Railway

Articles, photos, and anything else that involves trains or railways in our neighbourhood.

Bloor St. W. Bridge Rehabilitation Work - Spring 2014 to Early 2015

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

Extended work hours at West Toronto Diamond

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 Star: GO rail construction for Union Pearson Express keeps residents awake

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

Rail construction access from Sterling Rd. across Railpath

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.

Union Pearson Express Electrification Environmental Assessment Public Open House

Union Pearson Express Electrification Environmental Assessment Public Open Houses

Electrification of Union Pearson (UP) Express is part of The Big Move, Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan to dramatically improve how people move in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Metrolinx and Hydro One Networks Inc. invite you to their joint Public Open Houses to learn more about the plans to electrify UP Express. At the Open House, interested members of the community can receive a project update and provide feedback on the preliminary design components, environmental effects and mitigation and next steps/timelines.

The UP Express route and proposed locations for electrification components are shown on the map below.

The Open Houses will provide you with an opportunity to view displays and speak one-on-one with project staff.
We look forward to seeing you there.

Monday, February 10, 2014
Lithuanian House
1573 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M6P 1A6

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Click here to download a PDF file of the full meeting notice, which includes a map, additional meeting dates/locations, contact information, etc.

West Toronto Diamond Grade Separation Meeting

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

Sharing Boundaries (Green Alternatives to Metrolinx Noise Wall)

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.

Bloor GO Station - temporary relocation

For all those of you who use the Bloor GO Station, note that as of afternoon service this Thursday (April 11), the GO Trains will stop at the new platform which is north of the existing platform (access via the railpath, from Ernest Ave). So Thursday afternoon you will disembark at the new platform, and on Friday morning you need to board there too until further notice.

More information available at: http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/en/updates/special.aspx (although sadly there is no map posted there to clarify things. See the ones posted at the station.)

Rail Committee: Letter to Andrea Horwath, NDP

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.

Ana Bailao's Metrolinx Sound Wall Community Consultation

From Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao's office.

It's important to note that this meeting is being organized by Ward 18 city councillor Ana Bailao and not Metrolinx. Metrolinx are holding their own meeting on this topic later in the month (February 21).

You can download a PDF copy of this announcement here.

Dear Residents,

I am holding a public meeting on the issue of the large sound walls, which Metrolinx has determined will be installed next to the West Toronto Railpath in Ward 18.

Our community should be well-informed and able to exert positive influence on Metrolinx decisions that affect us. For these reasons I ask you to join me and members of our community for a presentation and discussion on Thursday, February 7th, 6:30PM at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Cathedral (143 Franklin Ave).

Please review the attached flyer and contact my office if you have any questions or concerns.

I look forward to a strong community turnout for this meeting.

Sincerely,

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

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