‘Eglinton Connects’ Needs You: Free Public Talk on “Designing the Future of Eglinton” Nov.28, 2012

This video presents “Designing Stations for Neighbourhoods”:

  • Station design is one of the most exciting — and most critical — components of The Crosstown construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • There are a number of major considerations for station design, including: accessibility for people with disabilities, development potential, integration with surrounding communities, and minimizing construction impacts

This is an update to my previous blogs:

Metrolinx is building the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) project:

  • Metrolinx has committed funding for the project and construction has started on the LRT:

    • which will run along Eglinton Avenue from the vicinity of Black Creek Drive to the existing Kennedy Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway

    • as part of this project, the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) line will also be converted to LRT and extended to Sheppard Avenue East and Markham Road

    • Metrolinx is investing approximately $6 billion in the design and construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) line

      • This new transit infrastructure is expected to be completed by 2020
  • To create a transit-supportive, urbanized Avenue stretching across the centre of the City
  • Metrolinx released a report entitled “The Big Move” in 2008 which included a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)

    • This report identifies “intensification corridors” – areas that will have upgraded transit services – as places to accommodate growth and development

    • The RTP directs municipalities to assess these corridors for their potential for higher density mixed-use development in a transit supportive urban form

    • Eglinton Avenue is identified as an intensification corridor in the RTP

    • It is also predominantly designated as an Avenue in the City of Toronto Official Plan

    • Metrolinx has agreed to contribute $1,332,000 over a two-year period to cover staff costs

In conjunction with the LRT project, Toronto’s City Planning Division has assembled a dedicated staff group in the Transportation Planning section (the Team):

  • The Team will undertake what is essentially an Avenue Study for Eglinton Avenue
  • The City of Toronto’s Eglinton Planning Study (Eglinton Planning Study – Status Report considered by City of Toronto Planning and Growth Management Committee on October 12, 2012(PDF)):

    • Deals primarily with Eglinton Avenue from Jane Street to Kennedy Road

    • The Study will point the way to a safe and comfortable environment served by well planned LRT stations for citizens at all stages of life

    • It will guide future decisions about public and private development and investment

    • It will lay out the steps required to achieve this vision while remaining sensitive to the diversity of Eglinton’s history, character, culture, geography and businesses.

    • A Final Report with recommendations for implementation will be presented to City Council in the first quarter of 2014

  • The Team started work at the beginning of 2012 and has approximately two years to complete the project in the first quarter of 2014
  • The guiding principles of the Eglinton Planning Study are:

    • Transformation – recognize that enhanced transit service along Eglinton Avenue will encourage a modal shift from automobile to public transit

    • Context Sensitivity – recognize the differences in demand for transportation options along the corridor by applying innovative measures such as separated bike lanes, parking bays, etc.

    • Adaptation – develop a cross-section that works with both existing and planned right-of-way widths

    • Pedestrian Environment – create a pedestrian-friendly environment, which is a necessary element in supporting transit

    • Cycling Infrastructure – provide improved accommodation for cyclists through the design of roads to recognize cycling as a viable mode of transport

    • Automobile Capacity – maintain a functional level of vehicular capacity to ensure that the street can continue its role as a viable transportation corridor, but do not increase vehicle capacity

    • Automobile Parking – provide parking to support retail activity recognizing that flexibility may be required to balance other objectives in the right-of-way

  • Some significant LRT-wide issues have been identified that are under discussion among City Planning staff and Metrolinx. Among these are:

    • provision of sufficient bicycle parking

    • inclusion of escalators at busy secondary entrances, (all the stations have escalators and elevators at their main entrance)

    • compensation for use of City parkland at certain stations

    • proposals for “queue jump” lanes and bus lay-bys taxi stands and Passenger Pick-up and Drop-off (PPUDO) facilities

    • inclusion of retail opportunities inside stations and along the street edge of station sites

    • maintenance of landscaping and specialized paving at stations

In May 2012, the Team held three Community Consultation Meetings along Eglinton Avenue:

  • The purpose of the meetings was to introduce the Study to the public and solicit input on the principles which should guide the Study
  • The majority of the community response centred on the street cross-section issue
  • A view heard repeatedly was that Eglinton Avenue should have bicycle lanes, separated from traffic if possible, along its whole length
  • Another common comment was that parking should be moved to convenient off-street locations (e.g. TPA lots, under buildings)
  • With regard to built form and land use, participants generally welcomed intensification along Eglinton Avenue, including high-density development where appropriate
  • Often mentioned was the need to maintain and enhance employment in the Study Area so that Eglinton Avenue does not become a residential-only corridor
  • In general, the public saw the LRT as a positive event and an opportunity to improve their communities and neighbourhoods

The Eglinton Connects Study (aka Eglinton Planning Study) is complementary to Metrolinx’s work

  • Evaluating options to take advantage of new transit infrastructure along Eglinton
'Eglinton Connects' Needs You: Free Public Talk on "Designing the Future of Eglinton" Nov.28, 2012
‘Eglinton Connects’ Needs You: Free Public Talk on “Designing the Future of Eglinton” Nov.28, 2012

A vision for the future of this part of Eglinton Avenue is being developed by a dedicated Study Team which:

  • has begun an extensive process involving public consultation, research, and interdivisional collaboration
  • will generate a fresh urban design and land use plan for Eglinton Avenue which respects and provides for all users: pedestrians, cars, shoppers, bikes, trucks, businesses, visitors and residents
  • will knit together the various elements and themes of the Study
  • allow public input, City policies and experiences from around the world to inform the Vision
  • will make the Vision:
    • become part of the on-going Story of Eglinton Avenue
    • be expressed in the materials and recommendations produced during and at the end of the Study

Urban designer to talk about Toronto’s Eglinton Avenue

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

7:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

North Toronto Collegiate Institute, 17 Broadway Ave. (two blocks north of Eglinton Avenue, east of Yonge Street), Toronto

Eglinton Connects will make recommendations on the development potential of, and improvements to, Eglinton Avenue from Jane Street to Kennedy subway station:

  • Work on Eglinton Avenue is being undertaken in conjunction with Eglinton LRT construction
  • Antoine Grumbach, an internationally renowned architect and urban designer, will present a free public talk about opportunities he sees for redeveloping Eglinton Avenue
  • Grumbach is visiting Toronto as part of the City of Toronto’s Eglinton Connects, formerly known as the Eglinton Planning Study
  • He guided public realm improvements that were part of Le Tramway in Paris, France, and is now working on an expansion of Moscow’s light rapid transit (LRT)

CONTACT Info:

  • Lorna Day, Project Manager
    Eglinton Scarborough Crosstown Planning Study
    Metro Hall 55 John Street, 22nd Floor
    Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6

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