Junction Triangle

DIGIN has organized a meeting with Metrolinx regarding the proposed Davenport Diamond Grade Separation project. Details from DIGIN coordinator Donna Cowan below.

Hi all,

The meeting with Metrolinx regarding the upcoming renovations to the Barrie rail line has been set up for this Wednesday.

Here are the details:

Wednesday March 11th
7pm start
Doors open at 6:45pm

Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre
1900 Davenport Avenue
GARDEN Room
The room has been reserved under my name, DIGIN as well as Metrolinx.

Directions to the room:
Once in front door the reception will be on the left. Keep walking straight.
Stay to the left of the staircase. You will feel as if you are exiting the building.
Under the stairs on the right is the Garden Room. Was hrooms are on the left.

There are bike locks out front and possibly in the back in view of the room. Automobile parking is on the street.

Metrolinx is planning 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). Here's the Google Map link.

Currently, these tracks cross each other at-grade, meaning that they intersect at ground level. Trains travelling along the north-south tracks must wait for east-west trains to finish passing through before they can proceed, and vice-versa. The grade separation plan proposes to elevate the north-south GO Transit Barrie Line tracks over the Davenport Diamond, eliminating the intersection and train traffic conflicts.

Though no details have been provided yet about exactly how this grade separation will occur, the summary basically goes like this:

• A bridge will be built to carry GO trains on the Barrie line over the east-west freight line
• The bridge would start ramping up from just north of Bloor St., proceed over the Davenport Diamond, and return to ground level north of the Diamond (probably between Davenport Rd. and St. Clair Ave.
• Wallace Ave. would not be closed (as was possible in one of the previous grade separation proposals)
• Some additional track crossings may be opened up, e.g. Paton Rd. or Antler St. / Lappin Ave.
• Space under the bridge could potentially be re-purposed by the community (Park? Trail? Other?)

Timelines, construction methods, costs/funding, and other details have not been provided yet, though I expect some of that will be made available soon.

This thread will be updated as we continue to find out more. All comments and discussions related to this project will be consolidated here too.

Note: Grade separation was previously discussed in 2009 with a few options proposed, but this ended up getting rolled into a larger Barrie corridor expansion EA and shelved until recently.

Meeting invitation from Metrolinx. Download the original flyer with map and additional details here.

Help Choose Your Community’s Public Art!
Bloor-Perth Underpass Art Project Consultation

Crossways Employment and Social Services
2340 Dundas St. West 3rd floor suite 302
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
6:00pm – 8:00pm

Metrolinx and the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto (StART) program have teamed up to deliver locallyinspired
public art that deters graffiti-vandalism while adding vibrancy and artistry to the community. This is
one opportunity to review preliminary concepts and let the artists know what you want the art in your
community to look like.

The concepts will also be posted online for review and feedback at www.gotransit.com/gts from March 5th
to March 11th. The successful artist will be chosen based on various criteria, including how the
community’s input is represented in their final design.

Flyer from Metrolinx. Click the image to download original PDF copy.

Metrolinx / GO Transit has announced extended working hours at the West Toronto Diamond grade separation project. You can download the announcement here:
http://goweb02.gotransit.com/gts/en/docs/201402_WTD_Construction_Update_EN.pdf

Beginning February 11: Work Hours 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

What we are doing

• Beginning Tuesday, February 11, we are extending regular work hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the foreseeable future to complete the expanded rail corridor for increased transit service. We will also be working on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Extended hours are required to stay on schedule to reopen the Old Weston Road/Junction Road rail crossing as soon as possible. We will revisit the need for extended hours in the spring.
• Work will take place in the lowered corridor installing rebar (reinforcing steel) to prepare for pouring concrete to complete the floor.
• There may also be some excavation; however, the majority of excavation will take place during the day.
• This work is in preparation for the final bridge slides scheduled for this spring/summer.
• The Junction Rd./Old Weston Rd. crossing will reopen after the bridges are installed. We will communicate the opening date once it is confirmed.

How will this affect you

• This work typically does not create elevated noise. For example, the rebar is tied together by hand to form the structure which is considered quieter work
• Lights will be used for safety, and we will do our best to direct them away from nearby properties.
• For safety reasons, vehicles onsite will sound a ‘beep’ when they drive in reverse when necessary.

Please visit gotransit.com/gts for updates or call Kelly at 416-604-9582 for more information

The Toronto Star has posted an article about some unusually loud overnight construction noise along the Georgetown Rail corridor, near the Wallace Ave. footbridge, during this past weekend:

GO rail construction for Union Pearson Express keeps residents awake

Construction noise kept some residents up all night last weekend along the Kitchener GO line.

By: Tess Kalinowski Transportation reporter, Published on Tue Feb 04 2014

As part of their ongoing construction work in the rail corridor, Metrolinx will be creating a temporary access road into the corridor from 158 Sterling Rd. (the former Tower Automotive site) across the West Toronto Railpath. Details, with map, are in the attached flyer.

Rail Corridor Access to begin early February at 158 Sterling Rd.

What we are doing

• We are grading and installing track and signals between Lansdowne Avenue and Dupont Street to complete the expanded rail corridor for increased transit service.
• We are accessing the corridor at two locations to finish construction by the end of this year. The first is already in use at Dundas Street West and Brad Street. The second access will be at 158 Sterling Road where we will also store new track materials.
• Trucks will cross the West Toronto Railpath to enter and exit the rail corridor at the Sterling Road location.

How this will affect you

• We will begin to use the 158 Sterling Road access/storage on early February until the end of 2014.
• Railpath users will have the right-of-way over construction vehicles. A traffic control person will be
• positioned at the access point during construction hours. Appropriate signage will be in place along the path advising users of the condition ahead. Signage will also be placed along the access road reminding drivers to stop and yield to railpath users.
• Regular work hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There may be occasional work on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• We expect an average of 8 to 10 trucks per hour to use this access on a daily basis.
• All trucks will travel along Sterling Road from Dundas Street West to access the construction site.
• We will regularly clean the roads our trucks will be using, including the West Toronto Railpath.

Via the GO/Metrolinx @GTS_Project Twitter feed and email update:

Jan. 23, 6:30 at 2054 Daveport Rd: Join us to learn more about what's left to do this year at #WestTorontoDiamond http://www.gotransit.com/gts/en/project/wtd.aspx

GTS Project Update - Public Meetings
Join us for the GTS Project Public Meetings to get an update on construction and what to look forward to in 2014. These meetings will be held in lieu of the Construction Liaison Meetings in January.

West Toronto Diamond/Junction
Thursday, January 23
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Toronto Police Division 11 - 2054 Davenport Road

Hi

I am considering buying a property in the Junction Triangle. I am wondering if I can get some opinions from people on here who have attended the recent public consultations what they think the chances of electrification of the UP rail link are?

It seems to me that the Electrification EA is a good sign that that this is likely to happen. However, I have not followed this or other electrification projects so I don't know if this always leads to somewhere...

Tuesday, June 25 - 7 p.m.
Perth Avenue Housing Co-Op
120 Perth Avenue (at Bloor)

A presentation by the award-winning architects Brown & Storey outlining a green alternative to the Metrolinx plan to build 16-feet high concrete noise walls through our neighbourhood next year. Q & A to follow. Free, All Welcome. Presented by the Junction Triangle Rail Committee.