Sheppard East LRT (TTC)
Encyclopedia
The Sheppard East LRT was a planned light rail
line that was cancelled during construction in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, as part of the scrapped Transit City
proposal announced March 16, 2007. It was to be operated by the Toronto Transit Commission
. Metrolinx had budgeted $944.5 million from 2009 through 2014 for the design and construction of the line. Funding was approved by the provincial and federal governments in May 2009. That funding will now go to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, with Mayor Rob Ford
counting on private investment to finance a new $4 billion extension of the Sheppard line. Detailed engineering had also been initiated for the grade separation of Sheppard Avenue East and the GO Transit tracks east of Kennedy Road. Construction for the line began on 21 December 2009 at Agincourt GO Station. The line was expected to open on September 11, 2013, the first of the seven Transit City lines to be completed. The line was cancelled and construction halted by Mayor Rob Ford
in April 2011.
at Don Mills Road in North York. The line was to run along Sheppard Avenue
East, where the planned Sheppard East subway extension is to be built. The line was to continue east until it terminated at Meadowvale Road in Scarborough
. A future extension east into Durham Region
was under consideration.
For passengers travelling between North York and Scarborough city centres, a transfer between the Sheppard subway and the Sheppard East LRT at Don Mills station would have been required. A transfer would also have been required between the Sheppard East LRT line and the proposed extension of the Scarborough RT to meet the LRT line at Sheppard Avenue
and Markham Road.
http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/About_the_TTC/Transit_City/sheppard_lrt_stops_stations_diagram.pdf
East from its western terminus at Don Mills Station, overlapping the Don Mills LRT to Finch Avenue East, then west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station
, where it would continue along Finch Avenue West as the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT line. This connection has been proposed to provide one seamless crosstown line across northern Toronto.
Subway platform extended to east, LRT tracks on either side, level transfer
Pros:
1. For customers east of Victoria Park and destined to subway, just as good as Option 5 (below)
2. Lower cost
3. Tunnel construction would be designed to allow for future subway extension
Cons:
1. Separation between subway and LRT still under policy discussion; separation between vehicles could be 100–125 metres
Option 5 – Shallow Subway Extension to Consumers Road with Surface LRT Connection
LRT station in the middle of Sheppard Avenue (east of Consumers Road), direct passageways to subway below
Pros:
1. Avoids need for travellers from business park to travel one stop, then transfer to subway as per Option 3 (above)
2. Given the above, much more effective “catalyst” for more dense, transit-oriented development in this development node
Cons:
1. Much higher cost
2. More detailed design necessary to determine if “shallow” subway achievable – more work required on depth needed to avoid
settlement near Highway 404 bridge and to avoid large, six metre deep sanitary sewer near Consumers Road
.
to Meadowvale Road.
and the province of Ontario
announced a transit plan that included the subway extensions and cancelled the Sheppard East LRT. Despite the inclusion of the extensions, no public funding was allocated for construction and work on the LRT must be abandoned at significant cost. Instead, Mayor Rob Ford
will look at private financing of the new subway lines, which will provide luxury service to a low-density area. No specific plans for raising over $4 billion in funding have been announced, and Gordon Chong
, head of the TTC agency tasked with analyzing the new subway plans, has said it is possible that no new transit development will occur along Sheppard.
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line that was cancelled during construction in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as part of the scrapped Transit City
Transit City
Transit City was a plan for developing public transport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was first proposed and announced by then-Toronto Mayor David Miller and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Adam Giambrone on March 16, 2007...
proposal announced March 16, 2007. It was to be operated by the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
. Metrolinx had budgeted $944.5 million from 2009 through 2014 for the design and construction of the line. Funding was approved by the provincial and federal governments in May 2009. That funding will now go to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, with Mayor Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
counting on private investment to finance a new $4 billion extension of the Sheppard line. Detailed engineering had also been initiated for the grade separation of Sheppard Avenue East and the GO Transit tracks east of Kennedy Road. Construction for the line began on 21 December 2009 at Agincourt GO Station. The line was expected to open on September 11, 2013, the first of the seven Transit City lines to be completed. The line was cancelled and construction halted by Mayor Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
in April 2011.
Route layout
The Sheppard East LRT line was to run for 13.6 km, estimated to account for 17 million trips in 2021. The western terminus of the line was to be built at Don Mills StationDon Mills (TTC)
Don Mills is the eastern terminus station of the Sheppard line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is also a "Vivastation" on the Viva Green line of York Region's Viva bus rapid transit system...
at Don Mills Road in North York. The line was to run along Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue is an east-west principal arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A small portion of a continuation of the road in Pickering, Ontario is also called Sheppard Avenue.-History:...
East, where the planned Sheppard East subway extension is to be built. The line was to continue east until it terminated at Meadowvale Road in Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. A future extension east into Durham Region
Regional Municipality of Durham, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Durham, informally referred to as Durham Region, is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto, Ontario. It has an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometres. Durham Region is considered part of the Greater Toronto Area, with the communities...
was under consideration.
For passengers travelling between North York and Scarborough city centres, a transfer between the Sheppard subway and the Sheppard East LRT at Don Mills station would have been required. A transfer would also have been required between the Sheppard East LRT line and the proposed extension of the Scarborough RT to meet the LRT line at Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue
Sheppard Avenue is an east-west principal arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A small portion of a continuation of the road in Pickering, Ontario is also called Sheppard Avenue.-History:...
and Markham Road.
http://www3.ttc.ca/PDF/About_the_TTC/Transit_City/sheppard_lrt_stops_stations_diagram.pdf
Don Mills Station to Finch Station
This proposal was extend the Sheppard East LRT north to Finch AvenueFinch Avenue
Finch Avenue is an arterial thoroughfare and concession road which travels east–west through the city of Toronto. The road also has short extensions into Peel and Durham Regions as Peel Regional Road 2 and Durham Regional Road 37.-History:...
East from its western terminus at Don Mills Station, overlapping the Don Mills LRT to Finch Avenue East, then west on Finch Avenue East to Finch Station
Finch (TTC)
Finch is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the subway system of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 5714 Yonge Street between Finch Avenue East and West...
, where it would continue along Finch Avenue West as the Etobicoke-Finch West LRT line. This connection has been proposed to provide one seamless crosstown line across northern Toronto.
Meadowvale Road to Durham Region
This proposal would have extended the Sheppard East LRT east into Durham Region from the planned eastern terminus at Meadowvale Road. This extension would have taken the Sheppard East LRT from Meadowvale Road east to cross the Toronto/Durham Region border and continue to an undisclosed location within Durham Region.Transfer with the Sheppard Subway
The TTC investigated several options for the transfer at or near Don Mills Road with the existing Sheppard Subway. The main obstacle is Highway 404 which the LRT may have tunnelled under, and the fact that the subway is located 18m below grade.The five original options
- Surface LRT Connection: Hwy 404 bridge expanded to maintain existing traffic lanes and incorporate two lanes for LRT in the centre. Traffic lanes reduced near Don Mills Road to allow LRT stop on surface, in the centre of Sheppard - a wide centre platform would include stairs and elevators connecting to the mezzanine level of the subway station.
- Underground LRT Connection 1: Tunnel under Highway 404 beginning west of Consumers Road and connecting to the mezzanine/concourse level of the subway (one level below the surface, one level above the subway.)
- Underground LRT Connection 2: Tunnel under Highway 404 beginning west of Consumers Road and ‘butting up’ against the east end of the subway platform (two levels below the surface.)
- Subway Extension 1: Extend the subway to Consumers Road area and build an LRT connection there.
- Subway Extension 2: Shallow subway extension to Consumers Road with LRT station in the middle of Sheppard Avenue and a direct passage to the subway below.
The two recommended options
Option 3 – LRT Underground to Subway Platform Level at Don MillsSubway platform extended to east, LRT tracks on either side, level transfer
Pros:
1. For customers east of Victoria Park and destined to subway, just as good as Option 5 (below)
2. Lower cost
3. Tunnel construction would be designed to allow for future subway extension
Cons:
1. Separation between subway and LRT still under policy discussion; separation between vehicles could be 100–125 metres
Option 5 – Shallow Subway Extension to Consumers Road with Surface LRT Connection
LRT station in the middle of Sheppard Avenue (east of Consumers Road), direct passageways to subway below
Pros:
1. Avoids need for travellers from business park to travel one stop, then transfer to subway as per Option 3 (above)
2. Given the above, much more effective “catalyst” for more dense, transit-oriented development in this development node
Cons:
1. Much higher cost
2. More detailed design necessary to determine if “shallow” subway achievable – more work required on depth needed to avoid
settlement near Highway 404 bridge and to avoid large, six metre deep sanitary sewer near Consumers Road
Phase One
Phase One would have run along Sheppard Avenue East from Don Mills Road to Morningside AvenueMorningside Avenue
Morningside Avenue is a suburban arterial road in the Toronto, Ontario, running north by north-west from the Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario to the eastern terminus of Finch Avenue East near the Rouge River valley...
.
- Don Mills StationDon Mills (TTC)Don Mills is the eastern terminus station of the Sheppard line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is also a "Vivastation" on the Viva Green line of York Region's Viva bus rapid transit system...
- Connection to the Sheppard subway and the proposed Don Mills LRT.
- Consumers Road
- Victoria Park AvenueVictoria Park AvenueVictoria Park Avenue is a major north-south route in eastern Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marks the border between the Old City of Toronto and Scarborough.-History:Victoria Park Avenue was originally a pioneer road for settlement of Scarborough...
- Pharmacy Avenue
- Palmdale Drive
- Warden Avenue
- Bay Mills Boulevard
- Birchmount Road
- Allanford Road
- Kennedy Road
- Agincourt GO Station
- Connection to the Stouffville GO train line.
- Midland Avenue
- Brimley RoadBrimley RoadBrimley Road is a north-south street in Scarborough and York Region, Ontario, Canada. The road carries 32000 vehicles daily as of May 2007 and is classified as a major arterial road by the city of Toronto....
- Brownspring Road
- McCowan Road
- White Haven
- Shorting Road
- Massie Street
- Markham Road
- Progress Avenue
- Connection to the future Scarborough RT extension.
- Washburn Way
- Burrows Hall
- Neilson Road
- Murison Boulevard
- Brenyon Way
- Morningside Avenue
- Connection to the proposed Scarborough Malvern LRT.
Phase Two
Phase Two was to have run along Sheppard Avenue East from Morningside AvenueMorningside Avenue
Morningside Avenue is a suburban arterial road in the Toronto, Ontario, running north by north-west from the Scarborough Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario to the eastern terminus of Finch Avenue East near the Rouge River valley...
to Meadowvale Road.
- Dean Park Road
- Idagrove Gate
- Meadowvale Road
Proposed Transit City LRT lines
- Eglinton Crosstown LRT
- Jane LRT
- Etobicoke-Finch West LRT
- Don Mills LRT
- Scarborough Malvern LRT
- Waterfront West LRT
- Sheppard East LRT
Cancellation
In April 2011, Mayor Rob FordRob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
and the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
announced a transit plan that included the subway extensions and cancelled the Sheppard East LRT. Despite the inclusion of the extensions, no public funding was allocated for construction and work on the LRT must be abandoned at significant cost. Instead, Mayor Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
will look at private financing of the new subway lines, which will provide luxury service to a low-density area. No specific plans for raising over $4 billion in funding have been announced, and Gordon Chong
Gordon Chong
Gordon Joseph Chong is a Toronto politician and public servant. He has served as a city of Toronto councillor and was vice-chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission. He served on the board of GO Transit from 2000 to 2006 including periods as vice-chairman of GO Transit and chairman...
, head of the TTC agency tasked with analyzing the new subway plans, has said it is possible that no new transit development will occur along Sheppard.
See also
- Transit CityTransit CityTransit City was a plan for developing public transport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was first proposed and announced by then-Toronto Mayor David Miller and Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission Adam Giambrone on March 16, 2007...
- Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
- Toronto streetcar systemToronto streetcar systemThe Toronto streetcar system comprises eleven streetcar routes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission , and is the largest such system in the Americas in terms of ridership, number of cars, and track length. The network is concentrated primarily in downtown and in...
- Toronto subway and RTToronto subway and RTThe Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...