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TTC Waterfront Transit EA - Commission Approves Cherry Street Design

Dec 10, 2007

BA Group is working in conjunction with the TTC and WATERFRONToronto as part of a project team led jointly by McCormick Rankin and URS Canada Ltd. to complete Environmental Assessments (EA’s) for new transit services for the East Bayfront, West Don Lands and Port Lands development areas in the eastern Toronto waterfront area. 

The EA’s are to identify preferred routings, technologies and designs for new transit infrastructure to support planned development in these areas and to provide high quality, and, importantly, competitive non-auto reliant connections between these precincts and the downtown core, the subway system and the GO commuter rail system.  Another paramount objective is the development of an excellence in the public realm and urban form created along these new transit routes with a particular focus upon the pedestrian experience afforded along this active urban street and provisions for other forms of non-auto travel (i.e. cyclists).

Cherry Street and Queens Quay have been identified as the preferred corridors for the new transit routes as they pass through the heart of the emerging areas the new services are to support.  Streetcars have also been selected as the preferred vehicle in preference over a bus-based system given their higher capacities and compatibility with other connecting streetcar services.

The recommended design for the West Don Lands route on Cherry Street was approved by the TTC Commission on December 6th , 2007, The recommended solution reflects, after a extensive review of a range of differing options, an innovative design concept with transit located within a dedicated right-of-way on ‘one side’ of Cherry Street rather than in the middle of the road as is more typically adopted across Toronto.  The arrangement provides for a separation of the road and less travelled transit corridor that provides for an expansion of the pedestrian zones and boulevard areas created along the street as well as providing substantive opportunities for the introduction of landscaping and street trees along its length.  On-street bicycle lanes are also incorporated into the street design along its length.  Several members of the TTC Commission spoke highly of both the design and recommendations, and were very complimentary of the project process, approach and project team (one referring to our project team as “a dream team”!). A number of the Commissioners spoke strongly in favour of the plan and there was unanimous support for the recommendations.

The design for new infrastructure on Cherry Street is to move onto Toronto City Council and the Ministry of Environment for final approval, with construction scheduled for some time in late 2008 / early 2009. 

The design process for the Queens Quay service continues.  Alternative arrangements / design concepts are being developed for Queens Quay that each accommodate the various, sometimes competing, user needs along the corridor including the Martin Goodman Trail, a dedicated streetcar right-of-way and a heavy rail spur.  The project team is currently assessing the location of streetcar portals that will link the above ground and below grade portions of the line and connection to Union Station.  Work is also continuing on the assessment and review of various cross-sectional alternatives for Queens Quay and the location and design of intersecting streets and traffic signals. 

Alun Lloyd, Senior Associate, and Pranav Dave, Transportation Analyst, have been leading BA Group’s work on this exciting project which is helping to shape a new Toronto!