Metrolinx EPR Part 2 – Summary and Images
On May 29th, Metrolinx released Part 2 of their Draft Environmental Project Report. In this report, they outline four alternatives considered for the Strachan crossing, and included a full evalutation of each. The full report can be found here:
http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/docs/draftEPR2/EPR%20Part%202%20May%2029%2009.pdf
This draft includes a chart of the 4 different options for Strachan:
Metrolinx EPR Part 2 - Summary of 4 Evaluated Alternatives
The relevant summary text is on page 173:
Preferred Alternative
Following the analysis of the alternatives, the following was concluded:
- Eliminating the intersection Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street/Douro Street (Alternative B) or interrupting the continuity of Strachan Avenue would be the most disruptive alternatives to traffic and the surrounding community.
- Alternative A would cost an additional $25 million more than Alternative D, The top of the roadway in Alternative D is only 0.6m higher than in Alternative A and still lower than the existing structure of the Oakville Subdivision.
- Although Alternative D has property requirements, the possibility of this property being provided by the City of Toronto is currently being investigated to eliminate additional property acquisition costs.
- Although the design speed is reduced for Alternative D, Strachan Avenue has existing bike lanes which will be maintained. City of Toronto policy is to post 40 km/h speed limits on city streets with bike lanes. As a result lowering the design speed of Strachan Avenue will have no impact on traffic on Strachan Avenue.
- Alternative B would have too significant of an impact to properties on the west side of Strachan Avenue, north of the rail corridor.
- Alternative C would have to significant of an impact to properties on Wellington Street and Western Battery Road as a result of profile changes required in this alternative.
Based on the noted outcome of the analysis, Alternative D was carried forward as the preferred alternative. (our emphasis)
PDFs of each alternative linked below:
Option A – The City’s Alternative
Option B – The Original Metrolinx Proposal
Option C – Redirecting Strachan (Not Fully Evaluated or Chosen)
And Finally:
Option D – A Modified Version of the City’s Plan and Metrolinx’s Preferred Alternative
An image of Alternative D:
The alternative option chosen as preferred by Metrolinx