Junction Triangle

The Globe, December 22, 1930: Click image for full-size version

On Saturday, December 20, 1930, four firefighters narrowly escaped injury or death when they jumped from their firetruck moments before it was struck by a train at the Wallace Ave. crossing. You can get the details of what happened in The Globe's article (click for a large, readable image), but here's a quick summary:

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.

Kristen writes:

"Jeff's documentary Bending the Rails, set here in our neighbourhood, is airing on Rogers at 7 pm on Tuesday, February 14th. Hope you can tune in! [Link to more info on the Rogers TV website]"

If you go to the Rogers website, you can watch a short promo trailer for the film.

Also, in addition to the film, Rogers will feature an interview with Jeff Winch. Tune in if you can!

"Bending The Rails is a documentary by Toronto filmmaker Jeff Winch about a local issue directly affecting The Junction Triangle. The Junction is surrounded by railway lines and the film focuses on the increase of diesel train traffic scheduled to pass through the area. Citizens along the rail corridor want clean electric trains and fear the negative impact toxic diesel pollution will have on their neighbourhoods. Rogers TV presents an in depth interview with Jeff Winch and a screening of his film all in a special one hour presentation."

From Torontoist:

Could the Junction Triangle Become the Next Liberty Village?

An ambitious development could introduce major change to this tiny west-end neighborhood.
BY BRONWYN KIENAPPLE

While the brownfield on Sterling Road just east of the West Toronto Railpath is known to most as a first-class eyesore, a proposed development might not only revitalize the property, but possibly also the chronically underdeveloped Junction Triangle neighbourhood that surrounds it. That is, if the City of Toronto and corporate interests can agree it should be built.

The Junction Triangle is enclosed by three sets of railway tracks, a tall, skinny area that roughly runs south and west of Lansdowne and Dupont, narrowing to a point at Dundas West. It’s a bit south and a bit east of the Junction—the two are distinct neighbourhoods—and hasn’t yet seen the same revitalization the Junction has. The brownfield in the Junction Triangle was formerly Tower Automotive, a sheet-casing facility built in the early 20th century that closed in 2006. Its machining buildings have since been razed, though a 10-storey tower, designated a heritage property and popular with urban explorers, still stands. Castlepoint Realty Partners purchased the property in 2008. Their hope is to turn the area into a mixed-use neighborhood, in the vein of Liberty Village or the Distillery District.

Here's another opportunity to see local filmmaker Jeff Winch's documentary about the diesel train expansion around our neighbourhood.

Green 13 hosts - Bending the Rails
Sponsored by the Annette Library
Located at: 145 Annette Street
Date: Monday, September 19, 2011
Time: 6:30 pm
Running time: 45 minutes
Q & A with filmmaker Jeff Winch after the screening

Details from the Facebook event page:

Bending the Rails: documentary about the diesel trains

Time: Tuesday, August 30 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Revue Cinema

More Info: Free screening at the Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles) Tuesday August 30 @ 7:00PM. MP Andrew Cash, Councillor Ana Bailão, MPP Cheri DiNovo, filmmaker Jeff Winch and Paul Gorczynski from the office of Peggy Nash will be in attendance. Q&A after screening (running time 45 mins)

The Junction Triangle in Toronto is surrounded by railway lines. Very soon those rails will bring excessive toxic diesel pollution to the neighbourhood, courtesy of the Ontario Government.

Citizens all along the rail corridor want clean electric trains, but Premier Dalton McGuinty isn’t listening.

With government sorely letting it down, the scrappy Junction Triangle fights on.

But the diesel trains are coming closer and time is running out

For more info, contact jw@jeffwinch.com.