Join the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension team LIVE to have your questions answered.
Have you received a letter from Metrolinx about transit corridor lands and the Building Transit Faster Act? Please join us on April 14, 2021 to learn more about the Building Transit Faster Act (BTFA) and the newly designated transit corridor lands along the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension project alignment. Learn more about transit corridor lands and what they mean here.
You can register and post questions in advance. Questions with the most votes may be prioritized however we will ensure questions about the BTFA and your property are addressed. If you’re unable to attend the live session you can book a meeting with community relations or email us directly at [email protected].
Metrolinx will provide a brief presentation (6:35-6:50PM) followed by questions and answers with the public (6:50-7:30PM). We encourage you to submit and vote on questions now. You may also submit questions during the meeting.
Agenda
6:30: Meeting Begins/ Opening Remarks
6:35: ECWE Project Update
6:50: Questions and Answers
7:25: Wrap up & Closing Remarks
Presentation Materials
Meet the Speakers

David Panici
Program Sponsor

Renee Afoom-Boateng
Senior Manager, Pre-Construction Services

Carolyn Tunks
Manager, Pre-Construction Services
Other Attendees
- Michael Kitagawa, Vice President | Legal Services
Format & Accessibility
Questions will be answered based on popularity (total votes). We aim to answer all questions.
Please review and note that conduct inconsistent with our policies will result in removal.
To enable closed captioning, toggle captions “on” in the YouTube video player settings.
Comments
Tunneling
AnonymousHow will the tunnel from Mt Dennis to the portal east of Jane be built? MX said it didn't want to use cut&cover but it seems very short to use a boring machine.
Answer
MetrolinxWe have looked at types of construction – cut and cover and types of tunnel boring, which has fewer impacts to utilities, the road and overall timeline.Ultimately our preferred approach is a balance of these issues and reducing construction impacts is a key benefit to tunneling even a short distance. We are looking at tunneling options in the design now with the City of Toronto. Much like the rest of the line the tunnel itself would be routed underneath Eglinton to avoid subsurface impacts to the homes and buildings on either side of the street as much as possible. Tunneling has impacts though, as we know. We will need to build a launch shaft on the far end of the elevated guideway, east of Jane, for the tracks to go back into the ground. We expect to have more to share this year so that residents can provide informed input and understand the challenges and opportunities with the design.
Noise monitors
AnonymousWill Metrolinx mount noise monitors on the SOUTH side of Emmett apartments?
Answer
MetrolinxThere’s been some confusion about the language used in the report and it’s easy to see why. The noise receptors at 75 and 85 Emmett were actually on the southern most corner of the buildings, not the north side. We apologize for any miscommunication. The reference chart in the report that lists the locations does say ‘north’ but that’s about which side of Eglinton the receptor was on, not the location of the receptor on the building itself. It’s worth noting here that we have looked at the impacts based on the preliminary design and we’re not anticipating high levels of noise and vibration in the area. However, the assessments will be updated as the design progresses. If we find that the levels rise and require mitigation, we have a large toolbox of measures to consider including, noise walls, resilient fasteners, floating sections on the tracks etc. The constructor will also need to do more analysis and develop detailed mitigation plans as required. This will be shared with the community for input. It is important to note that construction on the elevated guideway is anticipated to begin in 2025.
Avoid dangerous congestion
AnonymousHow will Metrolinx avoid dangerous congestion where the Humber bike/pedestrian trail passes Scarlett Road Station?
Answer
MetrolinxIf this is in relation to during construction, then we area working with the City of Toronto and TRCA to ensure safe passage at all times. If we have misunderstood, please contact us at [email protected]
BTFA land zones
AnonymousI saw map of BTFA land area on the website. There are different zones. Are there different possible reasons to access each zone? I'm in the buffer area.
Answer
MetrolinxThe map shows three areas around the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension corridor – the transit corridor lands, an area that extends 10 metres beyond the transit corridor lands, and another area that extends 30 metres beyond the transit corridor lands. For property owners, there is no difference in terms of the conditions that apply to you, whether your property is on transit corridor lands or in the buffer areas. The requirements and reasons for permitting and access are the same and the notice of the designation registered on title applies to properties within transit corridor lands and the buffer areas as well.
If you received a letter notifying you about transit corridor land designation, it does not necessarily mean that we will need to access or acquire your property.
The boundaries for transit corridor lands were set by looking at the existing infrastructure in the area, the route and design of the transit line, and how the project is to be built. Land within 30 metres is close enough to the transit corridor lands that certain objects or activities within those 30 metres may interfere with construction. We want to make sure we’re accounting for future planning and construction decisions without impacting more people than we need to. The 10 metre buffer applies to requirements for utility companies and contractors.
Cost comparision
AnonymousOriginal plans for tunnelling was 10 stations, now 7. Reducing stns reduces the cost, what's the updated cost comparison for tunnelling as opposed to elevated?
Answer
MetrolinxIf you’re interested in seeing more of the work that was done to analyze the different options please see the Initial Business Case. The estimated cost of the project based on current plans, from the Initial Business Case is $4.7 billion.
Multi-use path
AnonymousWill the multi-use path along Eglinton be maintained throughout construction? It is a vital link and it is important that people can safely walk and cycle.
Tunneling
AnonymousWhy are you tunneling in corridor with such a wide right-of-way? Surely it would be much more cost-effective to run the LRT on the surface next to the roadway?
Answer
MetrolinxThere have been many discussions on how to deliver the project over the years. Last year Metrolinx released a business case which compares a number of options that were considered. This option provides the best balance of ease of local access and the speed of travelling and outperforms all other options in offering the best network connectivity and travel experience for people living and travelling along the corridor. It’s the best option for speed, reliability and making thousands more jobs accessible by transit. It also results in the least impactful construction.
Use of tunnel-boring machines
AnonymousWhy use tunnel-boring machines when a cut & cover approach could be done with minimal disruption, shallower stations (quicker access), and far cheaper?
Answer
MetrolinxWe have looked at types of construction – cut and cover and types of tunnel boring, which has fewer impacts to utilities, the road and overall timeline. Ultimately our preferred approach is a balance of these issues and reducing construction impacts is a key benefit to tunneling for both sections, even a short distance. We are looking at tunneling options in the design now with the City of Toronto. Tunneling has impacts though, as we know. We expect to have more to share this year so that residents can provide informed input and understand the challenges and opportunities with the design.
Tunnels under waterways
AnonymousNYC and London UK have multiple more complex tunnels under waterways.
Answer
MetrolinxThe key consideration is that the area between Scarlett Road and Jane Street is in an identified flood plain zone. Tunnelling would require building underneath three flood-prone waterways (under the Humber River) and present significant environmental and technical challenges to building and operating the line. Elevating the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension between Scarlett Road and Jane Street eliminates these challenges and will help to prevent potential service disruptions along the corridor during times of heavy rain and flooding.
East of Scarlett
AnonymousHow will the ECWE go over the bridge just east of Scarlett?
Answer
MetrolinxWe will be building a new bridge to carry the elevated guideway over the Humber River. The bridge will be on the north side of the existing bridge. If that doesn’t answer your question please reach out to us direction at [email protected] so we can clarify.
Meetings
AnonymousWhy does Metrolinx push through these ‘meetings’ while making very sure to not communicate their true intentions to locals? Rhetorical question, really.
Answer
MetrolinxThank you for your feedback. We appreciate your concerns. We use these engagements to bring the most up to date information to the public for feedback and input. Community feedback has always been an important part of our process and we look forward to sharing more information as the design advances. If you would like to have a call with us please just let us know at [email protected]
Transit corridor land property
Anonymousif our property is on a transit corridor land, when will we know what impact this means to us, (acquiring, etc.)
Answer
MetrolinxProperty owners located within the transit corridor lands and the 30m buffer area should have already received a letter from Metrolinx notifying them of this. letter is not a letter of expropriation nor does it necessarily mean that we need to access or acquire any of your property in the future – you will receive separate letters if either situation applies to you. If you have already been in contact with Metrolinx about your property, those discussions will continue.
Many who own or occupy transit corridor lands will likely experience little to no impacts. For others, it may mean a small change to business as usual. If a property owner hasn’t been contacted by Metrolinx yet, it could be for one of two reasons: either the current project plan does not anticipate any impacts to their property, or staff may not be at the stage where they are able to confirm if their property is indeed needed, and it may be confirmed through further design work. We understand that residents and businesses are eager to learn about how their properties will be affected by the project, and we strive to communicate with property owners early and often so that there is ample time to work through solutions.
Noise pollution
AnonymousScarlett station moves Eglinton into greenspace, significantly closer to homes increasing noise pollution. Will there be sound barriers installed?
Extension
AnonymousWill this part of the extension for the crosstown to west, be more difficult to achieve compared to phase 1?
Mount Dennis tunnel
AnonymousWhat can be done so we get the Mount Dennis tunnel into the advance tunneling contract?
Noise
AnonymousWill you locate overhead tracks on N.side of Eglinton R-O-W beside the walkway, as requested by the MDCA, to reduce noise for Emmett residents and park users?
Transit land vs. 30m buffer
Anonymouswhat's the difference for property owners within 30m buffer or 'transit land' proper? are there different potential access needs??
Title
AnonymousCan you explain the title issue a bit more? Is there an issue with respect to future sale? What does the current owner have to disclose if they want to sell?
Long term cost
AnonymousIsn't the long term cost of maintaining a tunnel much less than elevated platforms/track/stations over main streets exposed to the elements + ugly sound walls?
Public meeting notification
AnonymousWhen will Metrolinx do a better job of notifying local residents en masse of these public meetings and Metrolinx’s plan? Email, mail, calls, posters, flyers?
Local wildlife and migrating birds
AnonymousIn a green space elevated tracks and stns over streets and sound walls are hazardous to local wildlife and migrating birds, especially at night; please comment.
Safe space for walking and cycling
AnonymousWhat opportunity is there to provide more safe space for walking and cycling through this project? Wider sidewalks, greenery, protected bike lanes?
Notice to use property
Anonymousi may have missed it but how much notice do you provide if you need to use my property?
Green space
AnonymousSound walls/barriers will close off Eglinton flats+ tree loss it's a green space that will become inaccesible and visually unpleasing like the Allen expressway.
Highway 427
AnonymousWill tunnel burrowing be difficult when the machines approach highway 427? Would an elevated option over the Highway be more difficult?