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Reason #1
Avoid noise and vibration from 1,500+ trains a day
Noise and vibration will dramatically increase from about 150 trains a day, to Metrolinx’s proposed 1,500+ above-ground trains a day.
Reason #2
Keep park space for people, not construction
Parkland will be used by Metrolinx to store construction materials & equipment. After the estimated 9 years of construction, we might get this land back, but the mature trees will be gone.
Reason #3
Stop a 12-metre high wall from dividing our community
To accommodate the Ontario Line, Metrolinx needs to raise the entire track bed by 1.5m, add a 5m-high retaining wall, and an ineffective noise barrier. The total structure will be higher than the Berlin Wall!
Reason #4
Save the mature trees in our parks from being cut-down
Metrolinx is already cutting down our urban forest in order to expand the track bed. Burying the Ontario Line removes 2 of the proposed additional tracks and minimizes the impacts on parks, green spaces and the mature trees beside the rail line.
Reason #5
Eliminate portal close to a school and seniors’ apartments
Instead of building a long and noisy portal near a junior school and seniors’ apartments, the Ontario Line could remain underground until it gets to East Harbour, where a portal can be added during
construction.
Reason #6
A safer distance between heavy and light trains
Federal standards require a safe separation between heavy GO trains and light rail such as the Ontario Line. Metrolinx is
developing its own standards with minimal separation, which could increase risks of collisions. And trains would be extremely close to existing homes.
Reason #7
Avoid expansion or replacement of 6 bridges
All 6 bridges between Gerrard & East Harbour will need to be re-developed to carry 6 tracks. Burying the Ontario Line eliminates the need for this lengthy, costly and very disruptive construction.
Reason #8
Station at Queen & Carlaw (not Queen & De Grassi)
The proposed above ground station at Queen & De Grassi destroys Bruce Mackie Park and towers over nearby homes and shops. A station at Queen and Carlaw (as per the original Relief Line) will connect more people to more TTC routes.
Reason #9
Cost is not an issue (in Etobicoke, anyway)
Metrolinx says it’s too expensive to build underground in South Riverdale. But, against planning advice, they are spending an extra $2B to bury 9km of light rail on a 4- to 5-lane, 45m wide right-of-way in Etobicoke! Degrassi is a single lane, 15m right-of-way. Clearly, their decision is not about cost.
Reason #10
Avoid years of overnight construction
Expanding a live rail corridor means most of the projected 9 years of construction will take place overnight – just metres from people’s bedrooms. Noise impacts physical and mental health; sleep disruption is also a health issue. Burying the line can avoid much of this.