Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations

What's New?

The Environmental Project Report for the Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations TPAP was available for public review from January 6 to February 4, 2021. It has been reviewed by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. The Statement of Completion has been issued, and the project can now proceed to the detailed design and implementation phase

About

As part of the GO Expansion Program, Metrolinx has identified various infrastructure required to achieve service level targets across the network.

The Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations is one component of GO Expansion Program that will follow a Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) (Ontario Regulation 231/08).

The purpose of the Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations is to accommodate the expansion of the Stouffville Rail Corridor through grade separations or road closure at seven at-grade road-rail crossings. These improvements will reduce traffic conflicts. The Project will facilitate the GO Expansion Program, including the construction of the previously approved new track. To support GO Expansion along the Stouffville Rail Corridor, the following at-grade crossings will be altered:

City of Markham, York Region

Denison Street, Road Under Rail Grade Separation
Kennedy Road, Road Under Rail Grade Separation

City of Toronto

Passmore Avenue, Road Under Rail Grade Separation
McNicoll Avenue, Road Under Rail Grade Separation
Huntingwood Drive, Road Under Rail Grade Separation
Havendale Road, Road Closure with Multi-use Crossing
Progress Avenue, Road Over Rail Grade Separation

Passmore Avenue

As part of the Stouffville Grade Separations Project, Metrolinx has continually worked with the City of Toronto and affected businesses to land on a design solution for the proposed grade separation at Passmore Avenue. While progress has been made on multiple fronts, there is still work to be done to agree on a solution that meets the needs of the city, businesses and GO Expansion.

To account for the additional time needed for a design solution, Metrolinx will no longer be seeking TPAP approval for the Passmore Avenue Grade Separation as part of the ongoing Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations TPAP. Rather, Metrolinx will seek approval for the Passmore Grade Separation Project through a TPAP addendum to the Stouffville grade separations TPAP. Metrolinx will prepare a future EPR addendum for the proposed grade separation at Passmore Avenue to address the outstanding stakeholder concerns related to its design and any additional environmental consideration not covered already in the current TPAP.

Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations TPAP is one project that is part of GO Expansion. Learn more about other GO Expansion projects.

Project Status

The Notice of Completion for the Stouffville Rail Corridor Grade Separations TPAP was issued on January 5, 2021, and the 30-day public review of the Environmental Project Report was from January 6 to February 4, 2021. The EPR has been reviewed by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.The Statement of Completion has been issued, and the project can now proceed to the detailed design and implementation phase

The Notice of Commencement for this project was issued on September 8, 2020.

Round 3 of public consultation for the GO Expansion program was held online from November 27 to December 11, 2020. View the materials from Round 3.

Round 2 of consultation was held online from August 18 to September 1, 2020. View the materials from Round 2.

Round 1 of consultation was held in person during the month of February 2020. View the materials from Round 1.

What is a TPAP?

A Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) is a focused impact assessment process created specifically for transit projects. The process involves a pre-consultation phase followed by a regulated up to 120-day phase and includes consultation, an assessment of positive and negative impacts, an assessment of measures to mitigate negative impacts and documentation.

A TPAP ensures that the natural, social, cultural, and economic environments are protected and any potential adverse effects from proposed infrastructure are either avoided, mitigated or minimized.

TPAPs are regulated by Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act, specifically Ontario Regulation 231/08 - Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings, and are submitted for the Minister of the Environment Conservation and Parks' review prior to completion.

Public, stakeholder, and Indigenous consultation occurs throughout the process.

The above new transit infrastructure is being assessed through the TPAP under Ontario Regulation 231/08 - Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings.