Cycling: West Toronto Railpath (City of Toronto, Phase II Proposed)

[DSC]

Here's another RailPath-like opportunity - in Paris. http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2...epreneurs-environmentalists-abandoned-railway

 

[Allandale25]

Article on the news conference today about the West Toronto Railpath being extended south.

West Toronto Railpath to be extended south

Chris Fox, CP24.com
Published Friday, August 12, 2016 7:50AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, August 12, 2016 10:58AM EDT
The province has announced plans to extend the West Toronto Railpath trail south to King Street.

The recreational trail currently runs alongside the Kitchener GO line tracks from Dupont Street to Dundas Street but will now be extended to just east of the Dufferin Street Bridge, which will in turn give Liberty Village residents direct access to the trail.

The extension of the trail will also run through a new park that the City of Toronto is building north of Queen and Dufferin streets. That park will be named Dufferin Peel Park and is being constructed entirely with funding from the developer of a nearby condominium.

“This future park will be a hub for West Toronto Railpath users, including cyclists. The park will include cycling amenities, seating, terraces oriented towards the west and a lookout,” Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca told reporters at a news conference on Friday. “Through this investment and many others in the GO Transit network, we are giving commuters another reason to leave their cars behind and take transit or use other forms of active transportation.”

It is not immediately clear when the West Toronto Railpath will be extended but once complete Mayor John Tory said the project will be one “that will serve the community and the whole city for years and decades to come.”

Meanwhile, Coun. Anna Bailao said the extension of the railpath is big news for area residents.

“You are going to be able to get on your bike or just walk south of Queen and go all the way to Dupont or get off at different points where we have access,” she told CP24.

In addition to announcing plans for the extension of the West Toronto Railpath on Friday, Del Duca also announced $8.4 million in funding to expand the Dufferin Street Bridge.

The expansion is required to accommodate an additional track that is needed to provide more frequent service along the Barrie GO corridor.

 

[smably]

I'm trying to make some sense of this announcement and failing. The province's press release almost treats the railpath extension as an afterthought -- all the quotes and most of the text is about the Dufferin bridge, which is important, but a small part of the project. The only mention of the railpath extension is three paragraphs in:

In addition, Metrolinx is partnering with the City of Toronto to extend the West Toronto Railpath multi-use trail to the West Queen West community. This extension will run along the existing rail corridor, connecting cyclists and pedestrians from Dupont St. to just east of Dufferin St.

But nowhere do they specify the nature of the partnership. Is it a funding partnership? If so, why is there no dollar amount? Is it a partnership in the sense of "we'll let you build in the rail corridor but you have to pay"? I'd say that they want to save it for a re-announcement, but why spill the beans now, during a photo op for a relatively small bridge improvement?

 

[janschot]

Will there be access to the Railpath at Brock Street as well?

 

[salsa]

I'm trying to make some sense of this announcement and failing. The province's press release almost treats the railpath extension as an afterthought -- all the quotes and most of the text is about the Dufferin bridge, which is important, but a small part of the project. The only mention of the railpath extension is three paragraphs in:

This is a provincial project whose primary purpose is to enable GO RER service. Allowing for the extension of the Railpath is a secondary benefit for a city project that is much more extensive in scope than just the Dufferin area. I also think you could have highlighted this sentence in your post that was from the same paragraph, since is still relevant.

Railpath will also connect to the future Dufferin-Peel Park that the City of Toronto is building. The park will be a hub for West Toronto Railpath users, including cyclists and will include cycling amenities, landscaping, seating and terraces.​

all the quotes and most of the text is about the Dufferin bridge

Actually, the Railpath was mentioned in two of the three quotes.

The only mention of the railpath extension is three paragraphs in:

Speaking of paragraphs, this is an Ontario press release. Which means that most of those paragraphs have more fluff than actual substance. Therefore I always real only the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs to get all the information I need. If you look at it this way, then suddenly the content is a lot more balanced.

Metrolinx is expanding the Dufferin St. Bridge at Queen St. in Toronto to accommodate the additional track needed for the Barrie GO corridor as part of the GO RER program. GO RER is a plan to provide faster and more frequent service on the GO Transit rail network with electrification on core segments, including the Union-Pearson (UP) Express. These service improvements will also help enable the City of Toronto's SmartTrack plan.

In addition, Metrolinx is partnering with the City of Toronto to extend the West Toronto Railpath multi-use trail to the West Queen West community. This extension will run along the existing rail corridor, connecting cyclists and pedestrians from Dupont St. to just east of Dufferin St. The Railpath will also connect to the future Dufferin-Peel Park that the City of Toronto is building. The park will be a hub for West Toronto Railpath users, including cyclists and will include cycling amenities, landscaping, seating and terraces.​

 

[smuncky]

Will there be access to the Railpath at Brock Street as well?

The final report w/ designs is here: http://www1.toronto.ca/City Of Toro...Report/WTR_ESR_Appendix_J_FunctionalPlans.pdf

 

[DonValleyRainbow]

Will there be access to the Railpath at Brock Street as well?

The final report w/ designs is here: http://www1.toronto.ca/City Of Toronto/Policy, Planning, Finance & Administration/Public Consultation Unit/Studies/Transportation/West Toronto Rail Path/EBR Report/WTR_ESR_Appendix_J_FunctionalPlans.pdf

From what I can see, there is a staircase. They're also going to raise Brock's bike lanes to be flush with the sidewalk?

A list of all connections with the extension:

• Dundas (south side)
• Lansdowne/Shirley
• Northern Place
• St. Claren's
• Delaney
• Brock (stairs only)
• Dufferin
• Sudbury (south of Queen)
• Abell, Lisgar and Dovercourt (parallel to Sudbury)

 

[smably]

Today's federal infrastructure funding announcement includes nearly $12m for the railpath extension:

http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2016/08/23...reement-public-transit-infrastructure-funding

 

[smably]

October update posted: http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/c...nnel=b57a8d0195ce1410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

Some highlights:

Dundas Overpass

City staff is working in coordination with several groups from Metrolinx including Kitchener and Barrie rail corridor expansion and Electrification EA groups on details of the Railpath Extension bridge over and along Barrie GO rail corridor. City staff is also working with Metrolinx to resolve issues related to private property required to extend West Toronto Railpath. We are still working on the details will keep you posted.

...

CAMH Connection

While the Railpath Extension east of Abell Street is on hold due to technical challenges, another area connection has been created. Thanks to Cycle Toronto's Ward 19 group, a pedestrian and cycling access point was identified from Sudbury Street to Shaw Street through the south side of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) property.

CAMH, Cycle Toronto, Councillor Layton, and Transportation Services came together to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to access CAMH grounds by cutting a cyclist entrance into an existing fence and placing bollards to protect the path of cyclists. Coordination with 12 Sudbury Street townhomes also took place.

Cyclists are now encouraged to enter and exit CAMH through what use to be an informal path. Pavement markings (sharrows) are installed on Sudbury Street near the CAMH entrance andwayfinding signs will be added soon.

 

[DonValleyRainbow]

Completing the Railpath along the rail corridor to Stanley Park would be ideal, bit it's nice they were able to come up with an interim solution.

 

[junctionist]

The existing Railpath is in need of pavement repairs in a couple of areas. There's a stretch near the current terminus at Sterling Road by the Nestle confectionery factory where the pavement is badly damaged and difficult to ride on.

 

[innsertnamehere]

DUfferin overpass expansion is finishing up now. You can see the ramp on the west side of Dufferin that will eventually lead to this extension. The extension will also be well integrated into the new Pessoa Park on the east side of dufferin, which is just starting construction now.

 

[steveintoronto]

The existing Railpath is in need of pavement repairs in a couple of areas. There's a stretch near the current terminus at Sterling Road by the Nestle confectionery factory where the pavement is badly damaged and difficult to ride on.

It's dandelions pocking the pavement! Who woulda thunk?

 

[smably]

In case anyone is curious, I emailed the project coordinator a few months ago to ask about construction timelines. Here is the response I got:

According to the Project Manager and as you may already know, the extension of the Railpath is planned within Metrolinx owned rail corridor which is also planned for widening by Metrolinx. In coordination with Metrolinx design for rail corridor widening, the Railpath extension project will be commencing design this year. Depending on the coordination with Metrolinx works, construction for the Railpath extension could start in 2018. We are working out details with Metrolinx in terms of with a project update shortly with more details.

Sounds like it will be somewhat dependent on the Barrie Line expansion.

 

[W. K. Lis]

I would like to see any bridgework over the railway (or roadways) include spiral bicycle ramps instead of steps.

From https://www.pinterest.com/pin/98797785550428137/

From http://rogerkenner.ca/bike/BK_2004_lite/Composite_Chambly_Corridor.html

Not this:

From http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/Toronto/