Line 6 Finch West

Line 6 Finch West
Overview
Type Light rail
System Toronto subway
Status Planned
Locale Toronto, Ontario
Termini Finch West
Humber College
Stations 18
Operation
Planned opening 2023
Owner Metrolinx
Operator(s) Toronto Transit Commission
Depot(s) TBD (preferred site at York Gate Blvd and Norfinch Dr site)[1]
Rolling stock Alstom Citadis Spirit[2]
Technical
Line length 11 km (6.8 mi)[3]
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification 750 V DC overhead
Operating speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map
Humber College
 Westmore
 Martin Grove
 Albion
 Stevenson
 Kipling
Islington
Humber River
 Pearldale
 Duncanwoods
 Milvan/Rumike
 Weston
Canadian Pacific Railway
 Signet/Arrow
Highway 400
 Norfinch/Oakdale
Maintenance Facility
 Jane
 Driftwood
 Tobermory
 Sentinel
Finch West

Line 6 Finch West, also known as the Finch West LRT,[4] is a planned light rail line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. It was part of the Transit City proposal announced on March 16, 2007.[5] The 11 km, 18-stop line is to extend from Finch West station on Line 1 Yonge–University to the North Campus of Humber College. The line is forecast to carry about 14.6 million rides a year or 40,000 a day by 2031. It is scheduled for completion in 2023, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion.[3][6][7]

History

In March 2007, Toronto Mayor David Miller announced the 17-kilometre (11 mi) Etobicoke–Finch West LRT as part of the Transit City plan, for the construction of several light-rail lines within the city.[8][9] The western terminus of the line would be built in the Highway 27/Humber College area in Etobicoke. The line would run along Finch Avenue West eastward, terminating at Finch station in North York.[8]

On April 1, 2009, the Ontario government announced that it would provide funding for construction of this line from Humber College to Don Mills station via Finch West and Finch stations, opening in 2013.[10][11]

In March 2010, the Ontario government budgeted less for building transit. As a result, it eliminated the proposed section of line east of Finch West station.[8]

In December 2010, Mayor Rob Ford cancelled the line after taking office.[12] However, in February 2012, city council voted to restore the project as part of a new transit plan, restoring some of the elements of the Transit City proposal over Mayor Ford's objections.[13]

In April 2012, Metrolinx proposed to start construction on the Finch West LRT in 2015, with the line opening in 2018.[8] By November 2012, when the city and province signed an LRT master agreement, construction for the line was to begin in 2015 for completion in 2020.[3]

In April 2015, the province announced that construction of the line would start in 2016 for completion in 2021.[3] In September 2015, the Government of Ontario announced that its agency Infrastructure Ontario would search for a contractor to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT. The successful contractor would be chosen by 2017. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released to select companies in February 2016[14] and closed on December 20, 2017.[15]

In 2017, Enbridge Gas Distribution began relocating natural gas mains along the LRT route as part of preparatory work for construction. Enbridge relocated natural gas pipelines lower within the roadway to allow for an appropriate depth beneath the proposed track-bed.[16]

In May 2017, Metrolinx confirmed that it had entered into an agreement with Alstom to build 17 light rail vehicles for Line 6 Finch West.[14] In September 2017, Metrolinx announced the line would not open until 2022 at the earliest, blaming the delay on uncertainty with the Bombardier vehicle supply.[17]

In April 2018, Mosaic Transit Group was selected to build the transit line.[18] After consultation with Mosaic on a construction schedule, Metrolinx delayed projected completion of the line to 2023, 10 years after the originally announced date.[7] That May, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx announced that Mosaic had signed a contract to design, build, and finance the construction of the line and stations, and to maintain them for 30 years.[19]

Route layout

The eastern terminus of the line is to be built at Finch West station on Line 1 Yonge–University in North York. After a short tunnel at Finch West station, the line will run on the surface along Finch Avenue West until it reaches its western terminus at Humber College. The line will be 11 km (6.8 mi) long.[3]

Stops

The TTC has indicated that stops will be spaced on average 650 m (2,130 ft) apart. The following is the list of stops proposed as of 2018.[20]

Stop Notes
Humber College To be located underground
Westmore
Martin Grove
Albion
Stevenson
Kipling Mount Olive is a proposed name
Islington Thistletown and Rowntree Mills are proposed names
Pearldale
Duncanwoods
Milvan/Rumike
Weston Emery Village and Emery are proposed names
Signet/Arrow
Norfinch/Oakdale Site of proposed maintenance facility[1]
Jane Jane and Finch is a proposed name
Driftwood
Tobermory
Sentinel
Finch West Connection to Line 1 Yonge–University

In January 2018, to avoid conflict with existing stations in Toronto, a consultation process was started to select unique names for the stops at Jane, Kipling, Islington and Weston; the initial suggestions were Jane and Finch, Mount Olive, Thistletown, and Emery Village, respectively.[21] Based on feedback, Rowntree Mills is also being considered for the stop at Islington, and Emery for the stop at Weston.[21]

Potential extensions

Finch West station to Finch station

In March 2010, the Ontario government eliminated the proposed section of line between Finch West station and Finch station because of budget constraints. This section of the line was part of the original Transit City proposal.[8] In 2013, this plan was revived as an "Unfunded Future Rapid Transit Project" in the City of Toronto's "Feeling Congested?" report, meaning this extension may be constructed sometime in the future.[22] The extension was later shown in the TTC's 2018 Corporate Plan with no timeline for completion.[23]

Humber College to Pearson Airport

In 2009, the TTC was studying the feasibility of potential routings for a future westward extension of the Etobicoke–Finch West LRT to the vicinity of Woodbine Live development and Pearson International Airport.[9][24] This extension is now a "Future Transit Project", as conducted in the 2013 "Feeling Congested?" report by the City of Toronto.[22]

Finch station to Don Mills station

In May 2009, Metrolinx proposed that the line be extended from Finch station, along Finch Avenue East and Don Mills Road into Don Mills station to connect with the Sheppard East LRT and create a seamless crosstown LRT in northern Toronto. The TTC said a planning study would have commenced in 2010.[9][25][26]

Operations

  • The route of Line 6 Finch West is now served by the 36 Finch West bus, one of the three busiest bus routes in Toronto with about 42,600 passengers per weekday. If buses continue to serve the route, then by 2031, forecasted demand would require 32–39 articulated buses or 45–55 standard buses.[27]
  • Line 6 would replace 35 morning and 29 afternoon peak period buses from existing traffic lanes.[27]
  • The full capacity of a full standard bus is 48 passengers and of a single LRT car is 163 passengers. Line 6 will be able to support two-car trains.[27]
  • Line 6 would carry about 42,600 passengers per weekday. By 2031, projected ridership would be 2,800 passengers per hour in the peak direction.[27]
  • The LRT will provide service 20% faster than buses in mixed traffic today.[27]
  • Each LRT vehicle will use the Presto proof-of-payment system.[27]
  • Metrolinx requires 17 Alstom Citadis Spirit LRVs to operate the line.[28]
  • Annual operating and maintenance costs are estimated to be $51.5 million in 2022, before deducting fare revenue and costs saved by eliminating parallel bus service.[29]

Carhouse and maintenance facility

Metrolinx plans for a maintenance and storage facility (MSF) for the route's cars on an empty lot north of Finch Avenue West between York Gate Boulevard and Norfinch Drive, next to the former Regina Pacis Catholic Secondary School (now Monsignor Fraser College's Norfinch Campus).[20] The MSF will serve up to 75 vehicles for the Line 6 Finch West line, as well as allow for serving the rolling stock of a future Jane LRT line.[30]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/finch_west_ea/appendix_m_part_2.pdf
  2. ↑ "Metrolinx to buy vehicles from Bombardier competitor as backup plan for Eglinton Crosstown". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kalinowski, Tess (2015-04-27). "Finch LRT to be complete in 2021, before Sheppard breaks ground". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
  4. ↑ "Metrolinx Toronto Light Rail Transit Projects". www.metrolinx.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  5. ↑ Mammoliti, Giorgio (2013-10-12). "Finch LRT will be a disaster: Preliminary study points to economic chaos if transit plan goes ahead". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2013-10-12.
  6. ↑ Metrolinx Board Report April 25, 2012
  7. 1 2 "Finch LRT delayed another year | The Star". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Mackenzie, Robert (2015-04-28). "Ontario Proceeding with Finch West LRT". Transit Toronto. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
  9. 1 2 3 "Request for Approval of the Etobicke-Finch West LRT Environmental Assessment Study" (PDF). Toronto Transit Commission. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  10. ↑ GTA transit gets $9B jump-start
  11. ↑ "Province Moving Transit Projects Forward" (Press release). Ontario Ministry of Transportation. 2009-04-01. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  12. ↑ "Mayor Rob Ford: "Transit City is over"". Toronto Life. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  13. ↑ Council opts for light-rail lines over Ford's lone subway track, The Globe and Mail February 8, 2012
  14. 1 2 "Finch West Light Rail Transit". Metrolinx. Retrieved 2017-10-10. In February 2016, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to companies shortlisted to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. In May 2017, Metrolinx confirmed that it had entered into an agreement with Alstom to build 17 light rail vehicles for the Finch West LRT project. The RFP is expected to close by the end of 2017, with construction slated to begin in 2018.
  15. ↑ "RFP closed for Finch West rapid transit line". constructconnect.com. Daily Commercial News. 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2017-12-31.
  16. ↑ Metrolinx.com, "Finch West LRT Construction Updates", accessed 2917-06-21
  17. ↑ Spurr, Ben (2017-09-19). "Metrolinx blames Bombardier for latest Finch West LRT delay". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2017-09-20.
  18. ↑ "Aecon consortium selected as preferred proponent for the Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto | AECON - Media Room". www.aecon.com. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
  19. ↑ "Contract Awarded for Finch West Light Rail Transit Project". Infrastructure Ontariodate=2018-05-07. Retrieved 2018-05-07.
  20. 1 2 http://www.metrolinx.com/en/projectsandprograms/transitexpansionprojects/finch_west.aspx
  21. 1 2 "Stop Naming Finch West LRT". Metrolinx Engage. Metrolinx. Archived from the original on 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  22. 1 2 http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-64550.pdf
  23. ↑ "Corporate Plan 2018–2022" (PDF). TTC.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
  24. ↑ Munro, Steve (2009-02-14). "Transit City Status Update". Steve Munro. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
  25. ↑ Munro, Steve (2009-04-01). "Ontario Funds Three Transit City Routes". Steve Munro. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
  26. ↑ Munro, Steve (2009-05-25). "Sheppard LRT Don Mills Connection Unveiled, Sort Of". Steve Munro. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Finch West LRT Project". Metrolinx. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  28. ↑ Spurr, Ben (2016-07-20). "Metrolinx threatens legal action over late delivery of light rail vehicles". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
  29. ↑ Spurr, Ben; Pagliaro, Jennifer (2016-10-31). "Report outlines steep costs of running new Toronto transit lines". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-10-31.
  30. ↑ "Finch West Light Rail Vehicle Maintenance and Storage Facility Environmental assessment". Metrolinx. 2009-07-09. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
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