The Ontario Line - Early Works: Corktown Station
Ontario Line trains will be below ground at Corktown Station, which will require tunnel boring through the future corridor. The Corktown Station site has been identified as the launch site for the tunnel excavation equipment to complete tunnels and underground station spaces for the downtown and Don Yard segments and construction of the Corktown Station.
In accordance with Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project (O. Reg 341/20), under the Environmental Assessment Act, early works are any components of the Ontario Line Project that Metrolinx proposes to proceed with before the completion of the Ontario Line assessment process, such as station construction, rail corridor expansion, utility relocation or bridge replacement or expansion. Corktown Station early works include demolition of existing buildings, removal of structures and asphalt, decommissioning of utilities and soil removal and/or remediation where required. These early works will set the groundwork for other major construction, reducing risk of delays to the overall Project by completing this preparatory work on an expedited basis in advance of the main contracts.
The Corktown Station Early Works Report outlines the purpose of early works, a description of local environmental conditions, potential impacts, proposed mitigation measures and a record of consultation.
Aerial view of the Corktown Station early works site (project footprint).
Source: City of Toronto (n.d.a): Available through: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/venues-facilities-bookings/book....
The First Parliament Site, located within the Corktown Station early works project footprint, is a known archaeological site which requires additional archaeological studies ahead of any ground disturbance activities. Artifacts from Indigenous Nations, remains of Upper Canada’s First and Second Parliament Buildings and remnants of early Toronto industry may be found here. Metrolinx is eager to unlock the potential of the site and work with the City of Toronto, Indigenous Nations and specifically the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, on whose treaty territory the First Parliament Site is located, and the community to identify opportunities for commemoration. Initial archaeological and environmental investigations are underway.
More information about archaeological potential within the Corktown Station early works study area can be found here.
Corktown Station early works include demolition of existing buildings, removal of other structures and asphalt, decommissioning of utilities, soil removal and/or remediation where required, within the Corktown Station early works project footprint. These activities will allow for the completion of environmental due diligence investigations, including archaeological assessments. Assessment of project operations and construction of Corktown Station and other project components will be documented in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report in accordance with Section 15 of Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project.
Environmental impacts of Corktown Station early works are being assessed in accordance with Ontario Regulation 341/20: Ontario Line Project (O. Reg. 341/20), under the Environmental Assessment Act. The early works assessment process includes the following:
- Reviewing and examining early works components and activities
- Understanding local environmental conditions through desktop reviews and field studies
- Assessing and evaluating potential impacts that early works components and activities may have on the environment
- Proposing mitigation measures to avoid or reduce impacts and monitoring activities to verify effectiveness of mitigation measures
- Determining any municipal, provincial, federal or other permits and approvals that may be required as planning progresses
The Draft Corktown Station Early Works Report provides the following:
- A description of the early works, including a description of the alternatives considered
- A map showing the site of the early works
- The rationale for proceeding with the early works and a summary of background information
- A description of the local environmental conditions at the site of the early works
- A description of all studies undertaken
- Metrolinx’s assessment and evaluation of the impacts that the preferred method of carrying out the early works and other methods might have on the environment, and Metrolinx’s criteria for assessment and evaluation of those impacts
- A description of any measures proposed by Metrolinx for mitigating any negative impacts that the preferred method of carrying out the early works might have on the environment
- A description of the means Metrolinx proposes to use to monitor or verify the effectiveness of mitigation measures proposed
- A description of any municipal, provincial, federal or other approvals or permits that may be required for the early works
- A consultation record