[drum118]

Meeting taking place this week to start detail construction drawings for both the QQE and Union. It maybe known then or at City budget time if and how much money was taken out of the 10 year capital budget to be move to the Ontario Line funding.

Jan 2020 should see the results of a study and cost if it's worth well to move the Freeland Portal to the west side of Yonge St and build a new road over the Yonge Slip for the Westin Hotel. If it is cheaper to move the Portal location than the plan tunnel under Yonge, an EA Amendment will be done for the change.

 

[north-of-anything]

How far is the Waterfront East light rail supposed to go, again? Do we know if it will cross over into the Port Lands or East Harbour?

 

[drum118]

How far is the Waterfront East light rail supposed to go, again? Do we know if it will cross over into the Port Lands or East Harbour?

First to Parliament St, then to Cherry St once there is a master plan for that area and then to Leslie by Commissioner.

Cherry St to the Shipping Channel

You got Broadview being extended south to the Shipping Channel in phases

 

[DSC]

This from the TTCs Capital Budget being s=discussed next week

• Waterfront Transit – Completion of the preliminary design for the Exhibition to Dufferin Gate Loop as well as the East Bayfront with funding of $53.9 million from 2020 to 2022 included in the 10-Year Capital Plan.

 

[Northern Light]

This from the TTCs Capital Budget being s=discussed next week

• Waterfront Transit – Completion of the preliminary design for the Exhibition to Dufferin Gate Loop as well as the East Bayfront with funding of $53.9 million from 2020 to 2022 included in the 10-Year Capital Plan.

This aligns with my understanding that a funding announcement may come later this year for construction. Not counting chickens......just what I'm hearing.

 

[drum118]

This aligns with my understanding that a funding announcement may come later this year for construction. Not counting chickens......just what I'm hearing.

Don't count your chicken for this year construction/funding nor 2020. Got to get from 30% to 100% for engineering drawings before putting it out to tender and there goes 2020. It will be nice to hear that there is money in place come 2020 for full construction when it happens, but need the detail design done first before going to tenders.

Until it known early 2020 where the portal will go on the Queens Quay, can't do any detail work for that area. A number of steps have to happen before drawings can start if the portal is being move west of Yonge. You can do east of Freeland, the new QQ station and the tunnel upgrade, but need more info about the unknowns for Union itself. Some surprises will show up during construction and will/maybe have an impact on bottom line.

Maybe TTC will know in 2020 what Metrolinx is planning in detail for the Ex so they can get their drawings ready for tender in 2021, if the Dufferin Bridge is going in, in 2022.

 

[drum118]

There is concern that TTC CEO may try to move money for the Waterfront Transit to the subway system building program that it could be decades before anything gets built on the Waterfront.

There been some thought of building the surface section before the tunnel, T connection and the new Queen Quay Station is built. Along with this thought was having the line in service while the QQ station is being built. This would allow a shorter shut down for the T connection to allow service on QQ if Union Loop takes longer to build.

Another concern is there need for a grade change to build the T connection based on current layout and connecting to the current QQ station.

 

[Jeff Morgan]

There is concern that TTC CEO may try to move money for the Waterfront Transit to the subway system building program that it could be decades before anything gets built on the Waterfront.

There been some thought of building the surface section before the tunnel, T connection and the new Queen Quay Station is built. Along with this thought was having the line in service while the QQ station is being built. This would allow a shorter shut down for the T connection to allow service on QQ if Union Loop takes longer to build.

Another concern is there need for a grade change to build the T connection based on current layout and connecting to the current QQ station.

Any idea when these concerns will be resolved or at least we have some idea how it will move forward?

 

[TransitBart]

This from the TTCs Capital Budget being s=discussed next week

• Waterfront Transit – Completion of the preliminary design for the Exhibition to Dufferin Gate Loop as well as the East Bayfront with funding of $53.9 million from 2020 to 2022 included in the 10-Year Capital Plan.

For $53.9 million I want to build it, not design it. For goodness sake, it's two sets of parallel rails on a surface that is already a road. That can't cost $53.9 million - to design!

 

[innsertnamehere]

For $53.9 million I want to build it, not design it. For goodness sake, it's two sets of parallel rails on a surface that is already a road. That can't cost $53.9 million - to design!

design is usually about 10% of budget as a general rule, so that kind of spending makes sense to me. That level of design typically means it is literally shovel ready. Just gotta send the plans to the contractor and tell them to start.

 

[Jeff Morgan]

I am totally confused on where everything sits. When is the design work expected to complete? Will the design work recommend a preferred option for the portal and loop?

 

[drum118]

I am totally confused on where everything sits. When is the design work expected to complete? Will the design work recommend a preferred option for the portal and loop?

I haven't heard of a completion date as it will most likely done in phases to get a better handle on cost and time frame before being tender. It will tell use when to expect the current line will be close and reopen.

The big push will get the surface design completed first so reconstruction of QQE east of Freeland can start sooner than later. If the portal is to be move from Freeland to west of Yonge, that will be part of the fast track of the surface construction.

The design work for the portal depends on the out come of the study underway of having an east entrance to the hotel from Yonge St as well the cost of doing it compare to the plan tunneling to Freeland. Design work would include all other parts of QQE east of Freeland, the T connection, new QQE station and Union Loop.

A number of unknowns will show up during construction of the T connection, tunnels and the loops regardless of any design work, as you are dealing with a number unknown conditions until you open areas up.

Since the cost of the whole project is in the 10 year capital plan, it possible to see construction start on QQE in 2021 or 22. The rest could start in 2027 and open in 2030 or 29.

 

[Jeff Morgan]

The design work for the portal depends on the out come of the study underway of having an east entrance to the hotel from Yonge St as well the cost of doing it compare to the plan tunneling to Freeland.

@drum118 do you know when the portal study is expected to complete?

 

[drum118]

@drum118 do you know when the portal study is expected to complete?

Sometime before June that I know of. No inside info since it being done by the city.

 

[DSC]

Waterfront East LRT Design Update

Dear Public and Stakeholders,

As you may recall, in January 2018, City Council endorsed an overall Waterfront Transit Network Plan for the City, including identification of priority segments.

In April 2019, City Council endorsed the streetcar loop expansion at Union Station as the preferred option for the Union Queens Quay Link, and directed staff to commence the preliminary design and engineering phase of the extension of light rail transit to the East Bayfront beginning in 2020.



Preliminary design and engineering work will shortly be underway for the Waterfront East LRT, a priority segment for the waterfront transit network. The City, in partnership with TTC, and Waterfront Toronto staff are currently focused on feasibility assessments for the Waterfront East LRT including:

• An alternative portal location for the LRT along Queens Quay between Bay Street and Yonge Street, which may provide overall cost and public realm benefits
• Consideration of phasing option(s) that may expedite the east-west streetcar service on Queen's Quay to the East Bayfront

Public consultation and engagement regarding the Waterfront East LRT alternate portal assessment, potential phasing options, and a preliminary design update is currently being planned and is expected in early spring 2020. Further details will be provided over the next few weeks.

You can learn more about the City's waterfront transit network plan including Waterfront East and other priority sections by visiting: www.toronto.ca/waterfronttransit

Kind regards,
The Waterfront East LRT Team​