Metrolinx will be hosting a virtual meeting to discuss the Eglinton Crosstown West this Thursday, August 19.
The Eglinton Crosstown West extension will run from Mount Dennis Station to Renfrew Drive. As we mentioned last week, it will lead to substantial changes along Eglinton, including in the Eglinton Flats, where a raised train will be installed.
You’re asked to register in advance if you’d like to ask questions.
The city says that Weston and Mount Dennis are “red zones” when it comes to cycling and social equity—but it isn’t doing much about it.
The city says that Weston Road would make an excellent bike route (red in the map below). But according to Spacing Magazine, it’s not going to happen. It’s not part of the city’s 2021–2023 implementation plan.
Jane St (orange) would make another good route, but it will only be studied —though, as I reported earlier, the city had been planning extensive bus-only lanes. As far as I know, the orange route along the railway tracks is only a dream.
Planners did say that there will be
Weston neighbourhood connections extending from Silverthorn Ave and Trethewey Dr.. and will connect to the Mid-Humber trail and
closure of the gap.
However, in the city’s recent briefing slides, these connections are only to be studied.
Mount Dennis is in particularly bad shape, with less than one percent of the street (measured by the kilometer) having a bike route. However, Mount Dennis looks to be getting only a path along Eglinton, to connect to the new station.
Transportation Services will be reporting on their new bike plan for 2021–2023 later this fall, and will bring it to City Council.
It’s a little thing but nice to see: the 35 Jane bus now has Wi-Fi.
The federal government has promised to provide $4.7 billion dollars (40% of the total cost) to build the Eglinton Crosstown West extension that will take the LRT from Mount Dennis out to Renforth.
UPX and GO service will be temporarily reduced as a result of the pandemic. Trains will run twice-hourly at peak periods and hourly in off-peak periods.
The last train to Weston will also leave downtown earlier—at 10 pm. The cuts begin today.
GO Train service to Weston will also be cut. There will be no weekday evening service. The last train will leave downtown at 6:34 pm.
GO ridership is less than 10% of what it was before the pandemic.
Influential Toronto transit blogger Steve Munro is reporting a significant development in construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Line. Metrolinx has consistently stated that the line will not open until all stations are ready. Now it seems that thanks to various factors, Eglinton Station (at Yonge) might not be ready until May 2022 and a direct connection to the subway will be delayed until fall of that year.
Why the change in plans? Steve points out that, “The expected June 2022 provincial election will bring considerable pressure to provide a ribbon cutting for Premier Ford at whatever cost is necessary.”.
Read his blog post here.
View an interesting take on the line from Reece Martin below:
Update: Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster has called talk of a partial opening as a ‘distraction’. Verster seems unhappy with builders of the line, Crosslink Transit Solutions.
Read more here.
Here’s the latest drone footage of the Mount Dennis Eglinton Crosstown station showing the latest progress in building the structures needed to connect Mount Dennis to the rest of the line. The Kodak building features prominently and the scale of the project can be appreciated from the air. An impressive entrance is shaping up on Eglinton. Let’s hope we actually get to use the line one day!
Enjoy.