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GO Transit: Construction Projects (Metrolinx, various)

innsertnamehere said:
Anyone know if the URSC signalling project is still due for completion next year? I can find almost no information on it beyond the initial press release on it from 2014.
Click to expand...

From the Capital Construction report at the last ML Board Meeting:

The USRC Signalling System Project achieved System Final Design Review to begin testing for East Zone in July 2018. The achievement is a major milestone for the project and allows testing to begin at the factory. Construction of all aspects of the Signalling System is proceeding.
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If the components are still at the factory, then I'd say they have a way to go yet.

- Paul
 
^ This was the September 2018 email update for construction activity in USRC East and it mentions signaling. Is this prep work for the components at the factory?

Union Station East Rail Corridor
Overnight Construction between Union Station and the Don Yard - September/October 2018
Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, is working to transform the way the region moves by building a seamless, convenient and integrated transit network across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Over the next 10 years, Metrolinx is transforming the existing GO rail system to deliver a whole new rapid transit experience to your community. With more frequent train service you’ll have more options to get you where you need to go.

Metrolinx is committed to updating our neighbours along the Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC) about project developments and upcoming construction information.

THE LOCAL PROJECT
As an update to the last email dated Friday September 7th, below is a list of additional construction activity that will take place within the eastern portion of the Union Station Rail Corridor (USRC). This work is needed to improve the signalling network and includes pull box and conduit installation. As rail traffic continues to increases to increase this work must take place overnight, ensuring the corridor remains a safe work environment. Work between Union Station and the Don Yards include the following projects:

Signalling System Upgrade Project: Crews will be working on installing pull boxes and conduit between Union Station and the Don Yard. This work requires excavation using vacuum trucks and other required equipment. Noise associated with this includes: low frequency humming, drilling, hammering and truck back-up beepers. In addition to the work identified on Friday September 7th, the activity along this stretch will take place as noted below:

Union Station to Bay Street - (night)
  • Tuesday, September 11 to Wednesday, September 12, 2018
  • Wednesday, September 19, 2018 to Tuesday, September 25, 2018
  • Monday, October 1 to Thursday, October 4, 2018
  • Thursday, October 11 to Saturday, October 13, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m
Union Station to Yonge Street - (night)
  • Wednesday, September 19, 2018 to Thursday, September 20, 2018
  • Wednesday, September 26, to Thursday September 27, 2018
  • Monday, October 1 to Thursday, October 4, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Lower Jarvis Street to Lower Sherbourne - (night)
  • Saturday, September 29, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Cherry Street to Don Yard - (night)
  • Wednesday, September 28, 2018
  • Tuesday, October 2 to Wednesday, October 3, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.


Wayside Installation: Crews will perform overnight wayside installation from just east of the Don Yard (Bala) to Lower Sherbourne Street. New junction boxes will be installed along the tracks for better access to field equipment, and the use of Vacuum Trucks is needed. This work will take place during the following period:

Bala (covering track east of Don Yard up to Queen Street):
  • Tuesday, September 11 to Tuesday, September 18, 2018
  • Friday, October 5 to Saturday, October 6, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am
Parliament Street to Cherry Street:
  • Wednesday, September 19 to Friday, September 21, 2018
  • Thursday, September 27 to Sunday, September 30, 2018
  • Monday, October 1 to Thursday, October 4, 2018
  • Sunday, October 7 to Monday October 8, 2018
  • Overnight between 8:00 pm and 5:00 am
Sherbourne Street:
  • Saturday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 26, 2018

PLEASE NOTE: There will be a total of 6 vac trucks rotating at all times during this 2 week period.

*Rail maintenance work is scheduled daily as part of our routine rail corridor state of good repair maintenance program to ensure safe and efficient rail service. Maintenance work includes: snow removal, removing and replacing rail ties and track bed, and picking up/dropping off rail equipment and preparing materials in and out of the Sherbourne Yard. General track maintenance work along the rail corridor is ongoing and is completed on a continuous basis dependent on track conditions. Inspectors are required to frequently walk-through the corridor, to point out potential defects in track conditions. When a point in the track is flagged, then replacement work is carried-out immediately. Track maintenance work is dependent on findings from the inspectors and permissible weather conditions.

WHAT TO EXPECT
We recognize that this work can be disruptive to residents and are doing our best to carry out this essential construction with the least disruption possible. We have directed our contractors to be mindful of our neighbours, and to redirect work lights away from homes.

Metrolinx uses typical rail equipment that has been fitted to comply with workplace health and safety standards. Each various piece of machinery used for our projects are measured in accordance with a precise test procedure that qualifies the equipment. Tracks must be taken out of service to complete this work and as a result this work can only be carried out during off-peak times for safety purposes, when there is less train traffic, overnight.

Nearby residents will notice loud noise and vibration from power tools and equipment movement during this time. If you have any questions please contact James Burchell at: 416-202-7537 or james.burchell@metrolinx.com.

For more information about projects taking place in the Union East Station Rail Corridor please click here.


SEPTEMBER 2018
Click to expand...
 
Allandale25 said:
^ This was the September 2018 email update for construction activity in USRC East and it mentions signaling. Is this prep work for the components at the factory?
Click to expand...

No doubt they are connected.

The factory testing is basically a full first assembly and operation of the control and interlocking systems, with the field plant equipment simulated. Individual signal and turnout components can be simulated without using the actual hardware that will be installed in the field. So the field components may be getting installed in parallel to the factory test of the core interlocking and control components. (The tests are replicated after the system is installed, but it’s critical to run the first tests indoors in a controlled environment)

For a plant as big as USRC, it’s a pretty complex task. Especially since the configuration of trackage has been rethought and revised periodically over the past few years. Getting a ‘frozen’ plant layout, and then completing all the design steps to address that layout, is no small achievement.

- Paul
 
When you think about the length of time it is taking for Metrolinx to get RER up and running it really is pathetic.

Montreal's REM which was only announced a couple years ago is already under construction, they have already decided the trains, manufacturer, platform length and heights, frequency, is completely grade separated, and will be finished by 2022. All Toronto has managed is some grade separations, track twinning, and thousands of parking spots. All this progress in Montreal at lightening speed and Toronto has yet to even figure out the technology, the trains, and if they will use single or double decker. Hell, Toronto is still going thru a royal commission to figure out platform heights.

People don't trust QP or Metrolinx on the transit file and the difference between REM & RER is an excellent example as to why.
 
ssiguy2 said:
When you think about the length of time it is taking for Metrolinx to get RER up and running it really is pathetic.

Montreal's REM which was only announced a couple years ago is already under construction, they have already decided the trains, manufacturer, platform length and heights, frequency, is completely grade separated, and will be finished by 2022. All Toronto has managed is some grade separations, track twinning, and thousands of parking spots. All this progress in Montreal at lightening speed and Toronto has yet to even figure out the technology, the trains, and if they will use single or double decker. Hell, Toronto is still going thru a royal commission to figure out platform heights.

People don't trust QP or Metrolinx on the transit file and the difference between REM & RER is an excellent example as to why.
Click to expand...
What's even more pathetic is when you consider that much more simpler projects in the GTAH that were in the planning pipeline long before the conception Montreal's REM still havent even started construction/or are still in the planning stages.
 
Allandale25 said:
I guess this falls under GO Construction?

Article here: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...e-developer-for-mimico-go-station-revamp.html
Report here: http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20181022/20181022_BoardMtg_Mimico_Station_EN.pdf
Click to expand...

The most important questions IMHO
- Does this constrain future GO expansion and track capacity?
- How big and high a structure? Is this a "Trojan Horse" to coopt a Provincial agency to drive a scale of development that otherwise would be unacceptable for this community?
- Current zoning is "mixed use". How much commercial? How much residential? How many units? How much 'affordable' housing, how much rental - versus high-end condos?
- Does ML's initiative undermine or short circuit any of the usual City Planning Dept oversight.... who assesses the likes of setbacks? shadows? transportation impacts? infrastructure requirements?
- Ultimately, who calls the shots on the zoning and scale of development - Metrolinx or City of Toronto?
- Who is the developer?

- Paul
 
Last edited:
crs1026 said:
The most important questions IMHO
- Does this constrain future GO expansion and track capacity?
- How big and high a structure? Is this a "Trojan Horse" to coopt a Provincial agency to drive a scale of development that otherwise would be unacceptable for this community?
- Current zoning is "mixed use". How much commercial? How much residential? How many units? How much 'affordable' housing, how much rental - versus high-end condos?
- Does ML's initiative undermine or short circuit any of the usual City Planning Dept oversight.... who assesses the likes of setbacks? shadows? transportation impacts? infrastructure requirements?
- Ultimately, who calls the shots on the zoning and scale of development - Metrolinx or City of Toronto?
- Who is the developer?

- Paul
Click to expand...
-likely not by much if any
- previous approvals were in the mid 20's storeys. I expect the developer may push for more - but that would be up to the city to approve.
- Likely mostly private condos
- ML wouldn't by-pass city planning. I imagine that it would be treated by the city as any other type of development application, that just happens to sit on top of a GO station. The developer would take the risk of what level of density gets approved. There are several other large development applications around the station today - the city would this one just the same as those other ones.
- Toronto for sure.
- Apparently Vandyk according to the development thread. Could be Dunpar Homes though too - they have an active development application beside the Mimico parking lot.
 
ssiguy2 said:
When you think about the length of time it is taking for Metrolinx to get RER up and running it really is pathetic.

Montreal's REM which was only announced a couple years ago is already under construction, they have already decided the trains, manufacturer, platform length and heights, frequency, is completely grade separated, and will be finished by 2022. All Toronto has managed is some grade separations, track twinning, and thousands of parking spots. All this progress in Montreal at lightening speed and Toronto has yet to even figure out the technology, the trains, and if they will use single or double decker. Hell, Toronto is still going thru a royal commission to figure out platform heights.

People don't trust QP or Metrolinx on the transit file and the difference between REM & RER is an excellent example as to why.
Click to expand...

The reason goes beyond Metrolinx's incompetence, which I do believe is a factor, but a small one.

Upgrading an exisiting live rail system is much more time consuming and complex than starting from scratch.

I do realize that some portions of REM are not new, like the Deux Montagnes line, but they are shutting it down completely and running buses. We tried to do that with the SRT to LRT conversion and it didnt work. How Montrealers see transit progress is different than Toronto.

Also since its being funded by the Canadian Pension Plan thingy, theres cash flow and there is a demand to get it done.

However, the 2022 date is only for the South Shore part of the project. Really peanuts in size compared to RER.

And lets be honest, it will be ready in 2023, everything transit related gets delayed a year.
 
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