A Public Meeting was held at The Fire and EMS Training Centre, 895 Eastern Avenue (at Knox), on Thursday, December 8, 2011 to discuss the staff proposal to modify the design of a short section of Eastern Avenue – between Minto Street and Connaught Avenue. The following information is from the presentation that was on display at the meeting.

Proposed Modifications to Toronto Transit Commission Design Eastern Avenue at TTC’s Russell Carhouse

Public Meeting - December 8, 2011

City, TTC staff and the study consultants are available to discuss plans and answer questions.

Objectives:

  • To explain the reasons for proposing changes to Eastern Avenue;
  • To present the preferred design alternative;
  • To outline the project process and the on-going public involvement opportunities;
  • To outline the next steps in the approval process.

TTC’s Planned Track Reconstruction on Eastern Avenue

  • Tracks on Eastern are too low relative to the south end of yard
  • Difference in elevation of the front, and rear, of 30-metre streetcars on curves too great
  • Westbound streetcar lane needs to be raised, making curves more ‘level’
  • Could raise the entire roadway by several inches

Need for Roadway Improvements

  • Two key issues concern current roadway design:
    - 21 track switches into Russell Yard in this block with an undesirable mix of general traffic and streetcar yard activity;
    - no sidewalk on north side of road
  • TTC project presents opportunity to include improvements to the roadway.

Study Area

Photos showing Streetcar yard entrances and overhead view of TTC's Russell Yard.

Surrounding Area

Map showing area bordered by Carlaw Avenue to the West, Dundas Street to teh North, Coxwell to the East, and Lake Shore Blvd to the South.

Existing Configuration of Eastern Avenue Adjacent to Russell Carhouse

Map showing Existing Configuration of Eastern Avenue Adjacent to Russell Carhouse

Traffic Lane Capacities

Map showing Traffic Lane Capacities and traffic flow and location of lights.

Traffic Lane Capacities

Map showing Traffic Lane Capacities and traffic flow and lights and AM/PM Peak hour direction.

Design Alternatives Considered

 

Base Case: Same basic design as existing, but entire roadway raised so the westbound streetcar tracks are closer to the elevation of the south end of the yard

Option 1: Single Lane Each Direction with Cycling Lanes

Option 1B: Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

Option 2: Two Lanes EB, One Lane WB, No Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

One Lane Each Direction with Track Shift, Sidewalk and Cycling Lanes

Option 3: One Lane Each Direction with Track Shift, Sidewalk & Cycling Lanes

Option 4: Two Lanes EB, One Lane WB, Track Shift, Sidewalk

Costs:

Base Case - Raise Eastern Avenue - $285,000
Option 1 - Single Lane Each Direction with Cycling Lanes - $277,000
Option 1B - Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk - $277,000
Option 2 - Two Lanes EB, One Lane WB - $277,000
Option 3 - One Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk & Track Shift - $2,292,000
Option 4 - Two Lanes EB, One Lane WB with Track Shift - $2,292,000

Impacts on On-Street Parking:

Base Case - no impact on parking
Option 1 - prohibited both sides of street
Option 1B - prohibited both sides of street
Option 2 - prohibited on north side only
Option 3 - prohibited both sides of street
Option 4 - prohibited on north side only

Further Assessment of Parking Impacts

  • North side:
    - Loss of 10 spaces on-street (5 east of Connaught, 5 west of Minto)
    - Most spots typically occupied in mid-day spot checks
  • South Side
    - 50 potential spaces but relatively little use
    - Spot checks on several weekdays showed only 12 to 15 cars

Preferred Option

Overhead map of Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

Option 1B: Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

Option 1B: Single Lane Each Direction with Sidewalk, No Cycling Lanes

Proposed Next Steps

  • Comments submitted to the Project Team by December 22, 2011
  • Confirmation / refinement of the preferred alternative
  • Request approval of City Public Works and Infrastructure Committee – February 2012
  • Council Approval – March 2012
  • Begin Detailed Design – Spring 2012 

Contact Information

Gary Carr
Gary.Carr@ttc.ca

Public Meeting Information

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Where: The Fire and EMS Training Centre, 895 Eastern Avenue (at Knox)

Purpose:

To discuss the staff proposal to modify the design of a short section of Eastern Avenue – between Minto Street and Connaught Avenue.

Background:

The Toronto Transit Commission is planning to replace the streetcar tracks on Connaught Avenue and on Eastern Avenue with new track. This planned TTC project presents an opportunity to include additional modifications to the design of Eastern Avenue to address two key concerns:

  • There are 21 streetcar track switches in the westbound curb lane of Eastern Avenue,
    which is an undesirable mix of streetcar carhouse activity and general traffic flow. Most
    motorists already avoid driving in the curb lane.
  • There is no sidewalk along the north side of the street at this point.

The Proposal:

It is proposed to reduce the number of traffic lanes on Eastern Avenue from four lanes, to two wide lanes, from just west of Minto Street to just east of Connaught Avenue, so that the westbound curb lane fronting the Russell Carhouse can be reserved for use by streetcars only, and to allow the construction of a sidewalk on the north side of the street between the streetcar tracks and the two, general traffic lanes.

Impacts:

The addition of a sidewalk on the north side of the street between Minto Street and Connaught Avenue would improve the safety for pedestrians as some pedestrians continue to walk along the north side of the road in this area where there is now no sidewalk. These modifications would not be expected to have any significant impact on traffic capacity on this section of Eastern; however, on-street parking would no longer be permitted anywhere in the narrowed section.