the Ontario Line
Ford Government Revises existing downtown subway relief line in favour of elevated trains through east eNd Neighbourhoods
It’s still early days for the Ontario Line. We are years away from funding being secured and shovels hitting the ground, even though the City’s Relief Line was ready for construction to begin in 2020. But the Initial Business Case (“IBC”) raises many questions which are cause for concern, including some big ones: where exactly is Metrolinx finding the space to lay two additional tracks through Riverdale’s narrow GO rail corridor (not to mention a station at Queen/Degrassi)? What’s worse, the RER and Ontario Line projects both promise to start and finish within the same decade. This means the GO rail corridor will see the construction of two massive projects at the same time, with some construction presumably happening overnight to minimize impact to ongoing GO operations. If you thought Eglinton was bad, just wait.
KNOW THE ISSUES
• No more subways: Unlike the City’s Relief Line, which was entirely underground, the Ontario Line will cross OVER the Don River and through the GO rail corridor on a widened at-grade embankment or elevated structure. That means two above-ground tracks from East Harbour to Gerrard (that’s ON TOP of the 4 GO tracks resulting from RER). It seems Mr. Ford’s had a change of heart since his brother was Toronto's Mayor and only “Subways! Subways! Subways!” would do.
• Questionably placed “Leslieville” station: The Queen/Degrassi station was widely rejected years ago by planners and residents alike. This is just a small example of the significant amount of time and money already expended on planning, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, design and community consultation on the City's relief line, which is now a colossal waste.
• Mitigation? What Mitigation? Yes, the technology used on the track will be lighter weight, therefore less noisy than diesel trains. BUT the IBC states "elevated guideways expose the trains to the open air, increasing potential for additional noise and vibration impacts for residents... due to frequent train passage.” If history repeats itself, we're in for trouble: some stretches of the GO corridor have no planned noise or vibration mitigation as part of the RER project. Doesn’t that make you wonder how effective mitigation on this project will truly be?
• Look Up, WAAAAYYYYY UP! If the Ontario Line does in fact become an elevated structure, it will need to be some 30+ feet in the sky to allow space for the elevated embankment, overhead catenary required to electrify the GO trains, and clearance of double-decker GO trains. It’s going to be awfully chilly up there in the middle of winter!
what elevated tracks near your home could look like
This is what elevated tracks near your home could look like - and these elevated tracks are set to be built on top of the existing rail corridor. Trees will need to be ripped out, private property will need to be expropriated, or worse: nearby residents will be living under the equivalent of the Gardiner highway
Comparison between the initially proposed City of Toronto Relief underground subway line (dark blue) and the newly proposed Ontario Line from the Ontario Line Initial Business Case (light blue and pink). Pink sections are newly proposed elevated or at-grade tracks
Ontario Line in the News
Toronto Star Editorial on the likely delay associated with the newly proposed Ontario Line Business Case
Globe & Mail debuts confidential Ontario Line Business Case - which notes the new plan has “greater potential for disruption”
Toronto Transit Czar claims City of Toronto hasn’t “lost control” of the project
CP24 coverage on impact to prior downtown relief line plans
City Council kept in the dark as Province unilaterally develops new plans
CBC coverage of the critic’s backlash to the newly proposed Ontario Line Business Case
Coverage of the October 23 City Council Executive Meeting by the CBC
Residents speak out about Ontario Line concerns
CBC Toronto News covers resident concerns about the Ontario Line
Take Action now
Our voice is strongest in numbers. Click the link below for a letter you can send to Premier Doug Ford, Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and Metrolinx’s CEO, Phil Vester to have your voice heard.
The letter is ready to go, all you need to do is sign and hit send.