TRANSIT PROJECT ASSESSMENT PHASE CORRESPONDENCE

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1 TRANSIT PROJECT ASSESSMENT PHASE CORRESPONDENCE

2 ~~r;r~~rrv31oorrv for The Living City Ms. Rice TRCA Areas of Interest - 2- December 11, 2009 December 11,2009 BY MAIL AND (Stephanie.rice@ttc.ca) Ms. Stephanie Rice Toronto Transit Commission 5160 Yonge Street, 6 th Floor Toronto, Ontario M2N 6L9 Dear Ms. Rice: Re: Response to Notice of Commencement and Public Open Houses Eglinton Cross-town Light Rail Transit Municipal Class Environmental Assessment - Schedule C Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks, Humber River and Don River; City of Toronto; Etobicoke and East York CFN Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) staff received the Notice of Commencement and Pubic Open Houses that was held between November 23 and December 10, 2009 for the above noted Environmental Assessment (EA) application on November 13, While staff was unable to attend the meetings, please forward one copy of any handouts or display materials from these meetings for our files. Please include a digital copy of all materials as part of your submission. Staff understands that the TIC and City of Toronto are undertaking a Transit Project Assessment for the 33km-long Eglinton Crosstown LRT which is aimed at linking Pearson International Airport with Kennedy Station. Other proposed connections to the proposed Eglinton Crosstown LRT include connections to the Spadina Subway Line, the Yonge Subway Line, the Scarborough RT, the planned Jane Street LRT, Don Mills Road LRT, Scarborough- Malvern LRT, and Mississauga BRT systems. It is our understanding that the study recommends replacing current bus services along Eglinton Avenue and the Airport Link with electrically powered light rail vehicles which will operate in a designated right-of-way located primarily in the centre of the street. The proposed will include a surface LRT system from Pearson International Airport to east of Black Creek Drive, an underground LRT system from east of Black Creek Drive to east of Brentcliffe Road, then a surface LRT from east of Brentcliffe Road to Kennedy Road including a short. underground section at Don Mills Road. Further to our past meetings, site visits and correspondence on this project, staff has identified a number of areas of concern within the study area, including Regulated Areas and areas of TRCA Program and Policy interest. Over the course of the past eight months, TRCA staff has worked with your team to review and provide comments on the Executive Summary for the draft Environmental Project Report to TIC on November 3, Please refer to those comments as you develop the draft EA document for our review and comments. TRCA Review Staff is available to meet and discuss the preferred alternative solution and design if required. Please provide the following submissions to expedite TRCA review through the EA process. Notices of public meetings and display material and handouts Four hard copies of the Draft EA Document, and One hard copy and one digital copy of the Final EA Document. Review fees for this application have been received. Should you have any questions, please contact me at extension 5714 or by at mpak@trca.on.ca. Yours truly, ~~~ Planner II, Environmental Assessments Planning and Development BY cc: LGL TIC TRCA Greg Neill, LGL Limited, (gneill@lgl.ca) Mike Verdun (mverdun@ttc.ca) David Veights, EA Specialist (david.veights@ttc.ca) Carolyn Woodland, TRCA, Director, Planning and Development Beth Williston, TRCA, Manager, Environmental Assessments Steve Heuchert, TRCA, Manager, Planning and Development Regulation Chandra Sharma, TRCA, Watershed Specialist, Etobicoke/Mimico Creek Amy Thurston, TRCA, Project Manager, Watershed Planning Gary Wilkins, TRCA, Watershed Specialist, Humber River The entire system will have 28 surface stops and 13 underground stations. In addition, the preferred will be connected to a TIC Maintenance and Storage Facility proposed at Black Creek Drive. However, this proposed TIC Maintenance and Storage Facility will be assessed under a separate environmental assessment process. F:\Home\Public\Development Services\EA\Letters for Mailing\ Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail NOC PIC.doc Member of Conservation Ontario 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4 (416) FAX

3 ""IIR~~. ~~f!ll~ce[/w~fi?fi))[flj for The Living City January 5, 2010 BY MAIL AND CFN Ms. Rice Should you have any questions, please contact me at extension 5714 or by at mpak@trca.on.ca. Yours truly, Ms. Stephanie Rice EA Project Manager Toronto Transit Commission Transit City Department 5160 Yonge Street, 13 th Floor North York, ON, M2N 6L9 Dear Ms. Rice: Re: Response to Draft Natural Heritage Report and Draft Structures Report Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Humber River and Black Creek, Don River, Etobicoke and Mimico Creek Watersheds; City of Toronto; Etobicoke to East York Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) staff received the Draft Natural Heritage Report prepared by LGL Limited and the Draft Structures Report prepared by AECOM, TCG and 181 Group for the above-noted EA on December 7,2009. Staff understands that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is assessing ways to significantly improve transit service on Eglinton Avenue from Kennedy Station to the Renforth Drive/Pearson Airport area. TRCA staff has completed its review of the Draft Natural Heritage Report and the Draft Structures Report. The following concerns in Appendix A must be addressed in the draft EA document. Hydrogeology comments are not available at this time and will be provide to you at a later date. Detailed comments are provided in Appendix A. Please ensure that a copy of this letter is included in the EA report. ~ lafc.ujjj fjl. ~~~~a~~t Pak Planner II, Environmental Assessments Planning and Development Enclosure: Appendix A: TRCA Comments BY cc: Proponent Consultant City of Toronto TRCA David Veights, EA Specialist, TIC (david.veights@tlc.ca) Grant Kauffman, LGL limited (gkauffman@lgl.ca) Norman Defraeye, Urban Forestry (ndefrae@toronto.ca) Carolyn Woodland, Director, Planning and Development Beth Williston, Manager of Environmental Assessments Steve Heuchert, Manager, Planning and Development Regulation Mark Rapus, Senior Planner, Development Planning and Regulation Chandra Sharma, Watershed Specialist, EtobicokejMimico Creek Keri McMahon, Project Manager, Don Watershed Planning Gary Wilkins, Watershed Specialist, Humber River George Leja, Real Estate Coordinator Margie Kennedy, Assistant Archaeologist Gord MacPherson, Manager, Restoration & Environmental Monitoring Projects As the EA progresses, please ensure that TRCA receives project updates including Public Consultation Notices, Notice of Study Completion, copies of the Draft EA Document (four hard copies); and, one hard copy and one digital copy of the Final EA Document. The draft EA document should be accompanied by a covering letter which uses the numbering scheme provided in this letter and identifies how these comments have been or will be addressed. F:\Home\Public\Development Services\EA\Letters for Mailing\40842 Eglinton Crosstown Draft NH & Structures Report Response Jan 5 10.doc Member of Conservation Ontario 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 154 (416) FAX ;w."i. ~.

4 Ms. Rice -3- January 5, 2010 Appendix A: TRCA Comments ITEM TRCA COMMENTS (January 4, 2010) CONSULTANT'S RESPONSE Comments on the Draft Natural Heritage Report 1. During a site walk, a drainage feature and small wetland area was noted in the vicinity of the east portal work site. This is not identified in the Draft Natural Heritage Report. This feature will need to be further addressed at detailed design to ensure flows are managed, disturbance is minimized, and the site is restored to better than existing conditions. 2. A tally of total tree removals, carried out by a licensed arborist, should also be included to demonstrate adequate compensation/restoration is provided. 3. The Draft Natural Heritage Report should identify that redside dace are a species at risk, and are protected under the Endangered Species Act, However, TRCA has advised that the records are historical, and the aquatic habitats associated with the watercourse crossing along the proposed alignment are no longer considered to provide suitable habitat for this species. The work proposed will not require permits under ESA, 2007 for this species. I 4. The presence of butternut requires further investigation, as the trees are protected under the ESA, MNR will need to be contacted if any impacts to these trees are anticipated. 5. Opportunities to reduce bridge widening need to be fully investigated, including any opportunity for reduced lane, sidewalk or bikelane widths. 6. Figure 3d needs to be revised, and clarification provided regarding impact areas and vegetation impacts. Please clarify what the north/south projections outlined in yellow are for, and hoyvvegetation will not be impacted in these areas. Please also confirm alignment of impact area at Wilson Brook. 7. I The total area of disturbance within the natural heritage system, (primarily areas associated with watercourse crossings) should! : be identified. While individually the losses do not appear to be I, overly significant, looked at cumulatively, they may represent a i : significant loss of natural cover and area. Restoration and compensation plans should be prepared to offset these losses i Ms. Rice - 4- January overall. These details should be included in the EA document. 8. The impact zones shown should include areas temporarily affected as well as the areas permanently affected (Le., access routes, staging areas for portals etc.). This information should be included in the EA document. Comments on the Draft Structures Report 9. Although bridge widening and/or proposed work may not be required for the Taylor Massey Creek (west of Kennedy Road) and Wilson Brook (west of Victoria Park) crossings, these crossing should be identified as part of the Key Plan of Existing Bridges. If these crossing will not be identified, please provide justification. 10. It should be noted that Eglinton Avenue West may be inundated at Black Creek under a Regional event. The Draft Structures Report identifies the bridge to be widened approximately 1.5 m on both sides of the bridge. Please confirm if there is a plan to alleviate this inundation. If this bridge remains inundated under a Regional event, please identify a contingency plan for this area for such an event. 11. Drawings and details for Bridge #14 (Humber River) were not provided as part of the Draft Structures Report. Although there may not be any bridge widening and/or proposed work that may affect the hydraulics of Humber River, this should be identified. It is suggested that this be indicated in the "comments" section of Exhibit 1-1: Inventory of Structures Located alonq Eqlinton Avenue. 12. This bridge and the area west of Jane Street will be inundated under a Regional event. Please confirm how this will be addressed during LRT operations. 13. The Deck Structure figure was provided for Bridge #16, Mimico Creek crossing, but a bridge evaluation was not provided. Please clarify why a bridge evaluation was not provided for the Mimico Creek (Bridqe #16) crossing. I

5 ~fdjf!d~~[/w~oouv for The Living City Ms. Rice JanLLary UL~lQ Should you have any questions, please contact me at extension 5714 or by at mpak@trca.on.ca. Yours truly, January 19, 2010 CFN BY MAIL AND (stephanie.rice@ttc.ca) Ms. Stephanie Rice EA Project Manager Toronto Transit Commission Transit City Department 5160 Yonge Street, 13 th Floor North York, ON, M2N 6L9 Dear Ms. Rice: Re: Response to Draft Structures Report and Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit (LRT) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Humber River and Black Creek, Don River, Etobicoke and Mimico Creek Watersheds; City of Toronto; Etobicoke to East York ~~ Planner II, Environmental Assessments Planning and Development Enclosure: Appendix A: TRCA Comments BY cc: Proponent Consultant City of Toronto TRCA David Veights, EA Specialist, TIC (david.veights@ttc.ca) Grant Kauffman, LGL limited (gkauffman@lgl.ca) Norman Defraeye, Urban Forestry (ndefrae@toronto.ca) Beth Williston, Manager of Environmental Assessments Steve Heuchert, Manager, Planning and Development Regulation Chandra Sharma, Watershed Specialist, Etobicoke/Mimico Creek Keri McMahon, Project Manager, Don Watershed Planning Gary Wilkins, Watershed Specialist, Humber River Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) staff received the Draft Structures Report prepared by AECOM, TCG and IBI Group, and the Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report prepared by Transit City Group, IBI Group and AECOM for the above-noted EA on December 7, 2009 and January 5, Staff understands that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is assessing ways to significantly improve transit service on Eglinton Avenue from Kennedy Station to the Renforth Drive/Pearson Airport area. TRCA staff has completed its review of the Draft Structures Report and the Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report. The following concerns in Appendix A must be addressed in the draft EA document. Detailed comments are provided in Appendix A. Please ensure that a copy of this letter is included in the final EA report. As the EA progresses, please ensure that TRCA receives project updates including Notice of Study Completion, copies of the Draft EA Document (four hard copies); and, one hard copy and one digital copy of the Final EA Document. The draft EA document should be accompanied by a covering letter which uses the numbering scheme provided in this letter and identifies how these comments have been or will be addressed. F:\Home\Public\Development Services\EA\Letters for Mailing\40842 Eglinton Crosstown Draft Structures & Drainage & SWM Report Response Jan 19 1a.doc Member of Conservation Ontario 5 Shoreham Drive, Downsview, Ontario M3N 1S4 (416) FAX ~"'RE".

6 Ms. Rice -3- January 19, 2010 Appendix A: TRCA Comments ITEM TRCA COMMENTS (January 19, 2010) CONSULTANT'S RESPONSE Comments on the Draft Structures Report 1. Please confirm whether abutment extensions are required for the Black Creek crossing. 2. Please confirm whether abutment extensions are required for the Mimico Creek crossing. If abutment extensions! replacements are required, geotechnical! hydrological information must address groundwater management and impacts due to the proposed construction activities. Comments on the Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report 3. It noted that the Eglinton Avenue crossings at Mimico Creek, Black Creek, West Don River and East Don River are proposed to be widened. The proposed widening for each crossing as specified in Section 2.3 of the Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report (December 2009) are not consistent with the widths specified in the Draft Structure Report (November 2009). Please clarify the proposed expansions for each crossing and ensure they are consistent in both the Draft Structure Report and the Drainage and Stormwater Management Assessment Report. 4. TRCA staff notes in Section 3 Mitigation Measures under the 1 st bullet, the commitment to provide comprehensive restoration plans is acknowledged. TRCA staff suggests that the site should be improved to better than existing where possible. In some instances, replication of the existing or preconstructioncondition is not desirable. 5. TRCA staff notes in Section 3 Mitigation Measures under the 8 th bullet, the timing window indicated is correct, however, it should be noted that it may be applied to near-water work, as well as in-stream work. It is noted that determination of what near-water work may need to adhere to the timing restriction will occur at a later stage, based on risk to fish productivity. 6. Section 3 Mitigation Measures under the 2 nd bullet identifies the minimum return period for temporary (Erosion and Sediment Control) works to be 2 years and that the proposed work zone is 0.75 m above the 2 year flood elevation. Please identify the i resource for this minimum return period for temporary work. It ~should be noted that th~ location of the proposed work zone is ~_ _--l Ms. Rice -4- January 19, 2010 within the Regional floodplain and that there is a potential for the equipment and material stored within the floodplain to be "washed away" during a Regional type event. Please provide a contingency plan for the temporary work zone during a Regional type event. 7. Please provide pertinent geotechnical information to ensure that the proposed retaining walls are founded on competent soils and are provided with adequate tie-backs. 8. Please ensure the HEC-2/HECRAS models are updated accordingly. As well, please provide a digital copy of the updated HEC-2/HECRAS models, which include the proposed widening for the noted watercourses. 9. Please provide a digital copy of the existing conditions HEC- 2/HECRAS model if there is an update to TRCA's original model(s) to reflect actual conditions. 10. It is noted in Section 2.4 Water Quality Control, that water quality controls will not be provided within drainage areas 5 through 19. However, it is recommended that where feasible, water quality control measures by means of permeable paving for future bike lanes / sidewalks be implemented. TRCA strongly supports the implementation of permeable paths. Please provide details of the permeable path. 11. Runoff from Eglinton Avenue is conveyed to Mimico Creek and Silver Creek via existing roadside ditches. It is noted that where space allows, it is proposed these ditches be enhanced by providing a 0.75 m wide flat bottom. Please provide the details of these enhanced roadside ditches. 12. It is proposed that for the East Don River bridge, the deck drainage be directed to soak pits to assist in reducing erosion and filter runoff prior to discharging to the watercourse. TRCA prefers the road runoff be treated (Le., oil-grit separator) prior to infiltration. 13. Section 4 Erosion and Sediment Control identified the general concept and some detail for erosion and sediment control for the project. This is acceptable. However, the text should be added to, this section indicating that the December 2006 Erosion and I Sediment Control (ESC) Guideline be referenced. I- --_.- I ~--- ~~ 14. I ESC Plan(s) will be required prior to construction and should : illustrate the details and location of all ESC measures proposed. I The ESC Plan(s) should also include a note indicating the Plan(s) i are dynamic and the measures may need to be modified to ensure.i sediment does not aet transported off the construction area.