Davenport Diamond grade separation update
It has been a while since we last heard from GO Transit about the Davenport Diamond Grade Separation Project. The last meeting took place on April 22 2009, with very poor notice given by GO Transit.
Some details and slides from that meeting are posted on this website here. In short, this project proposes to grade-separate the railway tracks that run along the east side of our neighbourhood (between Campbell Ave. and Lansdowne) and the CN Tracks on the north side of our neighbourhood (between Dupont and Davenport). This would involve creating a huge wall/overpass or trench east of Campbell Ave., with the possibility closing Wallace Ave. Whatever the outcome of this project is, it will have a major impact on our neighbourhood.
In this latest update, we find out that the Davenport Diamond Grade Separation has been rolled into a much larger environmental assessment for the expansion of GO Transit's Barrie Line.
Phone: (416) 869-3600 ext. 5211
Fax: (416) 869-1563
E-mail: Greg.Ashbee@gotransit.comTuesday, November 10, 2009
Dear Vic:
Subject: Environmental Assessment study update
Davenport Diamond rail-to-rail grade separation
City of TorontoIn the letter we sent you on April 30, we promised to give you an update about the status of the Davenport Diamond project this fall.
At the public sessions we held in April, the feedback you provided and the interest you showed about this project proved just how important this project is to your community. We took your comments about this project into consideration and thanks to your input, we are planning on proceeding with an Environmental Assessment (EA) that will include the Davenport Diamond, the proposed new station at Saint Clair Avenue, and the future rail service expansion on Barrie GO line. For this reason, we will be cancelling the current Davenport Diamond process, in favour of a larger, more comprehensive EA on the Barrie GO line, which will include the Davenport Diamond.
Our next step will be to tender and award a consultant assignment for this new, larger project scope the spring of 2010. We will be coming back to your community to host public open houses and to conduct a feasibility study over the next year, and with the plan to issue a Notice of Commencement in 2011.
To find the most up-to-date information about this project, please visit www.gotransit.com and click on the Projects & Studies button (NOTE: See update below).
We value your insight and I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Yours very truly,
Greg Ashbee, P. Eng
Manager, Infrastructure Expansion Planning
UPDATE, Feb 25 2010: GO Transit has re-organized their website. Current, but somewhat minimal, information about the Davenport Diamond Grade Separation can be found here:
http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/improve/projects.aspx
UPDATE:
This project has resumed in 2015, and all discussions/info can now be found here.
Comments
Closing Wallace would be hard
Closing Wallace would be hard as it would really hem in the JT and possibly create response issues for fire and police. Never mind the firestorm of protest that would erupt. I just don't see it happening. I think a trench would be the least worst of the worst.
'new, larger project scope?'
'new, larger project scope?' I wonder what they mean by that. Has anyone heard what they have in mind?
I live across the street from Campbell Ave Playground, overlooking the tracks. Working from home, I can't imagine living through years of pile driving and being left with a huge wall/overpass as a souvenir.
While I wish they were electric, I don't mind watching the trains go by. Kids seem to enjoy and marvel at the engines.
I hope they learned something from the West Toronto Diamond.
st clair station?
I specifically asked the GO people about this at the Pelham school night when they presented this and they said the ridership numbers weren't there. I think it would be terrific to be able to go north in the mornings to York without having to take a long ttc bus ride.