West Donlands Transit Project
Project information about this environmental assessment.
Current status
Terms of reference: approved, January 24, 2007
On October 19, 2007, the proponent notified the ministry that they would be proceeding with the transit project under the Transit Chapter of the amended Municipal Engineers Association class environmental assessment.
Project summary
The purpose of the undertaking is to determine the transit facilities appropriate to serve the long term residential, employment, tourism and waterfront access needs in the study area while achieving the City's and Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation's objectives for land use, design and environmental excellence.
Proponent
Toronto Transit Commission
Location
City of Toronto
Type
Transit
Reference number
07024
Contact
Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Project history
Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: July 14, 2006
Expiry of public comment period: August 18, 2006
Decision date: January 24, 2007
Terms of reference
The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) and the City of Toronto have now completed sufficient Precinct Planning and the development of a Class Environmental Assessment Master Plan, which allows the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to commence an Individual Environmental Assessment (IEA) to define the required transit facilities required to support proposed development in the West Don Lands.
Sustainable redevelopment and revitalization of this precinct will require an effective transit system (as well as roads, pedestrian and cycling facilities) to service the large number of planned residential and employment opportunities. While roads will provide some of the transportation capacity in and out of the area, a high transit modal split is absolutely essential to achieve TWRC's and the City's objectives.
The formal framework for achieving these objectives was set out in the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan which was approved by City Council on March 2003 (by-law 346-2003). It identifies a transportation strategy to provide a sustainable network in, to and from the waterfront communities with a particular focus on encouraging walking, cycling, transit use and water transportation.
A significant demand for both inbound and outbound traffic will result from this future development. In order to accommodate these demands on the proposed and existing transportation network and reducing auto dependence, or, at a minimum, not significantly increasing vehicular capacity, the Council of the City of Toronto has adopted among other things, a “transit first” policy to service the revitalization of the lands within the Waterfront Secondary Plan area.
Description
The overall purpose of the undertaking embodied in this terms of reference is to determine the transit facilities appropriate to serve the long term residential, employment, tourism and waterfront access needs in the study area while achieving the City's and TWRC's objectives for land use, design and environmental excellence.
A copy of the ToR submitted to the Minister of the Environment can be viewed at Explore Projects / Waterfront Toronto.