Junction Triangle

Just noticed yesterday they are putting up a chainlink fence (7 feet high) to separate the path from CN Rail and GO tracks

Under the original plan it was proposed that the trees planted alon the path would produce a natural barrier. I guess the natural barrier of trees wasn't good enough for GO and CN.

Just an update, I'll see if I can take some snapshots of the progress.

Cheers,
Ran

No worries, consider it done. I will forward them once I have taken a few shots.

Ran

This morning I noticed that the staircase up to the Railpath from Dupont St. has been cut out, and there were workers milling about working on it.

I think the same will happen soon at Bloor St., where they had driven those re-enforcing piles into the ground.

From Giambrone’s Current newsletter, note the mention of Railpath. Obviously there are many issues about getting the south part done but at least we can see that the City is keeping Railpath in mind and that is a great victory.

Construction of Dufferin Jog Elimination Project Begins Next Week

After years of planning and preparation, construction of the Dufferin Jog Elimination project is finally set to begin. Contracts have been finalized, the contractor has begun staging on site and they are expected to begin construction next week.

This $32 million dollar project will finally see Dufferin Street be connected straight through at Queen Street by building a new tunnel under the railway tracks. The design for this project was finalized after extensive consultation with residents in the Queen and Dufferin area. The project will include trees and green space, modern lighting, public art, and provisions for future pedestrian and cyclist connections to phase 2 of the West Toronto Railpath Park, which will run along the north side of the tracks. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly improve traffic flow in the Queen and Dufferin area as well as improve service on the TTC's Dufferin bus and Queen streetcar routes. It is estimated that construction will be completed by the end of 2009.

As cyclist, runner and new resident on Edwin Avenue, I am pretty excited to learn all about this - I cannot wait. I would love to hear how I could be a part of helping with this project in the future!

Here is a sample letter from a local resident that really captures what is going on....

"I understand you are Metrolinx' executive lead on the environmental assessment of the GO rail-link to the airport...
 
I live along the route of the proposed Westend Railpath Park - in fact, I reside along the nearly-completed Stage 1 section between Dundas and Dupont. I wanted to send you a note from a citizen's perspective regarding the positive impact of these two plans (both excellent, by the way) co-existing - in particular, regarding the proposed Stage 2 Railpath development south from Dundas to the City's core.
 
I'm in full support of the too-long-awaited rail-link to Pearson. For me, it goes without saying that any major urban centre requires vital infrastructure (especially "green" initiatives) like rail transportation to its major airport...
 
In the meantime, the Railpath also represents a "link" for Toronto west-end citizens. While rail-lands are important transportation arteries, communities like mine (South Junction Triangle) have historically been "cut off from the rest of the city" by rail-lands. This neighbourhood is a prime example.
 
That's why I'm delighted by the near-completion of Stage 1 of the Railpath project and just as excited about the proposed Stage 2 extension. It represents an opportunity to connect citizens, neighbourhoods and communities with each other. It represents an opportunity for progressive, sustainable (pedestrian and cycling) travel routes to and from the downtown core. It represents an opportunity to improve urban livability and aesthetics in the form of always-welcome green-space.
 
In short, The Railpath Park is, much like your project, an opportunity to extend sustainable travel options for people. It seems to me that the two systems should (and indeed MUST) co-exist in the spirit of each other's complementary goals toward the fulfillment of citizens' sustainable travel-needs.
 
I hope your environmental assesment considers thoughts like these... and I hope that the Pearson-link project and the Railpath extension(s) are planned and executed simultaneously.
 
Thanks for your consideration."

Check out this amusing poster I saw on the Railpath yesterday. It's a fun way to remind people to keep the Railpath tidy, right down to the smallest pebble. :)

Nice video by Tino:
http://bikelanediary.blogspot.com/2010/03/happy-good-morning-ride_30.html

I am a member of the Railpath Group. Currently there is general agreement between the stakeholders (Metrolinx, City, Railpath) about making stage 2 happen and talks have been going on.

1.There are some issues in terms of space south east of Sudbury Street that may not be solvable which means that the exit point south would be at the west end of Sudbury. This is outcome would still be far better than no stage 2. Anything is possible but getting all the way downtown looks unlikely.

2. Room was left in the Dufferin Jog (underway) so that Railpath can get over the bridge at Queen and Dufferin and that there is access at Queen and Dufferin.

3.Metrolinx has agreed to do what they can to make stage 2 happen and in some cases may be of great assistance especially in terms of cleaning the soil. The work that Metrolinx is doing is subject to 2 EA's plus a fair amount of public protest relating to diesel plus the actual reconfiguration and addition of rail lines. Railpath stage 2 may have to wait for all of Metrolinx's stuff to be done before the City can go ahead. That could be a few years.

4. As always there could be City issues but Stage 1 took over 10 years and the success of it is so obvious and people can now visualize stage 2 easier, so I think the political and public will to make this happen is there.

The short answer is that Stage 2 looks good and is moving slowly and surely along.

Friends of Railpath met with Metrolinx recently and City officials to look over the plans and see where the trouble spots are.Building rail infrastructure is a massive undertaking so even getting a seat at the table is a big deal. Obviously there is a PR value for MX to be seen helping Railpath and frankly we will take it in this case. Going Electric is still a better idea than the current dirty diesel they are pursuing and the 407 style for profit airport link.

In discussions these are a few points that stood out and I present them just to inform: NOTHING HERE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SOLVE so don't get worried. Things are at an early stage and there are many ducks to line up and finding problems is part of getting the job done. Remember that some people thought stage 1 would never happen and it did. With stage 1 done there has never been more interest and will to see stage 2 happen. So just for info sake......

Dundas Bridge (at Sterling Road)--- a hanging or suspended path will have to be built under Dundas to swing east and over the Newmarket line to get Railpath back on the East side of the tracks. (next to the No Frills parking lot).

Lansdowne Bridge- will need abutments from MX to allow City to build out from bridge for additional lane.

Northern Place and Delaney Crescent ---Fantastic opportunities exist for Railpath entrances here.

Brock Bridge---will need abutments from MX to allow City to build out from bridge for additional lane.

The Dufferin Street Overpass (being constructed as part of the Dufferin Jog) and the Queen Street Overpass (being constructed as part of the Dufferin Jog)----in both cases there is some confusion about how much space is available. The City insisted on space for Railpath but MX is saying they need more space. Everybody is trying to figure the exact dimensions of everything going on here. Screwing this up would be a major embarrassment for the City and MX so look to see a solution here.

From here southeast things get crowded in the corridor but there are many possibilities which could work in different combinations.

Sudbury Street----will be extended a bit west and form an entrance. In the worst case scenario if Railpath cannot squeeze over the King bridge then there would be the option of:

A) running a bike path along Sudbury (on the road) and then starting a separate Railpath again on Douro Road just south of King. This option uses streets to bypass a tight spot.

B) Same as above but instead of crossing King on street level a Railpath bridge over King is built just east of the existing King rail bridge allowing Railpath to start again at the east end of Sudbury. Think of a bridge from Sudbury over King just east of the existing rail bridge.

C) Similar as the above ideas but instead of using Sudbury the Railpath would travel through the south part of the parking lot behind the townhouses on Sudbury and then cross in the same spot as above. This idea would still use about one block of the new west end of Sudbury.

D) In a perfect world...Find a way to keep Railpath right next to the rail corridor AND find space on the King Rail Bridge. Expanding the rail bridge would be more expensive than building a purpose specific bridge to cross King so this seems unlikely.

Western Battery Road or Pirandello Street---these two street are under consideration by the City as locations for a pedestrian/bike bridge up to Douro Street. This opens some possibilities in terms of heading to Strachan Ave.

Douro— this last stretch over to Strachan seems to have room for a separate Railpath.

East of Strachan--- may be too crowded to get Railpath further east than this.

Just back from the Railpath where the City has installed large boulders at the entrances to the park from the side streets. This should finally put an end to cars driving on the Railpath. I saw the rocks at the Ruskin, Wallace and Ernest entrances, but it appears that Randolph is still to be done.