GO Expansion Don Valley Layover – Open House...Layover Facility will not block views in the Don Valley including Prince Edward Viaduct • Prince Edward Viaduct spans 40m above the

GO Expansion Don Valley Layover –Open HouseApril 15, 2021

Spencer Gibbens

Mirjana Osojnicki

GO Expansion

Proposed Don Valley Layover – What will the facility be used for?

• Midday storage of 3 GO trains in a linear configuration.

• The following activities will be carried out:o Daily visual inspections.o Interior cleaning and servicing of trains.o Connecting to wayside power to maintain coach temperature and

lighting.o Sanitary flushing and replenishment of washroom supplies.

Proposed Don Valley Layover Facility

Proposed Site: Aerial ViewNote: conceptual design subject to further study

Proposed Site: View from Don Valley Parkway looking North Note: conceptual design subject to further study

Proposed Don Valley Layover Facility

Note: conceptual design subject to further study

View from the Lower Don Trail

Don Valley Layover – Located on the Don Branch

Don Branch looking south from Bloor Viaduct (DVP to the left) Don Branch looking north from Bloor Viaduct (DVP to the right)

Proposed Site Plan

Don Valley Layover Facility

Why is a Layover Needed at this Location?

• We’re increasing GO service. That requires more trains and places across the network for those trains to hold between rush hours. This location will have 3 trains.

• This layover will reduce congestion at Union Station, a bottle-neck in the GO network.

• This layover will reduce frequency and distance empty trains need to travel for midday storage.

• The Don Yard has already been expanded and has no additional capacity.

• This layover will make use of the existing track on the Metrolinx-owned Don Branch and an existing access road – reducing the need for additional infrastructure and impact on the Don Valley.

Following meaningful consultation with the community, the City of Toronto, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Metrolinx made the following revisions to the design and location of the facility:

• Crew services and buildings have been moved to a higher elevation, adjacent to the storage track, within Metrolinx’s right-of-way.

• Reconfigured the placement of buildings to reduce the footprint of the facility.

• Reduced the amount of required storage tracks from three to one already existing track by parking trains in a linear line.

• Moved the facility north of the viaduct to avoid the floodplain and environmentally significant area.

Through detailed design we will continue address stakeholder comments with the aim to further minimize impacts and enhance the ecological function of the valley.

Revisions to Proposed Don Valley Layover Facility

Impacts of other locations

Other locations have more impact to trails and vegetation.

• While Metrolinx has minimized the footprint of the facility, there are no other potential locations along the Don Branch that would have no impact on the Lower Don Valley Trail south of the Riverdale Pedestrian Bridge.

• Several locations on the west side of the Don Valley were considered, however new track would be needed to store the trains, as well as a new access road, resulting in amuch larger footprint and impact on the DonValley. The property impacts of building onthe west side would also affect the City’s newmulti-use trail adjacent to Bayview.

Concern on Park Users

Proposed facility will have no permanent impacts on trail users

• No modifications are proposed to the Lower Don Valley Trail.• There is an existing service road used for access to Hydro Facility and Prince

Edward Viaduct without impact on trail users.• The layover facility design will not cross the Lower Don Valley Trail.• Construction impacts will be limited.

Proposed facility will not preclude future amenity improvements in the Lower Don Valley Trail Master Plan

• Metrolinx is undertaking a Planning Study which will speak to infrastructure requirements in the Don Valley. This study will take into consideration community inquiries with respect to trail creation.

Concern - Noise

Layover Facility will not have any noise impact on adjacent areas• Noise from the Don Valley Parkway and Line 2 subway far

exceed any noise expected at the layover facility.• Train movements are limited by the

size of the facility – resulting in 3 trains arriving in the late morning anddeparting in the afternoon.

• Trains will be attached to wayside power and not idle while in the facility.

• Grade of rail track is beside and belowDon Valley Parkway further blocking any noise to the east.

Impact on Views of Prince Edward (Bloor) Viaduct

Layover Facility will not block views in the Don Valley including Prince Edward Viaduct• Prince Edward Viaduct spans 40m above the Don Valley. The highest point of the

new facility is a one storey building at the level of the existing track.

• From the Lower Don Valley Trail, views of the layover facility will generally match the existing retaining wall of the Don Valley Parkway. Additional screening vegetation will be added.

• In the rendering prepared by Metrolinx (right) the retaining wall is shown at the left side of the image topped with a service building. Site screening with vegetation will be further refined during detailed design.

Commitment to Stakeholders

• Work with the City and TRCA to:• Minimize impact of construction to park users• Reduce the visual impact of the facility through design and landscaping• Design facility to protect ecological functioning of the Helliwell Hill

Wetland.• Undertake restoration planting native species on site in surrounding area

to compensate for vegetation removed

• Continue to engage the community.

Proposed Don Valley Layover Facility