Introduction. 1.3 Study Overview and Purpose. 1.1 Overview of Environmental Project Report. 1.2 Overview of Environmental Project Report

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1 1. Introduction The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the City of Toronto are undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the new Ashbridges Bay Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF) for Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs). This facility will service and store new LRVs schedule to arrive in In addition, new non-revenue service tracks are required to provide a connection from the proposed facility to the existing streetcar tracks along Queen Street East. The project is being conducted under Ontario Regulation 231/08 following the Transit Project Assessment (TPA) Process. 1.1 Overview of Environmental Project Report This Environmental Project Report is organized into nine sections: 1.2 Overview of Environmental Project Report This report is organized into nine sections: Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Introduction Provides the background and context for the study and introduces the Transit Project Assessment Process. Project Description Describes the site selection process for the maintenance and storage facility and provides the elements of the site layout, the evaluation of the connecting tracks route options and the preferred connecting track design. Existing Conditions Describes the baseline natural environment, social environment and traffic and transportation in the area. Potential Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures Proposed Site Design Presents the assessment of environmental effects, including an outline of mitigation measures and net effects for the design of the LRV maintenance and storage facility. Potential Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures Proposed Track Design Presents the assessment of environmental effects, including an outline of mitigation measures and net effects for the design of the LRV connecting track. Monitoring Outlines the framework of monitoring activities that will be conducted throughout project construction and operations. Future Commitments Outlines future project commitments before, during after construction. Consultation Identifies the public, agency and First Nations consultation program that occurred during the preliminary planning and Transit Project Assessment Process, including input from various interested parties and the proponent s responses. References Provides a bibliography of the sources referenced throughout the report. 1.3 Study Overview and Purpose On June 29, 2009 the City of Toronto Council approved the TTC capital budget allowing the TTC to complete the purchase of 204 Light Rail Vehicles to replace its aging streetcar fleet. The Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto have identified the site of a maintenance and storage facility to accommodate the replacement fleet of new low floor LRVs. The selected site for the facility, previously identified in consultation with area residents and stakeholders, will be located at the southeast corner of Lake Shore Boulevard East and Leslie Street in the City of Toronto. The new LRVs will replace the streetcars that TTC currently operates throughout Toronto. The existing streetcars are between 30 and 40 years old and are nearing the end of their functional use. As opposed to the existing streetcars, the new 204 LRVs: Are nearly twice as long with the ability to carry more passengers per vehicle reducing crowding; Are wheelchair accessible; Are designed with a strong focus on safety, security and customer convenience in all aspects of design; Will increase system capacity by approximately 35% (up from the current 70 million passengers per year to approximately 95 million per year. This will accommodate forecast growth for 20 or more years on the existing streetcar system; Provide bright and easy to read light emitting diode (LED) route/destination signs; Include improved interior and exterior lighting and air conditioning; and Accommodate bicycles and baby strollers in the passenger compartment. The existing Roncesvalles and Russell Carhouses will not be able to accommodate the complete maintenance operations and storage of the new 204 LRVs. Both facilities have insufficient space to service and store the new vehicles, and would have required rebuilding and expanding existing facilities into adjacent residential neighbourhoods to accommodate the entire new fleet. The new facility will require 22 acres of property and must be located in close proximity to the existing streetcar network. A new maintenance and storage facility is required to ensure the new LRVs are maintained in a state of good repair. In addition, almost double the storage track currently available is required to accommodate the new LRVs. The new LRVs are expected to begin operating in It is estimated that the LRVs will operate nearly 230 trips per weekday along Leslie Street between the maintenance and storage facility and existing Queen Street East streetcar service. The portion of Leslie Street that the LRVs would operate on would not be part of a TTC revenue service route. A majority of the LRV trips will leave the new maintenance and storage facility prior to the morning peak period and will return to the facility outside of the p.m. peak period. A breakdown of the Leslie Street LRV trips will include: 85 outbound trips, between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. 30 inbound trips between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. 30 outbound trips between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. 45 inbound trips between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. 40 inbound trips between 1:00 and 2:00 a.m. The LRV maintenance and storage facility will employ approximately 470 employees. A majority of the employees (300) will work during the day. The shift times will start at 7:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m., with corresponding end times nearly eight hours later. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the environmental effects associated with the construction and operations of new facility, as well as the alignment options developed to connect the LRV tracks to the existing tracks on Queen 1

2 Street. The evaluation was undertaken to comply with Ontario s Transit Project Assessment Process (Ontario Regulation 231/08) and ensures the participation of residents and stakeholders. The assessment of the design options included expected effects, associated mitigation measures and future commitments for this transit project. 1.4 Study Area The study area for the proposed Ashbridges Bay LRV maintenance and storage facility is located north of the existing Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant, west of Leslie Street and south of Lake Shore Boulevard East. In addition, the study area includes the Leslie Street corridor between Commissioners Street and Queen Street East for the establishment of the connecting tracks between the proposed LRV maintenance and storage facility and the existing streetcar tracks along Queen Street East. Figure 1-1 illustrates the study area in more detail. The study area has been identified as the project site and surrounding area (as dictated by the potential effects for each discipline). Where a potential effect may extend beyond the existing site, the study area for that effect has been correspondingly extended. This is to ensure that any potential effects which may extend beyond the site are accounted for in the study process. As a result, each discipline has established its own study area for existing conditions based on the potential effects for that discipline. 1.5 Ontario s Transit Project Assessment Process This study was conducted in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08 for Transit Projects and Greater Toronto Transportation Authority Undertakings (Transit Projects Regulation) (see Figure 1-2). By following the TPA Process for certain projects, the Transit Projects Regulation exempts the proponent (in this case TTC and the City of Toronto) of the transit project from the requirements under Part II of the EA Act. The transit project assessment process is a proponent-driven, self-assessment process that does not require a transit project be approved by the Minister of the Environment (MOE) before proceeding. Therefore, the TPA Process provides a defined framework for the proponent to follow in order to complete the accelerated decision-making process within the 120-day timeline for the development of the Environmental Project Report (EPR). The TPA Process is a focused impact assessment process with prescribed requirements that include consultation, an assessment of potential positive and negative effects, an assessment of measures to mitigate negative effects and documentation. The Transit Projects Regulation requires the proponent to start with a selected transit project. The Regulation does not require the proponent to look at the rationale for the transit project or alternatives to public transit (alternative solutions), or alternatives to the particular transit project being proposed. The Transit Project Assessment Process is intended to be completed within six months, including 120 days for undertaking the environmental assessment, 30 days for the public and agency review period, and 35 days for the Ministry of the Environment review period. Proponents must complete the prescribed steps of the TPA Process within specified time frames. The process allows for an assessment of potential environmental effects to be completed within 120 days. The MOE recognizes that conducting good planning, basing decisions on sound scientific approaches and methods, and informing and involving the local community may take longer than 120 days. Therefore, prior to commencing the Transit Project Assessment Process (shown as Step 2 in Figure 1-2), the TTC undertook environmental assessment work and public and stakeholder consultation through a preliminary planning step (shown as Step 1 in Figure 1-2). Following completion of the Preliminary Planning Step, the proponent initiates the TPA Process (Step 2 in Figure 1-2) by issuing the Notice of Commencement. It is at this point that the regulated 120 day timeframe commences. Figure 1-1 Ashbridges Bay LRV Maintenance and Storage Facility Study Area 2

3 As a basis for the Environmental Project Report, the following technical investigations were completed: Tree Inventory and Assessment Report (Arborist Report), February 2010; Subsurface Investigations TTC LRV Maintenance & Storage Facility: Lake Shore Boulevard East and Leslie Street, October 2009; Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Contaminated Sites Screening Report, February 2010; Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, March 2010; Cultural Heritage Resources Assessment, October 2009 (revised April and July 2010); Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment Report, October 2009 (revised July 2010); Traffic Impact Study, September 2010; Noise & Vibration Environmental Assessment Report, September 2010; Stormwater Management Report, August 2010; Air Quality Assessment Report, February 2010; and Natural Heritage Impact Study, August Figure 1-2 Ashbridges Bay Fleet LRV Maintenance and Storage Facility Planning Process Whether there is an objection or not, if the Minister acts within the 35 day period, one of three notices may be issued to the proponent: 1. A notice to proceed with the transit project as planned in its Environmental Project Report (EPR); 2. A notice that requires the proponent to take further steps, which may include further study or consultation; or, 3. A notice allowing the proponent to proceed with the transit project subject to conditions. If the Minister issues a notice to proceed with the transit project as planned, or if the Minister does not act within the 35 day period, the proponent issues a Statement of Completion, and transit project may proceed as planned. The Minister may also require that the proponent conduct additional work and revise the EPR. If, within 30 days after receiving the revised EPR the Minister is of the opinion that it still does not appropriately address negative effects, the Minister can terminate the transit project assessment process and require the proponent to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act or to comply with an approved class environmental assessment before proceeding with the transit project Preliminary Planning Activities Relative to this study, preliminary planning activities were initiated before the Notice of Study Commencement was issued on June 24, 2010 to further define the project. The preliminary activities that were undertaken in this study are described below. The TTC prepared an Existing Conditions Report, which describes the current environment at the site as it relates to terrestrial natural heritage, aquatic environment, hydrogeology and groundwater, contaminated soils, land use environment, community features, archaeology, built heritage, air quality, and noise and vibration. As part of the preliminary planning stage, the TTC undertook consultation with several agencies and local businesses, including Environment Canada, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources, Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the City of Toronto, Canada Post, Film Ontario, Enbridge Gas Distribution, Hydro One, and Lea Consulting on behalf of Loblaw Properties Limited through individual meetings and/or correspondence to obtain their study input and discuss potential effects and mitigation. TTC also conducted meetings with residents prior to the issue of the Notice of Commencement. Public consultation meetings included: Three pre-consultation public open house meetings on June 16, 17 and 18, 2009 to engage residents in regard to the site options for the maintenance and storage facility. A Public Open House on February 18, 2010, including an overview of the project, a description of existing conditions, site and connecting track options to be assessed, and the criteria considered to evaluate the track options, as well and their potential effects. As a result of this meeting, residents asked TTC to assess additional connecting track options beyond what was presented at the February meeting. TTC agreed to this request (see below). A public event on April 8, 2010 to present the technically preferred track option that would carry forward into the Transit Project Assessment Process. A public meeting on May 19, 2010 to announce the launch of a landscape design competition to generate an exciting vision for landscaping around the future Ashbridges Bay TTC maintenance and storage facility. The May 19 public meeting was also designed to provide participants with the opportunity to contribute suggestions and ideas for consideration by the landscape design firms that will take part in the design competition. TTC hosted a meeting with the residents of the Marigold Properties (1209 Queen Street East) and Leslie Street property owners on July 14 and 15, 2010, respectively. The meetings were held to discuss the potential effects and mitigation strategies developed for Leslie Street and the proposed route of the connecting tracks. After the Notice of Commencement was issued, TTC hosted the following public consultation events: On July 28, 2010 TTC hosted a public meeting to discuss all aspects of the study process, including an overview of the preliminary planning and Transit Project Assessment Process, the recommended maintenance and storage facility site and connecting track designs, proposed measures to mitigate any potential negative project effects (and resulting net effects), and proposed monitoring to verify the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. 3

4 TTC hosted two drop-in sessions in the local community on August 8 and 10, 2010 to present the three landscape designs developed by the firms engaged in a competition to enhance the Lake Shore Boulevard and Leslie Street edge (adjacent to the maintenance and storage facility). Section 8 of this EPR presents the detailed information on the public, agency and First Nations consultation activities undertaken for the project Environmental Project Report Documentation of the Transit Project Assessment Process is to be submitted to Ministry of the Environment within 120 days of distributing the Notice of Commencement. The document, known as the Environmental Project Report, records the Transit Project Assessment Process, the conclusions reached, the effects, the associated mitigation measures, and the future commitments for the transit project. According to the interim guidelines, the Ministry expects that the Environmental Project Report will be adjusted throughout the 120 day period to reflect input from Aboriginal communities, adjacent property owners, regulatory agencies and other interested persons. This report provides a comprehensive summary of each step in the assessment study, including the reason why the site and connecting tracks were selected, the assessment of site and connecting track layout options, and an assessment of any effects and ways that such effects can be mitigated. 1.6 Study Organization This study has been undertaken under the direction of the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto as coproponents. City of Toronto staff representation on the study team included: Transportation Services; City Planning (Transportation, Community Planning and Urban Design); Toronto Public Health; Toronto Water; and Technical Services. AECOM was retained by TTC as the prime consultant to undertake the project management and associated technical work. The Project is being undertaken by a team of specialists as follows: AECOM Lead Consultant, responsible for Conceptual Design, Environmental Assessment, Natural Environment, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and Social Environment Walker, Nott, Dragicevic Associates Limited Land Use Planning Archaeological Services Inc. Archaeology and Built Heritage / Cultural Landscapes AERCOUSTICS Engineering Limited Noise and Vibration ORTECH Environmental Air Quality AMEC Phase II Environmental Site Assessment 1.7 Background and Context The development of the Ashbridges Bay LRV maintenance and storage facility was established based on the City, TTC, and Province s Planning Policies. The following sections provide descriptions of the policies, plan and regulations that are relevant to this study City of Toronto Planning Policies City of Toronto Official Plan (June, 2006) The City of Toronto Official Plan established general principles and policies, and site specific policies, which guide land use planning and development of the Subject Site. Included in the Official Plan are policies pertaining to Employment Areas and Transit, all of which directly relate to the proposed use of the Subject Site. The Official Plan s schedules designate areas of the City as Employment Districts and Employment Areas. These designations play an important role in the City s growth management strategy. Land uses within these designations are largely comprised of manufacturing, warehousing, industrial, and offices, and uses supportive thereof. Employment Districts and Areas are protected from non-employment use that would reduce the size of the designations to ensure a stable environment for investment; maintain and grow the City s tax base; and offer suitable locations for a variety of employment uses, including those that require separation and/or buffering. The promotion and provision of transit services in the City, and the integration of land use and transportation, are integral components of the Official Plan. The principles and policies of the Official Plan generally provide that: Future growth within Toronto will be directed to areas well served by transit; Growth areas are generally those with good transit access along bus and streetcar routes and at transit stations; Growth will be focused into a pattern of transit-supportive compact centres and corridors; Good transit service to Employment Districts is necessary to take advantage of their economic opportunities; and Lands beyond the rights-of-way be acquired to accommodate necessary transportation network features, such as transit facilities. The Ashbridges Bay LRV maintenance and storage facility will assist with achieving a number of key policy objectives outlined in the City of Toronto planning policies, including those pertaining to intensification, sustainable transportation, creating complete communities, encouraging public transit, employment uses, and encouraging less automobile dependence. Within the local area, the City of Toronto Official Plan identifies Leslie Street, Cherry Street and Commissioners Street as future Higher Order Transit Corridors (Toronto Official Plan, Map 4, June, 2006) Central Waterfront Secondary Plan The Central Waterfront Secondary Plan (OPA 257, Adopted by Toronto City Council on April 16, 2003) identifies key cultural and heritage corridors which will link the assets of the city with the water s edge. Central Waterfront corridors extend north/south and east/west to form a waterfront cultural grid. Each of these corridors has a unique identity that will be promoted and reinforced. One of the policies relevant to this plan includes the operation of new streetcar service and transit priority improvements on existing and new infrastructure to ensure efficient transit service. Schedule A of the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan identifies a route along Leslie Street between Commissioners Street and Lake Shore Boulevard East as one of the future rights-of-way for streetcar service. Further, the Central Waterfront made provisions to protect a 40 metre right-ofway along Leslie Street south of Lake Shore Boulevard East for long-term LRV passenger service. 4

5 1.7.2 TTC Policies Streetcar Maintenance and Repair Facilities Master Plan The TTC currently operates a streetcar fleet comprised of Canadian Light Rail Vehicles and Articulated Light Rail Vehicles. Storage, as well as scheduled inspections and unscheduled running repairs of these vehicles are currently performed at two carhouses: Roncesvalles Carhouse, and Russell Carhouse. These existing vehicles have reached the end of their design life and are scheduled for replacement. The new LRVs will replace the existing streetcar fleet, and an enhanced version will be used on all new Transit City light-rail lines. Recognizing the need for additional storage area and facilities to maintain these proposed new LRVs, TTC conducted a Streetcar Maintenance and Repair Facilities Master Plan 7 which was approved by TTC in May The Master Plan study reviewed the existing maintenance facilities to develop options and recommended strategies for maintaining and storing the fleet of new LRVs that would replace the existing streetcar fleet, as well as the new Transit City vehicles. The Master Plan concluded that the existing carhouses and yard facilities cannot be modified to maintain all of the new LRVs due to structural (seismic) and spatial limitations. In addition, the storage track requirements for the new LRV fleet will be much greater than those of the existing fleet with storage track deficiencies beginning to occur in 2013 and continue to escalate proportionally with the addition of the new vehicles. As a result, the report concluded that it will be necessary to construct a new maintenance facility to meet the needs of the 204 Fleet Replacement vehicles (downtown fleet) and provide additional storage track capacity to accommodate 100 new vehicles Provincial Planning Processes Provincial Policy Statement This project is consistent with the objectives of the Provincial Policy Statement of the Province of Ontario. The objectives are that transportation, transit and infrastructure facilities are to be planned to meet current and projected needs, providing for an efficient, cost-efficient and reliable multi-modal transportation system that supports long-term economic prosperity. The Statement also indicates that public transit and other alternative modes of transportation are to be supported to improve energy efficiency and air quality Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe This project is consistent with the objectives of the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Some of these objectives are: public transit will be the first priority for transportation and major transportation investments; major transit station areas and intensification corridors will be designated in official plans; major transit station area and intensification corridors will be planned to ensure the viability of existing and planned transit service levels; and major transit stations will be planned and designed to provide access from various transportation modes including pedestrians, bicycles and passenger drop-off MoveOntario 2020 MoveOntario 2020 is a plan approved by the Ontario government in 2007 for 902 km of new or improved rapid transit designed to move people efficiently around the region. It will result in 800 million new transit trips per year, taking 300 million car trips off GTA roads. This will cut smog and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 10 megatonnes by MoveOntario 2020 includes 52 transit projects at a cost of $17.5 billion Regional Transportation Plan (Metrolinx) Metrolinx developed the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) called The Big Move to provide a strategic, long term vision, goals and objectives for future transportation across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. The plan contains strategies, priority action and supporting policies that are needed to achieve the vision and goals. The priorities noted in the RTP include constructing a fast, frequent and expanded regional rapid transit network, providing a system of connected mobility hubs and completing walking and cycling networks with bike-sharing programs. 7. Streetcar Maintenance and Repair Facilities Master Plan by Parker & Associates Inc. (PAI) and Totten Sims Hibicki Associates Limited (TSH),