Transit Expansion on Sheppard Avenue Easton the GTA

WSP Canada/Toronto Transit Commission

Letter of Submittal

Dear Dr. Brush.:

This report, entitled “Transit Expansion on Sheppard Avenue East on the GTA,” was prepared as my 3A Work Report for the Toronto Transit Commission. This report is my first out of three work term reports required by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. The purpose of this report is to evaluate which would be the best transit infrastructure option that will run along Sheppard Avenue East in a near future and will help reduce congestion on this part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

The Toronto Transit Commission is a public transport agency that operates bus, subway, streetcar, and paratransit services in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Throughout my work term, I was employed in Engineering Construction and Expansion (EC&E) department on the East end of the city. The project I was assigned to involved the renovation and expansion of two TTC buildings. I worked as a Construction Inspector, managing and supervising the daily activities on site, the work force and other issues but due to the nature of my job, I was not required to design or analyse a topic that would give me enough information to write a report on.  I decided to write a report on something related and relevant to my employer and the transportation industry in the GTA. I used and analyzed the data collected by the Expert Advisory Panel Regarding Transit on Sheppard Avenue East, TTC and Metrolinx to come to my conclusions. 

This report was written entirely by me and has not received any previous academic credit at this or any other academic institution.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Summary

The following report analyses three different suggestions that have been considered in the future transit expansion at Sheppard Avenue East. This report will analyze and compare the transit options, their efficiency and their economic and environmental impact. The first transit option consists of an extension of the current line 4 subway line that ends at Don Mills Station, east of Sheppard Avenue East. The second one, a light-rail transit (LRT) line connecting with the subway at Don Mills, and proceeding east along Sheppard Avenue to Morningside/Conlins Road in its own right-of-way, except at signalized intersections.  The third option is a combination of subway and LRT, expanding the subway from Don Mills to Victoria Park and LRT from there to Morningside.

Either subway, LRT or a combination of both would adequately serve as Rapid Transit on Sheppard East. The option selected will be determined based on projections of future travel demand, difficulties on designing and accommodating the new infrastructure to the current space and cost-effectiveness of the transit infrastructure.

This report considers what changes in the current infrastructure on the GTA can be implemented in this section of the city in the near future to reduce the current congestion problem.  Road and public transit users on the GTA face daily congestions on traffic and delays caused by a lack of infrastructure. Being one of the largest cities in North America and with a continuous growth in population, the transit system and highways are at its capacity limit. Plans to improve and extend the current infrastructure experience numerous challenges. Some of these challenges are caused by not enough funding being allocated into expanding the current transit system infrastructure and the urban sprawl of cities that come as a result of a lifestyle that favors the usage of the automobile. 

Table of Contents

Letter of Submittal

Summary

List of Figures

List of Tables

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 Context

2. Proposed Transit Improvements

2.1 Expanding the Subway System

2.2 Expanding Light Rail Transit (LRT)

2.3 Expanding Subway and LRT (Hybrid Option)

3.0 Cost-Benefit Analysis

4.0 Environmental Analysis

5.0 Conclusions

6.0 Recommendations

References

List of Figures

Figure 2.1.1 Subway Rapid Transit Option for Sheppard Ave East

Figure 2.1.2 Passengers per hour for different transit options on the Sheppard East Corridor

Figure 2.2.1. Metrolinx’s future LRT

Figure 2.2.2. LRT Rapid Transit Option for Sheppard Ave East

Figure 2.2.1 Light Rail Transit Facts

List of Tables

Table 2.1 Transit Options East of Don Mills Station

Table 2.1.1 Peak hours and locations forecasts in the Sheppard East Corridor for 2031

Table 3.1 Cost-effectiveness of each option

Table 4.1 Environmental Analysis