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[The following link opens a .pdf file of this page]
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THE
REPORT NO. 1
OF THE REGIONAL
YONGE SUBWAY ADVISORY TASK FORCE
MEETING HELD ON MAY 15, 2008
For Consideration by the
Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee of
The
on June 12, 2008
Chair: Mayor D. Barrow
Members: Councillor V. Burke
Regional Councillor J. Frustaglio
Regional Councillor B. Hogg
Mayor L. Jackson
Regional Councillor J. Jones
Mr. B. O'Donnell
Mr. J. Ricciuti
Mayor F. Scarpitti, Vice-Chair
Councillor A. Shefman
Mr. D. West
Regional Chair B. Fisch, ex officio
Absent: Mr. H.T. Wilson
Regional Staff: P. Casey, N. Garbe,
K. Llewellyn-Thomas, B. Macgregor, P. May, B. Tuckey
Rapidco Staff: D. Albers, J. Hulse, T. Middlebrook,
K. Webber
Others: S. Bowers, R. Staples, YC2002; J. Livey, A. Brown, Town of
I. Brutto, Town of
The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force began its inaugural meeting at 1:05 p.m. on May 15, 2008.
1 UPDATE - COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS
The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force advises the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee of the following matters having been considered by the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force with the following action:
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
1. The Task Force elected Mayor Barrow as Chair and Mayor Scarpitti as Vice-Chair of the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force.
A. COMMUNICATION
[The following link opens a .pdf file of the Communication]
1. Extract from City of Vaughan Council Minutes of May 12, 2008, regarding Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force � Draft Terms of Reference, Response to Request for Comments from the Region of York, and approving the appointment of Mr. H. Tom Wilson to the Task Force as
B. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS
[The following link opens a .pdf file of the Presentation]
(Presentation by Mary-Frances Turner, Vice-President, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation) [7.5MB]
1. Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force
The members of the Committee and Senior staff were introduced as follows:
Regional Chair Bill Fisch, York Region Council, as ex officio in his capacity as the Regional Chair of York Region. Chairman Fisch is also a member of the Metrolinx Board
Mayor David Barrow, Town of
Mayor Linda Jackson, City of
Mayor Frank Scarpitti, Town of
Regional Councillor Joyce Frustaglio, City of
Regional Councillor Jim Jones, Town of
Regional Councillor Brenda Hogg, Town of
Local Councillor Valerie Burke, Town of
Local Councillor Alan Shefman, City of
Mr. Bill O'Donnell, Businessman and Former Regional Councillor, Town of
Mr. Joe Ricciuti, Businessman and Member of North Yonge Subway Committee, Town of
Mr. David West, Chair of Government Affairs Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Town of
Staff
Mary-Frances Turner, Vice-President,
Susan Tuckey, Chief Financial Officer, Rapidco
Jon Hulse, Chief Engineer, Rapidco
Dale Albers, Chief Communications Officer, Rapidco
Katherine Webber, Project Assistant, Rapidco
Tom Middlebrook, Owner's Engineer, McCormick Rankin
Scott Bowers, Owner's Engineer, McCormick Rankin
Rick Staples,
Bruce Macgregor, Chief Administrative Officer,
Bryan Tuckey, Commissioner of Planning and Development Services
Katherine Llewellyn-Thomas, Commissioner of Transportation Services
Joy Hulton, Regional Solicitor
Paul May, Director, Infrastructure Planning
Denis Kelly, Regional Clerk
Neil Garbe, Director of Strategic Planning, Office of the CAO
Roles and responsibilities of the task force
Ms. Turner provided a brief overview of the purpose of the Task Force and its roles and responsibilities as follows:
� To provide guidance, advice and a forum for the coordination of the many considerations that will shape the evolution of the Yonge Street Subway.
� To act as a forum for stakeholder consultation to promote and support the goals and objectives of the Region and local municipalities for the delivery of a comprehensive higher order transit network, intermodal connectivity and transit oriented development (TOD).
� To act as a forum for discussions with City of
Schedule
Mr. May commented on the Yonge Subway proposed timelines with project initiation in January 2008, municipal and public consultation during the summer and fall of 2008 and Ministry of Environment review and approval in spring 2009. The members suggested moving up the timeline to ensure the deadlines were met in time for provincial budget approvals.
2. Project Status and Review
Mr. Middlebrook provided an overview of the project status and major activity areas including subway construction techniques and surface impacts at stations.
Review of evaluation criteria for station locations and alignments
Mr. Middlebrook reviewed the possible station locations noting the following key considerations: ridership/boardings; safe passenger access and egress; surface transit connections; physical environment; urban intensification and cost effectiveness. He also discussed related technical and alignment challenges in connection with the East Don River Crossing Options and terminal requirements at
Environmental Assessment Process and Timing
Mr. Middlebrook informed the members that the Environmental Assessment process will take six months (October 2008 to April 2009). If the EA is approved, the design work can begin in 2010 and construction will commence in 2011 with service beginning in late 2016.
Staff noted that there is a sustainability program in place as part of the EA process. The project will also take into consideration readily renewable resources which will be addressed through the Environmental Protection Act.
Public Consultation Programme
The first public consultation is scheduled for June 17 and 18, 2008 at the Premiere Ballroom and Convention Center in
Staff invited the Task Force members to attend if possible.
The draft invitation was circulated to the members and suggestions were made to highlight the subway in some way on the front page. It was also suggested that vegetable based colours be used and recycled materials for printing.
Staff was requested to follow up with the City of
3. Municipal Technical/Policy Co-ordination
Status and coordination of major land use studies
Ms. Turner advised that stakeholder meetings would also be held over the summer months.
Staff were requested to ensure local ratepayers groups and business associations were kept informed of public meetings. Staff noted that presentations would be made to these groups and as well to any other major stakeholders the Task Force members suggested.
Technical staff liaison with technical project team
Staff have been meeting with local municipal staff. It was noted that due to the tight timelines, it was necessary to streamline the process and to ensure local councils were kept informed by the Task Force members. Staff will continue to make presentations to local councils during the summer months. Local municipal staff will also be expected to report back to their local councils after meeting with the technical project team.
4. Next Steps
Mr. Macgregor advised that discussions are underway with City of
Report to
Staff will be reporting to the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee in June looking for an endorsement of the next steps, including the commencement of public meetings, stakeholder consultations and municipal presentations on preferred design, including
Ms. Turner advised that a communication strategy will be brought forward incorporating the input from this Task Force.
The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force recommends that:
1. Staff reconsider the timing of the submission of the environmental assessment project report to the Ministry of the Environment to ensure the Environmental Assessment process is completed in time for consideration with the provincial budget.
2. Staff proceed with the public information sessions on June 17 and 18, 2008 in the Town of
3. Future meetings of the Task Force be held in a suitable location relative to the Yonge Subway extension.
4. Staff prepare a resolution to be sent to Metrolinx and the Province, outlining the Task Force's position regarding the importance of the Yonge Street subway and the balance of the rapid transit system, to be considered by the Task Force at the next meeting scheduled to be held on June 24, 2008.
CARRIED
The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force adjourned at 3.28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
May 15, 2008 D. Barrow
Karin Price, Committee Co-ordinator
Tel. (905) 830-4444 x 1322