Line 6 Finch West

Line 6 Finch West, also known as the Finch West LRT,[6] is a light rail line under construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to be operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. It was part of the Transit City proposal announced on March 16, 2007.[7] The 11-kilometre (6.8 mi), 18-stop line is to extend from Finch West station on Line 1 Yonge–University to the North Campus of Humber College in Etobicoke. The line is forecast to carry about 14.6 million rides a year or 40,000 a day by 2031.[4] It is scheduled for completion in 2023, with an estimated cost of CA$1.2 billion.[8][9]

Line 6 Finch West
Overview
TypeLight rail
SystemToronto subway
StatusUnder construction[1]
LocaleToronto, Ontario
TerminiFinch West
Humber College
Stations18
Operation
Planned opening2023
OwnerMetrolinx
Operator(s)Toronto Transit Commission
Depot(s)York Gate Blvd and Norfinch Dr[2]
Rolling stockAlstom Citadis Spirit[3]
Technical
Line length11 km (6.8 mi)[4]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
SignallingThales SelTrac CBTC[5]
Route map

 Humber College
 Westmore
 Martin Grove
 Albion
 Stevenson
 Mount Olive
 Rowntree Mills
Humber River
 Pearldale
 Duncanwoods
 Milvan Rumike
 Emery
Canadian Pacific Railway
 Signet Arrow
Highway 400
 Norfinch Oakdale
Maintenance facility
 Jane and Finch
 Driftwood
 Tobermory
 Sentinel
 Finch West

History
Finch West station, Line 6's eastern terminus

In March 2007, Toronto mayor David Miller announced the 17-kilometre (11 mi) Etobicoke–Finch West LRT as part of the Transit City plan for the construction of several light-rail lines within the city.[10][11] The western terminus of the line would be built in the Highway 27/Humber College area in Etobicoke. The line would run along Finch Avenue West eastward, terminating at Finch station in North York.[10]

On April 1, 2009, the Ontario government announced that it would provide funding for construction of this line from Humber College to Don Mills station via Finch West and Finch stations, opening in 2013.[12][13]

In March 2010, the Ontario government budgeted less for building transit. As a result, it eliminated the proposed section of the line east of Finch West station.[10]

In December 2010, Mayor Rob Ford cancelled the line after taking office.[14] However, in February 2012, city council voted to restore the project as part of a new transit plan, restoring some of the elements of the Transit City proposal over Mayor Ford's objections.[15]

In April 2012, Metrolinx proposed to start construction on the Finch West LRT in 2015, with the line opening in 2018.[10] By November 2012, when the city and province signed an LRT master agreement, construction for the line was to begin in 2015 for completion in 2020.[4]

In April 2015, the province announced that construction of the line would start in 2016 for completion in 2021.[4] In September 2015, the Government of Ontario announced that its agency, Infrastructure Ontario, would search for a contractor to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West LRT. The successful contractor would be chosen by 2017. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released to select companies in February 2016[16] and closed on December 20, 2017.[17]

In 2017, Enbridge Gas Distribution began relocating natural gas mains along the LRT route as part of preparatory work for construction. Enbridge relocated natural gas pipelines lower within the roadway to allow for an appropriate depth beneath the proposed track-bed.[18]

In May 2017, Metrolinx confirmed that it had entered into an agreement with Alstom to build 17 light rail vehicles for Line 6 Finch West.[16] In September 2017, Metrolinx announced the line would not open until 2022 at the earliest, blaming the delay on uncertainty with the Bombardier vehicle supply.[19]

In April 2018, Mosaic Transit Group, a consortium of ACS Infrastructure Canada Inc., Aecon, and CRH Canada Group Inc., was selected to build the transit line.[20][21] After consultation with Mosaic on a construction schedule, Metrolinx delayed projected completion of the line to 2023, ten years after the originally announced date.[9] That May, Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx announced that Mosaic had signed a contract to design, build, and finance the construction of the line and stations, and to maintain them for 30 years.[22]

Line 6 began construction in late 2019.[1]

Route layout

The eastern terminus of the line is to be built at Finch West station on Line 1 Yonge–University in North York. After a short tunnel at Finch West station, the line will run on the surface along Finch Avenue West until it reaches Highway 27 and from there, the line will run underground to its western terminus at Humber College's North Campus west of Highway 27. The line will be 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long.[4]

Stops

The TTC has indicated that stops will be spaced on average 650 m (2,130 ft) apart. Tracks run in the middle with stops located on sides separated from traffic along Finch. The following is the list of stops proposed as of 2018.[23]

Stop Notes
Humber College To be located underground
Westmore
Martin Grove
Albion
Stevenson
Mount Olive Original proposed name: Kipling (after Kipling Avenue)
Rowntree Mills Original proposed name: Islington (after Islington Avenue)
Pearldale
Duncanwoods
Milvan Rumike
Emery Original proposed name: Weston (after Weston Road)
Signet Arrow
Norfinch Oakdale Site of proposed maintenance facility[2]
Jane and Finch Original proposed name: Jane (after Jane Street)
Driftwood
Tobermory
Sentinel
Finch West Direct connection to Line 1 Yonge–University; to be located underground

In January 2018, to avoid naming conflicts with existing TTC and GO stations in Toronto, a consultation process was initiated to select unique names for the stops at Jane, Kipling, Islington and Weston; the initial suggestions were Jane and Finch, Mount Olive, Thistletown, and Emery Village, respectively.[24] Based on feedback, Rowntree Mills was also considered, and ultimately selected, for the stop at Islington, while Emery was chosen as the name for the stop at Weston.[25]

Potential extensions

Finch West station to Finch station

In March 2010, the Ontario government eliminated the proposed section of line between Finch West station and Finch station because of budget constraints. This section of the line was part of the original Transit City proposal.[10] In 2013, this plan was revived as an "Unfunded Future Rapid Transit Project" in the City of Toronto's "Feeling Congested?" report, meaning this extension may be constructed sometime in the future.[26] The extension was later shown in the TTC's 2018 Corporate Plan with no timeline for completion.[27]

Humber College to Pearson Airport

In 2009, the TTC was studying the feasibility of potential routings for a future westward extension of the Etobicoke–Finch West LRT to the vicinity of Woodbine Live development, Woodbine Centre, and Pearson International Airport, the latter of the three being in Mississauga.[11][28] This extension was later reclassified as a future transit project as described in the 2013 "Feeling Congested?" report by the City of Toronto.[26]

Finch station to Don Mills station

In May 2009, Metrolinx proposed that the line be extended from Finch station, along Finch Avenue East and Don Mills Road into Don Mills station to connect with the Sheppard East LRT and create a seamless crosstown LRT line in northern Toronto to parallel the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (later renamed and numbered Line 5 Eglinton) in central Toronto. The TTC said that a planning study would have commenced in 2010.[11][29][30]

Operations
  • The route of Line 6 Finch West is now served by the 36 Finch West bus, one of the three busiest bus routes in Toronto with about 42,600 passengers per weekday. If buses continue to serve the route, then by 2031, forecasted demand would require 32–39 articulated buses or 45–55 standard buses.[31]
  • Line 6 would replace 35 morning and 29 afternoon peak period buses from existing traffic lanes.[31]
  • The full capacity of a full standard bus is 48 passengers and of a single LRT car is 163 passengers. Line 6 will be able to support two-car trains.[31]
  • Line 6 would carry about 42,600 passengers per weekday. By 2031, projected ridership would be 2,800 passengers per hour in the peak direction.[31]
  • The LRT will provide service 20% faster than buses in mixed traffic today.[31]
  • Each light rail vehicle (LRV) will use the Presto proof-of-payment system.[31]
  • Metrolinx requires 17 Alstom Citadis Spirit LRVs to operate the line.[32]
  • Annual operating and maintenance costs are estimated to be $51.5 million in 2022, before deducting fare revenue and costs saved by eliminating parallel bus service.[33]

Maintenance and storage facility
Finch West LRT Maintenance and Storage Facility
Location50 York Gate Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario[34]
Canada
Coordinates43°45′27″N 79°31′23″W
Owned byMetrolinx
Operated byMosaic Transit Group (under contract to Metrolinx)
Construction
Structure typeMaintenance and storage facility[34]
Other information
StatusUnder construction
History
Opening2021[34]

Metrolinx is constructing a maintenance and storage facility (MSF) for the route's vehicles on an empty lot north of Finch Avenue West between York Gate Boulevard and Norfinch Drive next to the former Regina Pacis Catholic Secondary School (now Monsignor Fraser College's Norfinch Campus).[23]

The facility will have shops to inspect, service, and repair light rail vehicles used on the line. Construction of the facility started in 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2021. Upon completion, Mosaic Transit Group will start to test LRVs and the communication system. Testing may take up to 18 months.[34]

The facility will be able to house 26 Alstom Citadis Spirit vehicles; however, only 18 will operate initially when the line opens.[34]

The 10,000 m2 (110,000 sq ft) facility will include:[34]

  • Main shop
  • Car wash facility
  • Material storage building
  • Administration office
  • 122 parking spaces

Once the line is completed, LRVs leaving the facility will be able to enter service either in an eastbound or westbound direction.[34]

See also

References
  1. "Ontario LRT Update". Railway Age. September 18, 2019.
  2. "Transit Project Assessment, Environmental Project Report" (PDF). Metrolinx.
  3. "Metrolinx to buy vehicles from Bombardier competitor as backup plan for Eglinton Crosstown". CBC News. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  4. Kalinowski, Tess (April 27, 2015). "Finch LRT to be complete in 2021, before Sheppard breaks ground". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  5. "À Toronto, une nouvelle ligne de tramway va être équipée de la technologie de Thales" (PDF) (in French). Thales Rail Signalling Solutions. June 25, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  6. "Finch West LRT". www.metrolinx.com. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  7. Mammoliti, Giorgio (October 12, 2013). "Finch LRT will be a disaster: Preliminary study points to economic chaos if transit plan goes ahead". Toronto Sun. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  8. "Metrolinx Board Report April 25, 2012" (PDF).
  9. "Finch LRT delayed another year". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  10. Mackenzie, Robert (April 28, 2015). "Ontario Proceeding with Finch West LRT". Transit Toronto. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  11. "Request for Approval of the Etobicke-Finch West LRT Environmental Assessment Study" (PDF). Toronto Transit Commission. December 16, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
  12. "GTA transit gets $9B jump-start". Toronto Star.
  13. "Province Moving Transit Projects Forward" (Press release). Ontario Ministry of Transportation. April 1, 2009. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
  14. "Mayor Rob Ford: "Transit City is over"". Toronto Life. December 1, 2010. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  15. Council opts for light-rail lines over Ford's lone subway track, The Globe and Mail February 8, 2012
  16. "Finch West Light Rail Transit". Metrolinx. Retrieved October 10, 2017. In February 2016, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to companies shortlisted to design, build, finance and maintain the Finch West Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. In May 2017, Metrolinx confirmed that it had entered into an agreement with Alstom to build 17 light rail vehicles for the Finch West LRT project. The RFP is expected to close by the end of 2017, with construction slated to begin in 2018.
  17. "RFP closed for Finch West rapid transit line". constructconnect.com. Daily Commercial News. December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  18. "Metrolinx Finch West LRT Construction Updates". www.metrolinx.com.
  19. Spurr, Ben (September 19, 2017). "Metrolinx blames Bombardier for latest Finch West LRT delay". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
  20. "Aecon consortium selected as preferred proponent for the Finch West Light Rail Transit project in Toronto". aecon.com. AECON. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
  21. "Welcome to Mosaic Transit Group". Mosaic Transit Group. Mosaic Transit Group. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  22. "Contract Awarded for Finch West Light Rail Transit Project". Infrastructure Ontario. May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  23. Finch West Expansion Projects – Metrolinx
  24. "Stop Naming Finch West LRT". Metrolinx Engage. Metrolinx. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  25. "Stop Naming Finch West LRT". Metrolinx Engage. Metrolinx. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  26. "Transit Line Evaluation Process: Feeling Congested?" (PDF). City of Toronto. 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  27. "Corporate Plan 2018–2022" (PDF). TTC.ca. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  28. Munro, Steve (February 14, 2009). "Transit City Status Update". Steve Munro. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  29. Munro, Steve (April 1, 2009). "Ontario Funds Three Transit City Routes". Steve Munro. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  30. Munro, Steve (May 25, 2009). "Sheppard LRT Don Mills Connection Unveiled, Sort Of". Steve Munro. Retrieved May 25, 2009.
  31. "Finch West LRT Project". Metrolinx. July 9, 2009. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  32. Spurr, Ben (July 20, 2016). "Metrolinx threatens legal action over late delivery of light rail vehicles". Toronto Star. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  33. Spurr, Ben; Pagliaro, Jennifer (October 31, 2016). "Report outlines steep costs of running new Toronto transit lines". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  34. "Fact Sheet: Finch West LRT Maintenance and Storage Facility" (PDF). Metrolinx. 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
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