Junction Triangle

The following letter was sent from the Junction Triangle Rail Committee:

March 1, 2013

Ms. Andrea Horwath, MPP
Leader, New Democratic Party of Ontario
Room 113, Main Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON M7A 1A5

Re: Invitation to Meet Re: Diesel Train Service Expansion in West Toronto

Dear Ms. Horwath:

Like a number of residents in the Junction Triangle in West Toronto, I am disappointed by the actions of the provincial government related to the expansion of diesel train service and the Pearson airport rail link on the Georgetown South rail corridor.

Residents along the rail corridor have been vocal in their support of electric trains. Your party and local NDP representatives have been actively campaigning on the issue for “Clean Trains Now” with lawn signs, petitions, public rallies and even a Private Member’s Bill.

You can imagine our disappointment with your party for missing two recent opportunities to make electrification government policy in exchange for supporting a Liberal minority government. Placing tax policy changes and auto insurance reductions ahead of electrification contradicts the long-standing policy statements of your members from Davenport, Parkdale-High Park and Trinity-Spadina of electric trains “now.”

There are many good reasons to expand public transit, but nothing suggests rushing to install diesel technology in time for a two-week sporting event will have any benefit for the people in West Toronto forced to live with this legacy for the next generation.

GO Train at Bloor Station

Information from Metrolinx / GO Transit. You can download PDF copes of this flyer in English and French.

The Georgetown South (GTS) Project will provide infrastructure improvements to meet existing GO Transit ridership demand and future growth. It will also accommodate the new Union Pearson Express (formerly known as the Air Rail Link) service between Union Station and Pearson International Airport. This project is one of the key elements of The Big Move.

Bloor GO Station Construction Work begins January 28

What we are doing

• We are extending the existing north platform towards Ernest Avenue.
• This first phase of work involves utility relocation and installation of a shoring wall through the use of augured piles. We will also install construction hoarding along our property line adjacent to the West Toronto Railpath.
• After construction is fully complete in 2014, the new Bloor GO/UP Express station will be fully accessible with the following customer amenities:
  • A new ticket sales and customer service booth;
  • A platform snowmelt system;
  • Platform canopies;
  • New bike racks;
  • Station and train information boards;
  • New pedestrian tunnels with enhanced lighting and CCTV cameras;
  • New platform access from the West Toronto Railpath.

Via the latest email update from Metrolinx / GO Transit:

Closure of Old Weston/Junction Road Rail Crossing – Beginning January 26
The Old Weston/Junction Road Rail Crossing will be closed beginning January 26 until the summer. For more information, please read the construction update which was distributed to the community on January 14.

Although this is just outside of the Junction Triangle, the closure of Old Weston / Junction Rd makes navigation around the north-west side of the neighbourhood a bit more troublesome. It also seems to funnel more traffic through Osler and Dupont Streets.

Event information from Metrolinx:

The Georgetown South (GTS) Project will provide infrastructure improvements to meet existing GO Transit ridership demand and future growth. It will also accommodate existing and future VIA Rail and CN freight train service as well as the new Air Rail Link between Union Station and Pearson International Airport.

Bloor GO Station Public Meeting
GO Transit is committed to keeping you informed about our construction activities and infrastructure projects. In keeping with The Big Move, Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan, we are planning to update and improve Bloor GO Station, making it a more modern link to safe, comfortable and convenient public transportation by early 2015. The project involves station enhancements, including a new barrier-free pedestrian tunnel and rehabilitation of the existing pedestrian access from Bloor Street. The improved Bloor GO Station will also feature an Air Rail Link stop, providing a seamless connection from Union Station to Pearson International Airport .

You are invited to attend our public information session to learn about the upcoming plans for Bloor GO Station. Representatives from GO Transit, as well as the project’s consultants, will be on hand to answer questions.

Monday, December 10 – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Lithuanian House
1573 Bloor Street West

The following meeting announcement come from Kelly Thornton at Metrolinx:

When: Thu, 1 November, 18:30 – 20:30
Where: 2054 Davenport Road, Toronto, Ontario (Toronto Police Service 11 Division) (map)
Description: Join us for the West Toronto Diamond Project Public Meeting to get an update on construction and what to look forward to in 2013.

Kelly Thornton
Community Relations

Construction update provided by Metrolinx. Please download the original notice here (188K PDF file).

Georgetown South Project
Construction Update

The West Toronto Diamond Grade Separation Project is an important rail infrastructure project that will eliminate a major bottleneck at the most heavily used rail crossing in Canada. When completed, GO trains on the Kitchener line will pass below CP freight lines, and this will improve service reliability, reduce noise, and allow for future service improvements to reduce congestion in the northwest of Toronto.

Annual CP Rail Track Closure
Extended Hours: 24 Hours a day from July 3 -16

What we are doing

• Removing CP Rail’s connecting track and excavating the roadway so we can work on the walls of the lowered rail corridor in this area
• Cleaning and reinforcing the pipe piles
• Forming tunnels under the tracks and roadway to prepare for the final bridge installation and excavation of the corridor

How this will affect you

• Work will take place for 24 hours a day due to the short period of time available during the annual CP Rail track closure. This track closure is only available once a year for approximately two weeks.
• This work does not produce elevated levels of noise or vibration. Nearby residents may hear the sounds of construction equipment operating and see lighting in the work area overnight.

Please note: This work is crucial to reopening the rail crossing at Junction Road and Old Weston Road. We plan to reopen the rail crossing in September. It will need to be closed in late 2012 or early 2013 for 2 to 3 months to install the north bridge portion. It will then close again in the fall of 2013 for a few months to install the south portion.

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

Meeting notice from Metrolinx:

The Georgetown South (GTS) Project will provide infrastructure improvements to meet existing GO Transit ridership demand and future growth. It will also accommodate existing and future VIA Rail and CN freight train service as well as the new Air Rail Link between Union Station and Pearson International Airport.

Electrification Update
Public Meeting

Metrolinx is holding a public meeting to provide an update on the Electrification of the Kitchener and Lakeshore rail corridors, including the new Airport Rail Link (ARL) service.

We hope you can join us to learn about the process and discuss it with us further.

Wednesday June 27, 2012
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario M6P 1A6
This venue is wheelchair accessible

At this public meeting, project team members will provide information and an update on the:

• Environmental Assessment process for electrification of the ARL service along the Kitchener corridor
• Electrification design for the Kitchener and Lakeshore rail corridors
• Development of performance standards for electrification for the Kitchener and Lakeshore rail corridors

Message from Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailão, with meeting poster attached:

Dear Neighbours,

As you are aware, Metrolinx has been active making infrastructure upgrades to the Georgetown Rail Corridor. Among the upgrades are new sound walls which will run along various parts of the corridor and our neighbourhoods.

As there are a number of options for material and design of these sound walls, I have organized a public meeting for community groups to be informed about these options and be involved in this process.

I encourage anyone interested to attend a presentation by Metrolinx staff on April 30th to hear about available options and provide input into the final design.

Public Meeting
Date: April 30rd
Start Time: 6:30pm
Location: Shirley St. Public School, Gym
38 Shirley Street, Toronto

Ana Bailão

City Councillor
Ward 18, Davenport
councillor_bailao@toronto.ca (416) 392-7012 www.AnaBailao.ca

The following meeting info was sent in by Kelly from Metrolinx:

West Toronto Diamond Construction Liaison Meeting

This monthly meeting is an opportunity for residents meet the construction project delivery team to review ongoing construction and what is planned in the coming months. As always, you can contact our community relations team at any time with any questions or concerns. This is simply an opportunity for our neighbours to ask specific questions with the construction delivery team in attendance.

The next meeting will be:
Thursday March 22, 2012
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
West Toronto Diamond Community Office
18 Hook Avenue, Suite 204

For more information, please contact Kelly at 416-604-9582 or gts@gotransit.com.

Update from Metrolinx. You can download the original PDF announcement here.

The West Toronto Diamond Grade Separation Project is an important rail infrastructure project that will eliminate a major bottleneck at the most heavily used rail crossing in Canada. When completed, GO trains on the Kitchener line will pass below CP freight lines, and this will improve service reliability, reduce noise, improve safety, and allow for future service improvements to reduce congestion in the northwest of Toronto.

West Toronto Diamond – Sunday Work
Temporary change in working hours

What we are doing

• Interlocking sheet-piles will be installed to allow us to work in smaller sections, removing water and excavating.
• Much of this work is being done during the week; however, some of it must be done over the weekend when trains are not operating.
• Weekend hours for this work are confirmed for Saturday February 25 and Sunday February 26.
• If the work can not be finished in one weekend, Sunday hours may be required in March or April.

How this will affect you

• Nearby residents will notice an increase in noise levels during this work. The vibratory method used for installation causes a distinct steel-on-steel rattle.
• Please note that we continue to monitor noise and vibration as we complete this work.
• Workers will be onsite from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.