Provide high quality transit that will integrate waterfront communities, jobs, and destinations and link the waterfront to the broader City and regional transportation network.
Waterfront Toronto, in partnership with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is undertaking a multi-phase Waterfront Transit "Reset" study that will help establish a vision and plan for a comprehensive waterfront transit network.
A Phase 1 study was completed in 2016 and a Phase 2 study is currently underway. The study is anticipated to conclude in 2017 with a recommended waterfront transit network solution.
Toronto’s waterfront is currently undergoing a significant transformation, with rapid growth in many precincts along the water’s edge including Mimico, Humber Bay Shores, Liberty Village, Fort York, King/Spadina, City Place, South Core, and King/Parliament. Growth in several more precincts along the waterfront is either underway or planned, including Lower Yonge, North Keating, Port Lands, South of Eastern, and the emerging East Bayfront and West Don Lands neighbourhoods. With this growth, a number of key recreational and cultural destinations have emerged along the waterfront.
Throughout the years, transit planning along the waterfront has been incremental, and as a result there is currently no comprehensive plan for a transit network that can respond to the rapid emerging growth and transformation. With the current and future anticipated demand for transit along much of the waterfront area, it’s imperative that a long-term transit solution be defined.
The integrated network solution for waterfront transit is being coordinated with the directions emerging from other major transit initiatives that are currently underway, including Smart Track, Relief Line, Scarborough Transit Planning, and the Metrolinx Regional Express Rail (RER) expansion program.
phase 1
On November 3 and 4, Toronto City Council directed City staff, in partnership with Waterfront Toronto and the TTC, to undertake a Phase 1 review of waterfront transit initiatives and options. The purpose of Phase 1 was to review all relevant background materials; create an overall study vision with related objectives; develop a preliminary list of improvement concepts; identify preferred concepts for further study; and develop a scope of work for Phase 2. Phase 1 of the study was completed in October 2016 with a Final Phase 1: Network Vision Report.
phase 2
In July 2016, City Council directed City Staff, in partnership with Waterfront Toronto and the TTC, to initiate Phase 2 of the Waterfront Toronto “Reset” Study. The Phase 2 study is undertaking a waterfront network travel demand analysis, and operations analysis, functional design, cost estimates, and comparative evaluations of alternatives for improvements to transit for key areas of the network. The completion of these tasks will help identify and confirm priority areas for implementation.
past studies
In previous years, numerous studies have been undertaken for segments of transit that would connect to/complement the existing 509 Harbourfront LRT and 501 Queen Streetcar.
Some Environmental Assessments (EAs) have been approved but not implemented, including more recently the East Bayfront LRT. Some EAs were started but never completed (e.g. portions of a western waterfront LRT); and other studies, some completed and some in progress, include provisions for higher order transit or service upgrades (e.g. Central Waterfront Secondary Plan, Proposed Park Lawn Loop).
To learn more about past studies, background materials can be found here.
consultation
In May 2016, two public meetings were held that included the study progress to date and a range of preliminary transit concepts under consideration. The purpose of this public meeting was to get feedback on the opportunities and constraints along the waterfront, as well as the preliminary concepts and evaluations.
A video recording of the May 25 public meeting is available here.
The project team is hosting two public meetings in September 2017 for the Waterfront Transit “Reset” Phase 2 Study. View the Notice of Public Consultation for dates and locations.
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