The Executive Committee meeting today will be discussing the WELRT. Though I have not read every page, the CONSTRUCTABILITY ASSESSMENT SUMMARY is very interesting and worth looking at.
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-240131.pdf
They recommend the option of having the Union Station loop as a separate contract as it requires other more specialised skills and recommends that the link under the rail berm at Cherry Street be done as a separate stage at the end because it too is complicated and in an area where Metrolinx are already working.
"Recommended Phasing and Sequencing
The recommended project phasing (Scenario 3) separates the Union Station LRT Loop from the broader project, as a sub-project and separate contract. In addition, this Scenario provides for delivery of the Cherry Street North Connection as a separate contract at a later phase. Creating a separate sub-project and contract for the Cherry Street Connection helps address the many risks in this area. Delivering the Union Loop as a sub-project is recommended because of the unique and complex nature of the work proposed at Union Station. While the main WELRT along Queens Quay is mostly linear infrastructure, the Union Loop construction has more in common with buildings and vertical projects. The Union Loop is anticipated to have a longer construction duration than the rest of the WELRT project. However, by separating out the Union Station Loop from the rest of the project ,there is an opportunity to provide an interim East-West LRT service along Queens Quay using temporary power. While the future connection of the completed Union Loop to the WELRT network will cause some service disruptions, the advantages and opportunity to provide earlier service are significant. As advised by the TTC, the service level of the expedited portion will not run at full-capacity, and it shall be considered an interim service condition until construction at Union Station is completed. The delivery of sub-project 2, which encompasses Queens Quay East, Cherry St South, Commissioners St and Villiers Loop, still requires a high degree of coordination with adjacent projects. The Cherry Street North connection presents unique challenges and risks from the larger project. The conflict with the Gardiner Expressway /LSBE Reconfiguration work would necessitate either advancing the South Cherry Street Portal or including that work with the Gardiner/LSBE Reconfiguration. There are significant challenges and risks with either approach. To complete the Cherry St Portal, the Cherry Street Heritage Signal Tower will need to be relocated, new Mx signaling systems will need to be installed, as well as decommissioning of existing tower infrastructure. The proximity of the existing Distillery Loop to the Cherry St/Queens Quay platform means transit riders can connect to the WELRT easily, allowing them to benefit from the early East West WELRT service. Table 5 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the recommended phasing and sequencing. The recommended phasing and sequencing will enable a connection to the Union Loop and Villiers Loop in 2032. Cherry Street North and the connection at Distillery would follow in a subsequent project potentially completing in 2034. The timelines for each sub-project are listed on Figure 9, and Tables 3 and 4 below."
And all of this would probably have to be paired with a general congestion charge for the downtown core too. It's a lot of work, but $4B is a lot of money!
