Public Information Session on SmartTrack – August 27

The City, Metrolinx and TTC have been working to develop options for SmartTrack in partnership since January 2015, when City Council approved a joint work program. SmartTrack will increase transit options for people moving around Toronto in the short term by making better use of existing transit infrastructure while we plan longer term investments in additional capacity.

Public Meetings – Update on Public Transit

Construction of the grade separation between the Stoffville rail line and Sheppard Ave. E. at Agincourt GO Station in 2011.

Metrolinx, the City of Toronto and the TTC will be hosting information sessions in June to engage the public on key transit planning initiatives.  These coordinated sessions will focus on the following four projects and studies:

• GO Regional Express Rail
• SmartTrack, including the Eglinton West Corridor Feasibility Study
• Scarborough Subway Extension
• Relief Line

The same material for each project and study will be available at every session and posted online.  The dates, times and locations of the Scarborough information sessions can be found below:

• Monday, June 22, 2015.  Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute.  2239 Lawrence Ave. E.  6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2015.  Scarborough Civic Centre.  150 Borough Dr.  6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Laying the tracks for improved GO train service

Metrolinx is installing a second set of tracks along the Stouffville GO train line, pictured above.

In July 2014, GO Transit released its environmental study on rail service expansion in the Stouffville corridor. The report proposes incremental twinning of the tracks between Mount Joy and Kennedy GO Stations in order to run full GO Train service.

There is a lot of detailed engineering design that remains to be completed such as full road/rail grade separations, installation of noise barriers and the construction of retaining walls. For more information you can read the environmental study at http://tinyurl.com/m7op9bk.

In February, Metrolinx announced that they will build a second set of tracks on a 5 km stretch of the Stouffville corridor from north of Steeles to north of Sheppard. Construction is set to start this spring. Double-tracking the rest of the line will follow and is critical to Mayor Tory’s SmartTrack plan.

SmartTrack to bring better transit to Toronto

SmartTrack will use existing rail corridors such as the Stouffville right-of-way, pictured above.

The City of Toronto is planning SmartTrack – a regional express rail train service similar to the London Overground. It will have transfer points with the current TTC system.

SmartTrack will connect Scarborough to Markham, Union Station and Pearson International Airport. The plan proposes 3 stops in Ward 41:  Steeles, Finch and Sheppard. It will provide two-way train service, speeding up your commute and allowing you to spend more time with your family and friends.

This new rail service will share a common fare system with the TTC allowing riders to transfer between the two. This project will provide our community with better access to rapid rail-based public transit and relieve gridlock on other parts of the transportation network – including our roads and highways.