Finch MSF EA Consultation July 7, 2014 - MSF specific

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FINCH WEST LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE AND STORAGE FACILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE
July 9, 2014 | Julius Banquet Centre
2201 Finch Avenue West
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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Welcome to the Open House
Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project
Maintenance and Storage Facility (MSF)
Environmental Assessment
Please sign-in so that we may provide you with updates on future
events.
• Comment sheets are available
• E-mail: finchwest@metrolinx.com
• Online: www.metrolinx.com/finchwest

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Purpose of Tonight’s
Open House
Explain how the EA will address potential impacts
and propose mitigation measures
Seek your comments on existing conditions
Introduce the MSF to the public
Describe the MSF site

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What is a MSF?
 Provide maintenance service and
storage tracks for overnight storage
of the Light Rail Vehicles.
 Elements of the MSF include:
 Main Repair Shop
 Maintenance of Way
 Operations, and
 Electrical Substation
Typical MSF -TTC Leslie Barns Concept MSF
(formerly Ashbridges Bay)
Typical MSF - Sheppard East Concept MSF

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Finch West LRT Context
MSF Location
Operational by 2020 (including MSF)
Pending future funding
• Approximately 11 kms of surface
alignment from Humber College to
east of Keele Street
• 18 At Grade Stops
• 1 Below Grade Interchange
Station at Keele Street with
Spadina Subway Finch West
Station
For additional information on
the LRT, please refer to LRT
display boards shown
separately.

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MSF Site Selection Process
 A previous assessment was developed by TTC to identify a location to
accommodate the Finch West MSF.
Site 4 has been selected as the optimal site for the MSF
and is carried forward as the focus of this EA
Property Size Proximity to
LRT line
Site Availability/
Vacancy
Site 1 x  x
Site 2  x x
Site 3 x  x
Site 4   
Site 1 - Southeast corner of Finch Ave. W &
Weston Rd.
Site 2 - #122 & #130 Arrow Rd.
Site 3 - Finch Ave W between CN Rail &
Chesswood Dr.
Site 4 - Finch Ave. W between Norfinch Dr. &
York Gate Blvd.

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Maintenance and Storage Facility
View from Southwest Corner of Site
The MSF will service
up to 75 LRV for the
Finch West LRT Line
and future Jane LRT
Line.

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Finch West MSF EA Process
 Step 1 (Preliminary Planning): Presenting the Site, Establishing Conceptual Site
Design, and Documenting Existing Conditions.
 Step 2 (TPAP): Assessment of Effects, Preparation of Environmental Project Report,
Public and Agency review.

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Environmental Factors
 Natural Environment
 Terrestrial and Aquatic
 Geology and Hydrogeology
 Cultural Environment
 Cultural Heritage
 Archaeology
 Traffic & Transportation
 Socio-Economic
Environment
 Land Use and Visual
Character
 Community Features
 Noise and Vibration
 Air Quality
Environmental effects mitigation for conceptual site design will be
developed based on an evaluation under all environmental factors
combined with public and stakeholder input

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Existing Conditions - Terrestrial and Aquatic
 Predominately grassy
meadow within an urban
setting.
 Ontario Species at Risk bird
identified within the study
area.
 Protected under Ontario
Endangered Species Act
Regulation 230/08.
 No significant surface water
or drainage pattern.
View from Northwest Portion of Site
View from West Portion of Site

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Existing Conditions - Geology & Groundwater
 No significant regional
aquifer present.
 No existing contamination
on-site.
 Soil and groundwater
results meet Ministry of
Environment standards for
residential/ parkland
property use.
On-site Groundwater Monitoring Well

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Noise and Vibration
Sensitive Areas
Existing Conditions - Noise & Vibration
 Dominant source of
existing noise and
vibration is vehicular
traffic.
 Monitors were installed to
measure existing noise
and vibration levels at
Sensitive Areas.
 Vibration levels are typical
to areas near arterial
roadways.
Residences along Wheatsheaf Cres, York
Gate Blvd, & Elana Dr. Institutions along
Finch Ave, Norfinch Dr, & Oakdale Rd.

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Existing Conditions - Air Quality
 Dust, fine particulate, VOCs
and other air contaminants
were surveyed.
 A number of facilities exist
within one km of the property
with the potential to emit air
contaminants.
 Air Quality Indices (MOE
criteria) for existing fine
particulate and oxides of
nitrogen were “Very Good”
most of the time, and “Poor”
less than 7% of the time.

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Existing Conditions - Land Use
 North: Hydro Corridor with existing
recreational trail and soccer fields
 East: Shopping Mall (York Gate Mall)
 West & South: Hotels, Institutional
uses, including Humber River
Regional Hospital, police station,
multiple retirement residences, and a
school
 Southeast: Low density residential
 Residential community north, east
and south.
 Highway 400 is a significant barrier
west of site.

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 No identified Cultural Heritage
Resources on-site and within 500
metres of site.
 Site cleared of Archaeological
Concern.
View from Southwest Portion of Site
View from Northeast Portion of Site
Existing Conditions -
Cultural Heritage & Archaeology

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Existing Conditions -
Traffic &Transportation
 Existing traffic operates within acceptable levels of service
all key intersections within study area.
 Sidewalks present on both sides of all roadways.
 Immediately serviced by three TTC bus routes, within close
proximity to two other TTC bus routes.
 Existing off-road bicycle trail including bicycle-traffic signals
at intersection with York Gate Blvd.
 On road bicycle lanes are planned on both sides of Finch
Avenue West as part of LRT implementation.
Typical Finch Avenue West Cross Section
(Jane Street to Weston Road)

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Impact Assessment & Mitigation
 As part of the EA Process, we will assess environmental factors.
 Modeling of environmental factors will include:
 Traffic assessment will predict changes in traffic flow along
roadways and at key intersections.
 Noise and vibration assessment will show predicted decibel
outputs from the site.
 Air dispersion model will show air contaminants at ground-level
for various receptor points near the site.
 Further site assessments and field visits will occur for natural
environment and socio-economic conditions.
 Measures to mitigation potential impacts will be considered in the
design, as required.

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Infrastructure Ontario Process
 The project will be designed and
constructed using IO’s Alternative
Financing and Procurement (AFP)
delivery model which allows of
technical innovation.
 IO plays a key role in Ontario’s long-
term infrastructure plan for public
transit.
 Metrolinx is partnering with Infrastructure Ontario
(IO) to develop the MSF and the Finch West LRT.

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Finch West MSF EA Framework
 The project is carried out under Ontario Regulation 231/08, Transit
Project Assessment (TPA) Process.
 The effects of the MSF were not
assessed as part of the approved
Finch West LRT EA.
 A new stand-alone EA for the Finch West MSF is underway.
 Provides documentation of potential environmental effects and
proposed mitigation measures and seeks public comment.

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Consultation Process Timelines
Public
Open House 1
July 9, 2014
Online
Consultation
July 9 to July 23,
2014
Public
Open House 2
September 2014
TPAP
Notice of
Commencement
Fall 2014
Public
Open House 3
Fall 2014
TPAP
Statement of
Completion
Winter 2015
WE ARE HERE

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What Happens Next?
 Please submit MSF EA comments to the
project team by July 23, 2014.
 All comments received from today’s session and throughout the
study will be reviewed and considered by the project team.
 A Consultation Summary Report will be posted on the project
website in August 2014.
 Using feedback, the project team will develop design(s) for the site.
 Present the design(s) at a second Open House in September,
2014; and
 Visit the project website to view the latest project developments
and future consultation.

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Thank you for participating!
Please get in touch with us:
WEBSITE www.metrolinx.com/finchwest
EMAIL finchwest@metrolinx.com
PHONE 416-782-8118
TTY 1-800-387-3652

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