Table of Contents 7.2.2 LRT versus BRT ..............................................................................................................C-2 7.2.3 Light Rail Transit (LRT)....................................................................................................C-2 A. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................A-1 7.2.4 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)..................................................................................................C-3 7.3 Recommended Solution – the Sheppard East LRT .................................................................C-3 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................A-1 7.3.1 New Vehicles* for the Sheppard East LRT ......................................................................C-4 1.1 Study Purpose.........................................................................................................................A-1 8.0 Selecting the Preferred Design for the Sheppard LRT.................................................................C-5 1.2 Study Area...............................................................................................................................A-1 8.1 Recommended Alignment – LRT in the Centre of Sheppard Avenue ...................................... C-5 1.3 Study Process: Municipal Class Environmental Assessment ...................................................A-1 8.2 Recommended Routing...........................................................................................................C-5 1.3.1 Class EA Approval Process .............................................................................................A-2 8.3 Recommended Cross Section.................................................................................................C-5 1.4 Study Organization ..................................................................................................................A-2 8.4 LRT Stop Locations...............................................................................................................C-10 1.4.1 Study Team......................................................................................................................A-2 8.5 GO Transit Crossing – Proposed Grade Separation..............................................................C-10 2.0 Background and Planning Context...............................................................................................A-3 8.6 Identifying Alternative Designs for the Connection to the Sheppard Subway Line ................. C-12 2.1 City of Toronto Official Plan .....................................................................................................A-3 8.6.1 Recommended Option 2b - Underground LRT Connection............................................ C-14 2.2 Toronto Transit City Light Rail Transit Plan..............................................................................A-5 8.6.2 Recommended Option 3b - Subway Extension..............................................................C-14 2.3 City Bicycle Lane Network .......................................................................................................A-5 8.7 Pedestrian Bridges................................................................................................................C-14 2.4 Pedestrian Charter...................................................................................................................A-6 8.8 Electrical Substations ............................................................................................................C-20 2.5 Additional Related Studies.......................................................................................................A-6 8.9 Preferred location addresses for substations are the following: ............................................. C-20 8.10 Capital Cost........................................................................................................................... C-20 B. EXISTING AND FUTURE CONDITIONS ...........................................................................B-1 Sheppard East LRT – Preliminary Designs ................................................................................... C-20 3.0 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................................................B-1 3.1 Existing Transportation Systems..............................................................................................B-1 D. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION ............................................................................................. D-1 3.1.1 Transit Services in the Study Area ...................................................................................B-1 9.0 Environmental Effects and Mitigation Measures..........................................................................D-1 3.1.2 Road Network ..................................................................................................................B-3 9.1 Environmental Benefits of Improved Public Transit..................................................................D-1 3.2 Assessment of Current Traffic Operations ...............................................................................B-3 9.2 Impacts to Traffic.....................................................................................................................D-1 3.3 Natural Environment................................................................................................................B-3 9.2.1 Impacts to Left Turning Movements at Unsignalized Intersections................................... D-1 3.3.1 Vegetation and Vegetation Communities .........................................................................B-4 9.2.2 Fire/Emergency Services.................................................................................................D-3 3.3.2 Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat ..........................................................................................B-5 9.3 Noise and Vibration.................................................................................................................D-3 3.3.3 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat..............................................................................................B-7 9.4 Natural Environment................................................................................................................D-4 3.3.4 Designated Natural Areas ................................................................................................B-7 9.5 Socio-Economic and Cultural Environment..............................................................................D-5 3.4 Existing Socio-Economic and Cultural Environments...............................................................B-7 9.5.1 Archaeology.....................................................................................................................D-5 3.4.1 Community / Recreational / Institutional Facilities ............................................................B-7 9.5.2 Built Heritage and Cultural Landscapes...........................................................................D-6 3.4.2 Observed Existing Conditions ..........................................................................................B-7 9.6 Property Acquisition ................................................................................................................D-6 3.4.3 Archaeology.....................................................................................................................B-8 9.6.1 Special Considerations at Midland Avenue......................................................................D-7 3.4.4 Built Heritage and Cultural Landscapes .........................................................................B-10 3.4.5 Utilities / Pipelines..........................................................................................................B-11 E. CONSULTATION ................................................................................................................... E-1 4.0 Future Growth............................................................................................................................B-11 10.0 Consultation ................................................................................................................................ E-1 4.1 Designated Growth Areas – the Avenues Plan ......................................................................B-11 10.1 External Agencies ................................................................................................................... E-1 4.2 Agincourt Secondary Plan Area.............................................................................................B-11 10.2 Public Consultation.................................................................................................................. E-1 4.3 Sheppard Corridor Study: ......................................................................................................B-12 10.2.1 Study Commencement .................................................................................................... E-1 4.4 Active Development Applications...........................................................................................B-12 10.2.2 Public Information Centre 1 ............................................................................................