Current status

Terms of reference: withdrawn, December 15, 2008

The terms of reference was withdrawn and the project proceeded following the transit project assessment process.

Project summary

The purpose of the undertaking is to examine improvements required in the Georgetown south rail corridor to facilitate full service within the corridor.

Proponent

GO Transit

Location

Toronto

Type

Transit

Reference number

05051 and 02150

Contact

Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch

Project history

Terms of reference: withdrawn
Date submitted: October 27, 2006
Expiry of public comment period: November 27, 2006
Decision date: December 15, 2008

Terms of reference

In 2003, GO Transit initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study to examine improvements required in the Georgetown south rail corridor to facilitate full service within the corridor. Ridership demand on the Georgetown line has been growing steadily since 1974 and significant additional growth is forecast. The present Georgetown service is at or near capacity with standing room only on many trips. This capacity cannot be increased without significant rail infrastructure improvements in the corridor.

In addition, the Federal Government identified an opportunity to use excess capacity within the Georgetown south corridor to provide enhanced transportation service from Union Station to Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA). While there is existing private and public bus transit service to and from the airport, those services are subject to the same daily delays experienced by all road vehicles in the morning and evening peak periods in the Toronto area. There is currently no frequent, rapid, reliable transportation connection between LBPIA and Union Station, the two busiest and fastest growing transportation hubs in the GTA. The Union Pearson AirLink Group (UPAG) was selected to design, construct, operate and maintain this service. GO Transit is required to implement the necessary infrastructure improvements within the Georgetown south corridor.

The Class EA was examining both the GO Georgetown south rail expansion and the Air Rail Link service from Union Station to LBPIA. After the first phase of public participation the process was reconsidered and GO Transit decided to carry out the study as an individual environmental assessment (EA). There are two components of this EA: the first component is the GO Transit expansion in the Georgetown south corridor to examine the planned infrastructure improvements required to accommodate forecast GO ridership growth over the next 20-30 years. The second component examines all reasonable options for an airport transportation link, including corridors both within and outside of the Georgetown south rail corridor. If the preferred alternative for this component is outside of this corridor, GO Transit will refer that planning alternative to the appropriate agency or jurisdiction for further review and action. On December 15, 2008 the terms of reference was withdrawn and the project proceeded following the transit project assessment process.