Toronto breaks ground on ambitious "Transit City" project

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Groundbreaking ceremony for new Sheppard light rail line
Last Updated: Monday, December 21, 2009 | 1:56 PM ET

The Canadian Press

Construction has started on a new light rail line in north Toronto that will eventually link up with the city's existing transit system.

Government officials who celebrated the groundbreaking Monday said the Sheppard East Light Rail Transit line will create jobs, increase ridership, improve air quality and reduce travel time for commuters.

Those on hand included Conservative member of Parliament Peter Kent, Ontario's Transportation Minister Jim Bradley and Toronto Mayor David Miller.

The 14-kilometre light rail line will be built on Sheppard Avenue East in a dedicated right of way running from the Don Mills Subway Station to Meadowvale Road.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty formed a partnership earlier this year to help fund the project. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/12/21/transit-city.html


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Transit City
Moving Toronto into the Future


The Toronto Transit City Light Rail Plan is an exciting initiative that will revolutionize transit and transportation across Toronto. Its far-reaching lines will revitalize neighbourhoods, spur economic growth and clean the air we breathe. The eight new Transit City lines will bring reliable, fast, quiet and comfortable transit service to many Toronto neighbourhoods. Transit City is included in the Province of Ontario’s MoveOntario 2020 vision for transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton announced in June 2007, and is included in the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan.

* Province of Ontario News Release - MoveOntario2020
* Metrolinx Plan

Transit City reinforces and implements the strong pro-transit vision of the City’s Official Plan. All eight routes will connect with the existing TTC subway system,GO Rail lines, other Transit City routes, and planned rapid transit lines in Durham, York and Peel regions. They will provide new direct high quality transit links to areas in the north, west, and eastern areas of Toronto that are currently far removed from rapid transit.

Preliminary planning on all eight Transit City lines is underway. To find out more Scroll down the page to the projects.

News

On April 1 2009, the Province of Ontario announced full funding for the construction of the priority projects - the Eglinton, Finch West and the Scarborough Rapid Transit lines.

* Province of Ontario News Release
* David Miller, Mayor of Toronto News Release


Transit City Video: http://www3.ttc.ca/Movies/TITLE01caption.wmv


What is Light Rail Transit?

Light Rail Transit (LRT) is an updated and improved version of the streetcars that have moved Torontonians for decades, and will bring a new concept of reliable and comfortable transit service to Toronto’s busiest transit routes. Using advanced and proven technology from around the world, modern electrically-powered Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) will carry passengers in their own dedicated transit lanes, in most cases in the middle of the road. The smooth, fast, and quiet LRVs will feature easy step-free access from wide, sheltered boarding platforms. Transit City routes will be fully accessible, so that people with all levels of mobility can use the service with confidence and ease.

You’ll be able to board the LRVs at any one of several doors, speeding up the service and reducing waiting times. Inside, the LRVs will have a bright, contemporary feel, with air conditioning, large windows, comfortable seats, and lots of standing space and hand holds. They’ll be more like a modern subway train than existing TTC streetcars or buses.

LRT service will be reliable. Service won’t be affected by traffic delays, because the LRVs and their passengers will be in their own reserved transit lanes. Traffic signals will give priority to transit riders. Stops will normally be 400 metres apart, and LRVs will operate frequently, like the subway.



http://www3.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects_and_initiatives/Transit_city/index.jsp

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1. Kick w/pics of the already-excellent Toronto transit system