Waterfront Transit Reset Phase 1 Study

[Jeff Morgan]

• An alternative portal location for the LRT along Queens Quay between Bay Street and Yonge Street, which may provide overall cost and public realm benefits
• Consideration of phasing option(s) that may expedite the east-west streetcar service on Queen's Quay to the East Bayfront

Studying the feasibility of alternative portal location makes a lot of sense. Does anybody know what phasing options might be considered? Is there any related materials?

 

[drum118]

Studying the feasibility of alternative portal location makes a lot of sense. Does anybody know what phasing options might be considered? Is there any related materials?

There is no material for this study online or have access to. As to phasing, see my posting on it back a page or 2. A quick phasing to have and east-west line could be interesting and a short shut down of the line.

Riders will have to do a walking transfer to/from Union until the tunnels and loop is done to/from the QQ Line

 

[drum118]

Came upon Waterfront Toronto December meeting report and not surprise to see this and it was never discussed during any of our meetings.

Need to go to page 25 about BRT in place of LRT to protection for future LRT when there is money to build it.

Later 2030 to mid 2040 before LRT is built from my point of view based on not keeping Transit Number One from Day One.
<https://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe...irectors+meeting++december+5,+2019-118072.pdf>

 

[DSC]

At the closed December meeting of WT Board the (public) minutes note this was passed:

WHEREAS Management has requested capital project approval of $14 million to undertake preliminary design and engineering of the Queens Quay East revitalization, that includes the streetscape, LRT transit right of way and subsurface works (utilities) from Bay St to new Cherry St; and WHEREAS this work is to be funded from existing funding sources of $10 million (City of Toronto funding of $6 million and Waterfront Toronto revenues of $4 million) together with new funding of $4 million from the City of Toronto; and WHEREAS this matter was deferred at the Finance Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee meeting of November 21, 2019 to allow for information to be provided by Management, and Management has presented some additional information to the Board today; and WHEREAS Management will provide the FARM Committee with a focused update on public transit issues impacting the waterfront at a FARM meeting (wherein other Board Members will be invited to attend) to be scheduled on January 23, 2020 (following the Investment, Real Estate and Quayside Committee meeting scheduled on that day); and ON MOTION duly made by Councillor Cressy and seconded by Jack Winberg, and carried, be it RESOLVED that the Board of Directors:  approves a capital expenditure of $14 Million for Queens Quay East Revitalization Preliminary Design and Engineering which include flexibility for future innovation, to be completed between Jan 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 (the “Project”); and the Project being added to the Corporation’s Rolling Five Year Strategic Plan (2019/20 – 2023/24); and  directs that Waterfront Toronto work with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx to explore opportunities for alignment and coordination of the proposed LRT line for the East Bayfront with the proposed Ontario Line.

 

[DSC]

This is in the latest memo from WT to Sidewalk:

4. Waterfront LRT

While Waterfront Toronto does not have jurisdiction over the approval of capital funding for public transit, Waterfront Toronto will continue to support and advocate for a higher-order transit solution, which sufficiently services the Project, without accepting any liability in respect thereof. Sidewalk Labs must satisfy itself by December 2020 on the adequacy of the funding commitments and arrangements for higher-order transit concurrent with the execution of the implementation agreements.
From:

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Tender (RFP) is up for the Union Station design:

P11PB20317 - P11PB20317 - G85-395 - DESIGN SERVICES FOR WATERFRONT EAST LRT UNION STATION

 

[Allandale25]

^ From the description:

DESCRIPTION
The Waterfront LRT section of the Major Projects department of the TTC, requires the services of a design consultant, to assist the TTC in the Preliminary Design and Engineering (PDE) to produce a Baseline Design (approximately 30% design completion), together with a Class 3 AACE Construction Cost Estimate and Level 3 project delivery schedule for the expansion of the existing Union and Queens Quay LRT Stations, and new running tunnel and portal as part of the Waterfront East LRT project. The term of this Contract shall be for a period of Three (3) Years. Subject to further funding approval, the Consultant’s performance and a Procurement Option Analysis, at the discretion of the TTC, a Contract Amendment may be issued to extend the term of the Contract and increase the Contract upset limit amount to include Work related to Phase 3 (Detailed Design) and Phase 4 (Construction Support), or for the development of RCD and PSOS for this project

 

[Jeff Morgan]

^ From the description:

Is three years what one would typically expect to complete the design work to 30% complete?

 

[DSC]

Is three years what one would typically expect to complete the design work to 30% complete?

Your question is a bit like asking :"How long is a piece of string?"

 

[pstogios]

Is three years what one would typically expect to complete the design work to 30% complete?

This is Toronto.
In three years China can build 1000 subways and we can’t even get to 30% design.

 

[yyzhyd]

This is Toronto.
In three years China can build 1000 subways and we can’t even get to 30% design.

True, but they're also currently welding people's front doors shut as way of quarantining them for COVID-19.
I'd pick Toronto every single time.

 

[robmausser]

This is Toronto.
In three years China can build 1000 subways and we can’t even get to 30% design.

Sure we can do that, by hiring slave labour, paying people $1 an hour, no unions, no worker protections, lax safety standards, deaths during construction, etc etc.

There are things that we can do to make things more efficient in Toronto and Canada for sure, but we will never match the rate of China because it's a lie propped up on the backs of the lower class in China.

 

[DSC]

From Joe Cressy's March 2020 Newsletter

Waterfront LRT Progress
Expanding public transit is critical in building communities in which we can move people better and also combat the growing climate crisis. In order to build a connected and sustainable new waterfront, we need to lead development with transit.

In January 2018, after years of work, City Council endorsed the overall Waterfront Transit Network Plan, which would see the creation of a new light rail line across the Waterfront, from beyond the Don River in the east to west of Exhibition Place. In April 2019, City Council endorsed specific design principles for the Union Station-Queens Quay link as part of this project. A funding strategy report for the LRT to Council was delayed due to the changes to the City's transit planning by the Province, but work to advance the project has continued.

City Council, the TTC, and Waterfront Toronto have now approved $41 million in combined funding for the next stage of design for the LRT. The scope of this work includes platform expansion underground at Union Station loop, a new portal to the surface on Queens Quay East, and public realm design for the streetscape from Bay Street to Parliament Street. The scope will also include design of the segment from Parliament Street to Cherry Street, and the planned link from Cherry Street through the rail underpass to Distillery loop. Public consultation on this design process will be held in spring 2020.

Completing design to this Preliminary Design & Engineering '30%' phase will make the project eligible for funding from other orders of government. A report from City staff is now expected in mid-2020 on funding and financing options for the LRT that align with the Province of Ontario-City of Toronto Transit Partnership agreement.

Investing in transit across our Waterfront is critical, and I will continue to advocate for prioritization of Waterfront Transit as the City continues moving forward on transit expansion planning over the coming months

For background information and to sign up for updates on consultations and more, click here.

 

[Jeff Morgan]

Ottawa seeks ‘shovel-ready’ projects for post shutdown stimulus plan

In an interview with The Globe, Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said she is preparing plans to rush out billions of dollars in budgeted infrastructure funds to stimulate the economy

www.theglobeandmail.com

I'm fairly certain this project is not even close the shovels ready :'(

 

[DSC]

Ottawa seeks ‘shovel-ready’ projects for post shutdown stimulus plan

In an interview with The Globe, Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna said she is preparing plans to rush out billions of dollars in budgeted infrastructure funds to stimulate the economy

www.theglobeandmail.com

I'm fairly certain this project is not even close the shovels ready :'(

It has two real sections. The work on the loop at Union and the tunnel from Union to Queens Quay and the extension of the east-west track along Queens Quay to Parliament or Cherry. I suspect the plans for the track part are quite advanced so MAYBE it makes sense to do that first?