourhood fit– Protecting stable

neighbourhoods– Planning framework – Transit Oriented

Development

– Consideration of other planned transit

– Transit Connections– Key destinations– Fit with other local

transportation initiatives

Potential Station Area Options: Key Activity Areas

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Existing Stations





Rapid Transit


Potential Downtown Station Options

Will be assessed based on:

– Constructability

– Subway connections and transfers

– PATH connections

– Key destinations

– Future extension opportunity to the West

Potential Station Area Options: Downtown

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Existing Stations





Rapid Transit


Potential Danforth Subway Connection

Will be assessed based on:

– Neighbourhood fit

– Community impact and benefit

– Ease of transfers from TTC services

– Surface connections and access

– Future extension opportunities to the north

– Constructability

Potential Station Area Options: Danforth Subway

Evaluation Process

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SERVING PEOPLE

STRENGTHENING PLACES

SUPPORTING PROSPERITY

Evaluation criteria based on principles

and criteria developed during the Official Plan

Review process “Feeling Congested?”

Evaluation Framework

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Consultation with Public and Stakeholders

• Public meetings: three in the study area and one “city-wide” meeting along the Yonge Subway Line

• Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting

• Online consultation featuring interactive tools

• Pop-up consultations

• Symposium with transit leaders and experts

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Comment Deadline is March 27, 2015

With the information we receive during this round of public consultation, we will:

• Finalize the evaluation criteria that will be used to determine the route and station locations

• Further assess potential station areas and identify potential corridors

Next Steps

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• Next round of consultation will focus on the results of the evaluation of potential stationlocations and the corridors

Stay Involved

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15-03 Relief Line Public Meeting Presentation

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of 15-03 Relief Line Public Meeting Presentation