Recommendation 1: The City, TTC and Metrolinx continue to work jointly to plan for new and/or improved grade-separated rapid transit services into the downtown from the east and the north that will help achieve the City’s, and Metrolinx’s, planning objectives of intensification and the evolution of a more compact urban form. To support this recommendation the following actions are identified:
- TTC proceed with evaluating and detailing DRL alignments, technology, station locations and level of service.
- Metrolinx continue to identify the DRL as a high priority project.
- City of Toronto protect for the DRL in the City’s 2012 Official Plan Update.
- Metrolinx / GO Transit be encouraged to identify and assess GO Rapid Transit (Express) Service alternatives along the Lakeshore corridor and the North-South corridors (e.g. Barrie line, Richmond Hill line, Stouffville line) that will help alleviate the anticipated future capacity constraints.
Recommendation 2: Do not proceed with the Yonge Subway Extension in advance of the provision of additional rapid transit capacity into the downtown. The decisions regarding the Yonge Subway Extension be made in conjunction with the additional rapid transit improvements (such as the DRL) necessary to ensure transit service into the downtown is sufficient to meet the demand from within Toronto and the rest of the GTAH region.
Recommendation 3: TTC and the City of Toronto undertake the studies and actions needed to protect for a possible future expansion of Bloor-Yonge station and develop a plan for improvements that will be needed in the future.
Recommendation 4: City of Toronto continue to study means of reducing congestion in the downtown area via the optimization of existing infrastructure in its ongoing “Downtown Transportation Operations Study.” This should provide a framework for implementing various transportation improvements. The benefits of a DRL should be noted here with significant improvements to quality of transportation service in addition to intensification opportunities.
Recommendation 5: Maintain, and where possible enhance policies in the City’s Official Plan that will help to minimise the need for future investments in rapid transit facilities into the downtown while achieving the City’s planning objectives related to City-building and sustainable transportation. Specifically, it is recommended that the City continue to:
- Implement policies that support transit-oriented redevelopment.
- Implement policies that encourage high self-containment in the downtown.
- Implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policies such as staggered hours, compressed work weeks, work from home / tele-work, incentivizing off-peak travel etc.
Recommendation 6: TTC conduct further investigation into the future demands and transfers expected at subway stations in the downtown and identify those stations that should be given priority in TTC’s station modernization program. King Station in particular will see high passenger demand and operational issues regardless of the presence of a DRL.