Scarborough Subway route won't use Big Bend alignment - January 10, 2017

Read Inside Toronto's update Scarborough Subway route won't use Big Bend alignment, councillor says.  In the article Glenn De Baeremaeker also says he now backs the Sheppard Subway loop.

Scarborough subway report delayed . . . again - January 11, 2017

Read The Toronto Star's update Scarborough subway report delayed . . . again a critical staff study of the route and cost of the one-stop extension was originally supposed to be completed by December.

TTC Drops Expropriation Plans
November 25, 2016

Read Inside Toronto’s update TTC drops expropriation plans, moves Scarborough subway work site to read about the TTC’s change in construction plans which they are now planning to move to the Scarborough Town Centre area where they were planning to build a new station.

TTC and City Planning event at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on October 24, 2016

The Glen Andrews Community Association hosted a TTC and City Planning event at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on October 24, 2016 to discuss the locally promoted “Big Bend” alternative route developed by Lorne Ross which will be substantially less disruptive to our communities.

The presentation is provided for your reference and news coverage of this meeting included the Toronto Star’s Scarborough politicians push Big Bend for subway route and Inside Toronto’s Scarborough subway champions want TTC's likely route changed.  We ask all NBCA residents to educate themselves on the proposed Big Bend alternative route and stay informed on this very important city project affecting our community.

As well, an open letter to appeal to the TTC to find another route for the subway construction is being delivered to all homes in our community and we ask that you sign the letter and drop it off at one of the locations listed on the cover page.

Scarborough Transit Planning Update - Fall 2016

An update on the Smart Track/Regional Express Rail (RER) and Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) is available here.

Scarborough Transit Townhall - April 23, 2016

Read more and register here..

Scarborough Transit
Planning Update
March 9, 2016

An update report on Scarborough Transit Planning was considered by the City's Executive Committee on March 9, and was adopted with amendments. It is scheduled for consideration again on March 31, 2016

View the report

Public Consultation
February 27, 2016

9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre
150 Borough Drive
Since City Council confirmed its support for the Scarborough Subway Extension, the context for the project has changed due to the introduction of SmartTrack and Regional Express Rail, and the change in timing of the Sheppard East LRT. These changing conditions have presented new opportunities to achieve enhanced connectivity and accessibility as part of an emerging, comprehensive transit network for Scarborough.

Based on preliminary evaluation of alternatives, the City's Executive Committee has directed City staff to further study a transit solution for Scarborough that includes SmartTrack, the Scarborough Subway Extension and Crosstown East - the extension of the Crosstown LRT.

To learn more about this transit solution and provide your feedback, plan to attend this public meeting. Meetings in Scarborough will focus on introducing the recommended solution for Scarborough.

Scarborough Transit Planning Update
January 28, 2016

An update report on Scarborough Transit Planning was considered by the City's Executive Committee on January 28, and was adopted with amendments.

View the report

Subways or Light Rail Transit (LRT)?
Spring 2012

The subway / LRT debate is one in which we should all take a personal interest, and ensure that we are well informed. While your community association has not advocated one solution over another, until now, we also think it is our responsibility to make you aware of the alternatives, their costs and their benefits.

March 15, 2012: Report from the Expert Advisory Panel Regarding Transit on Sheppard Avenue East
Having heard comments about this report that recommends an LRT based solution, your President, Yvonne Taylor, and I attended the March 19 town hall meeting mentioned below.

At that meeing we discovered that we had been lead to believe that LRTs are less expensive than subways, when it turns out that the opposite is true - when you consider other issues besides the initial capital cost: overall value, economic growth, less road congestion, less impact on emergency services, time saved, and a capital asset that will last longer.

We didn't know this, but there is a documented plan for a subway system across Toronto. The plan was approved in 1994 and included an extensive environmental assessment (thousands of pages). We learned that an above ground system for Sheppard Avenue could cost taxpayers $15 million more a year to operate than an underground subway.

These savings mean that the “break-even” time (that is, the service time for which the increased capital cost of a subway on Sheppard East is exactly offset by reduced operating costs) is less than twenty one years. If ridership growth projections are to be believed, an LRT based solution would need to be replaced by a subway within that time period.

When all of the other economic benefits of a subway system are taken into account, along with it's higher speed and increased capacity, the best solution becomes obvious.

Read the report and the Subway Option Summary to verify these claims and to examine the long term funding options that City Council needs to consider.

• The March 15, 2012 Report Itself
  https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-45908.pdf
  
  
• The TTIL "Summary of Subway Option, March 12, 2012" that offers the rationale for the subway option
  https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/cc/bgrd/CC20_1_app3_9.pdf
  
  

Below is the announcement for the 19 March 2012 town hall meeting at the Scarborough Civic Centre.



For those who would still prefer to do their research from the comfort of their homes, there are a number of websites worth visiting. Each may have it's own bias towards a particular solution, so caveat emptor. They are listed in alphabetical order.

• blogTO discusses "The not so hidden costs of underground LRT"
  
  
  
• Steve Munro, a long time follower of council and TTC plans and intrigues, discusses and provides links to "The Secret Sheppard Subway Report". In this report the TCC discusses "Factors Affecting Choice Of Rapid Transit Technology"
  
  
• The Pembina Institute produced a report in 2011 "Making Tracks to Torontonians" examining the costs and benefits of the subway extension proposed by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford
  https://www.pembina.org/pub/2151
  An analysis of today’s transit options for Toronto has been released as of February 2012
  https://www.pembina.org/pub/2309
  
  
• The Toronto LRT Information Page looks at LRT and subway definitions, construction costs, and capacities.
  http://lrt.daxack.ca/
  
  
• Toronto Environmental Alliance answers a set of Frequently Asked Questions about LRTs
  https://www.torontoenvironment.org/campaigns/transit/LRTfaq/
  
  
• TTC Rapid Transit Expansion Study of 2001 looks at where rapid transit expansion would best suit the growing needs of population expansion and employment. As a consequence, an Eglinton East line was not considered. Besides recommending a staged approach, which has been characteristic of rapid transit expansion in Toronto, it recommends for Scarborough an expansion of the Sheppard subway towards Scarborough Town Centre as the highest priority.
  TTC Rapid Transit Expansion Study - August 2001
  

It is easy to see that major factors differentiating the alternatives are the economics, the claimed speed at which the service operates, operating capacity and the projected number of Torontonians served. Other factors particular to an LRT implementation are:

• Left turns between controlled intersections will be prohibited. U-turns from a left turn lane may be allowed.
  A study by URS Canada Inc. for the Sheppard East LRT discusses "Impacts to Left Turning Movements at Unsignalized Intersections" in section 9.2.1 of their report
  SHEPPARD EAST LRT - Class Environmental Assessment Study
  
• Left turns may result in accidents between motorists and LRVs
  A 1997 report by the University of California Institiute of Transportation Studies looks into "Accident Causation and Countermeasures" at light rail grade crossings. It's abstract states "Unlike conventional railroad grade crossings, light rail systems often incorporate a grade crossing into an intersection environment. These complex intersections can be confusing to drivers and lead to a high proportion of accidents where drivers turn into or in front of an LRV traveling the same direction." The report offers suggestions to reduce the frequency of such accidents.
  Median Light Rail Crossings: Accident Causation And Countermeasures
  

PETITIONS

• If you decide that you prefer subways over an LRT based solution, the
  • group Subways Are For Everyone offered a petition to His Worship the Mayor of Toronto, Toronto City Councillors and the City Clerk. The website no longer exists.
    
    
  • Toronto Taxpayer Coalition offers a petition to the Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, to allow a free and open vote in the provincial Legislature on the future of Toronto Transit.
    http://www.torontotaxpayer.ca/petition/save-the-subways/
    
    

If we become aware of more petitions being available, we will also provide a link to them.

Environmental Project Report Available for Review for the Scarborough Rapid Transit Conversion and Extension
August 2010

The City of Toronto and the TTC have completed an Environmental Project Report for the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) Conversion and Extension Project.

A comprehensive executive summary of the report

Extension of the Scarborough Rapid Transit & Kennedy Station Improvements
April 2010

The City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) are holding two Open Houses where you can learn more about this transit project, ask questions and share your comments. Details are as follows:
Date: April 12, 2010
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Jean Vanier CSS
959 Midland Avenue (n. of Eglinton)

Date: April 15, 2010
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Chinese Cultural Centre
5183 Sheppard Avenue East (at Progress Ave.)

Extension of the Scarborough Rapid Transit & Kennedy Station Improvements
March 2010

Public open houses are planned for during the preliminary planning stage of this proposed transit project. You can learn more about it, ask questions, and share your comments. The open houses will occur as follows:
Date: March 8, 2010
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Jean Vanier CSS (cafeteria)
959 Midland Avenue (n. of Eglinton)

Date: March 11, 2010
Time: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Chinese Cultural Centre
5183 Sheppard Avenue East (at Progress Ave.)