Metrolinx: Finch West LRT

[TheTigerMaster]

Humber College is building a bus loop on the campus: http://humberetc.com/humber-college-bus-loop-to-make-commuting-easier-for-students/

Hopefully the LRT makes a connection there to make it easier for passengers to transfer to buses.

FWLRT will be terminating on Humber College Boulevard. There is a parking lot that will need to be crossed to gain access to the campus.

 

[ehlow]

Humber College is building a bus loop on the campus: http://humberetc.com/humber-college-bus-loop-to-make-commuting-easier-for-students/

Hopefully the LRT makes a connection there to make it easier for passengers to transfer to buses.

I know I'm repeating myself, but this is perfect for a short bus connection between Humber College to Pearson. You take the LRT to Humber, then transfer to a bus for a 10-15 min ride to Pearson. It can just run down 427 directly there and have luggage racks like 192 airport rocket.

 

[Adjei]

FWLRT will be terminating on Humber College Boulevard. There is a parking lot that will need to be crossed to gain access to the campus.

Where does it say it will be terminating on Humber College Boulevard. The EA that was previously done and posted above clearly shows that it goes into the parking lot and unto the campus.

 

[Adjei]

I know I'm repeating myself, but this is perfect for a short bus connection between Humber College to Pearson. You take the LRT to Humber, then transfer to a bus for a 10-15 min ride to Pearson. It can just run down 427 directly there and have luggage racks like 192 airport rocket.

Metrolinx has identified Humber College as a regional hub for connections to Pearson Airport so it is important that there be quick reliable access to the airport from there.

 

[salsa]

Planners haven't determined how Finch West would get to Pearson. There's a real lack of an obvious route.

Personally, I'd have the LRT create its own route, mostly off-street, but that doesn't fit in with the Transit City philosophy.

I like how your response to a post about the lack of an obvious route includes the word "somehow".

So where do you propose it should go? What "mostly off-street" route did you have in mind?

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Where does it say it will be terminating on Humber College Boulevard. The EA that was previously done and posted above clearly shows that it goes into the parking lot and unto the campus.

Yes, you are actually correct. See page 2-18.

http://thecrosstown.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/Finch-EA/chapter_2.pdf

 

[salsa]

Yes, you are actually correct. See page 2-18.

http://thecrosstown.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/Finch-EA/chapter_2.pdf

 

[BurlOak]

My first thought when looking at the options was that the route past the Hospital (the purple one) looks the best - of course it was removed from consideration. (I added the yellow option).

The reasons the purple was removed:

1. There is insufficient space between the existing hydro towers and the adjacent residential areas to install a two-track right-of-way.
2. The hydro corridor bisects Tamarisk Park, an active City of Toronto park, which would be affected by constant rail traffic in this active open space.
3. The cost of land acquisition in the hydro right-of-way would be high compared to the available alignment on public streets.
4. Technical issues regarding isolation of currents in parallel high voltage electric transmission lines could be overcome, but would require additional construction and maintenance measures to control.

The questions:

1. I measure about 8.5m between the property line and the hydro tower - tight, but may be possible.
2. How expensive would it be to built a pedestrian tunnel under the LRT tracks - maybe $100k or $200k.
3. The land is transferred from one Governement organization which is owned by the City to the City.
4. How much would it cost to isolate currents. GO RER passes under numerous hydro lines, so it is not a technical issue. The cost should have been included. A marginally submerged LRT line in the ROW could be considered to increase clearance to high voltage lines.

If any of the above truly made it unconstructable, then the option should not have even been included as an alternative to evaluate.

In the Evaluation of Alternatives, the purple route looses points because;

• "it makes hospital access less convenient", even though it is the only option with a stop directly infront of the hospital. This one is a real mystery???
• Of the extra distance and tighter curve to approach Humber College from the West. Why not have an option where one leg of the loop takes Hwy. 27 (along the red line) and the other leg follows Humber College Blvd.
• The construction on Humber College West disrupts residents, although construction there is not needed if hwy. 27 is used for one leg of the loop.
• The stop is on Humber College Blvd, not within the campus, although it is just as easy to have the stop within the campus if the hwy. 27 leg is used.
• Requires property acquisition, although not required if the hwy. 27 leg is used.

 

[Rainforest]

I thought the Humber College stop is directly on the campus of the school. They also have a Highway 27 and Humber College Boulevard stop which I guess is supposed to serve the hospital.

http://thecrosstown.ca/sites/default/files/pdf/reports/Finch-EA/chapter_2_plates_part_1.pdf

Got it.

Then, access from Humber College to LRT is not a problem. Most of buildings will be within 250 m from the LRT stop.

The only question is the Woodbine - Pearson extension route. Will all service pass through the Humber College station?

Or, will it split into 2 branches at Hwy 27, one branch going to the campus and the other continuing south in the Hwy 27 median?

The latter option is probably easier to build, but harder to schedule / operate (branches always add complexity).

 

[Adjei]

Business Case Analysis for extending Finch LRT to Woodbine and Airport:

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-81788.pdf

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Honestly we have much bigger priorities to deal with than this.

 

[Adjei]

The Business Case analysis does indicate a reasonable case for an extension.

Further development work should focus on:
 Clarification of current operations and proposed expansion at Woodbine, with detailed analysis of visitor travel characteristics
 Review of the proposed LRT extension to confirm route alignment, stop locations and service levels
 Review of the bus network to optimise bus network integration
 Consideration of enhanced bus service in the corridor as a lower cost alternative
 The case for an interchange with the Kitchener GO line with a new station between Malton and Etobicoke North and the interface with RER proposals
 Consideration of fare integration across municipal (Toronto and Mississauga) boundaries
 Consider the impact on the case for a Finch LRT extension to Pearson Airport given the long term option of extending Eglinton Crosstown and/or SmartTrack to Pearson Airport
 Review of the ridership modelling and assumptions to ensure robust forecasting, including transit access to Pearson for air travellers

 

[Vaucluse]

Honestly we have much bigger priorities to deal with than this.

Like? In this forum I think discussing the routing of the FWLRT is very important, after all, whatever the route is it'll be for a long time. What I don't understand is why many are concerned about having public transit drop off passengers at a private concern, ie Woodbine (race track, casino, or whatever they call themselves), instead of a public facility.
Many people going to the hospital will have their mobility restricted by condition or age so the LRT station should be as close as possible to the hospital. The college is the next concern, while most of the students are young and able and could walk the distance there are disabled students for whom it would be helpful to not have to walk across a snow/ice covered parking lot in winter.
As for the gamblers going to Woodbine , let them walk from Rexdale Blvd! If Woodbine want the LRT closer to their facility then let them pay for it.

 

[Tuscani01]

Maybe because Woodbine is a larger trip generator than most of the public facilities in the area, and that it would increase ridership even more than existing projections, making the entire line much more profitable and reasonable, and potentially taking more vehicles off of the road?

 

[Adjei]

The report states that some of the routes that were previously considered for getting into the airport include American Drive and down Highway 27.