WHY
UNDERGROUND
LET'S GET THE ECWE WHERE IT BELONGS:
UNDERGROUND.
The simplest answer is because our community deserves great public transit AND protected greenspace.
•The Gardiner Expressway has long been considered a physical and psychological barrier between the city and the lake. At a time when our city is coming to grips with that reality and taking concrete steps to remedy this, why would we build a similar structure that creates a barrier down the middle of Mt. Dennis’ greenspace?
The portal will
scar Pearen and
Fergy Brown parks
•The tunnel boring machine launch shaft/portal at Renforth Drive is 80 meters long and 20 meters wide. The Scarlett extraction shaft/portal and Jane launch shaft/portal need to be similar if not the same dimensions. This will have a huge impact on Fergy Brown and Pearen parks.
Underground offers the least
operational risk
On page 84 of the Metrolinx Initial Business Case it states that a below grade LRT presents very low operational challenges compared to an at-grade option with the best severe weather protection.
In the long run, with less service disruptions the below grade option is the best choice for reliability, safety, and lower ongoing maintenance costs.
The elevated section turns green oases into concrete corridors
Flood plains need trees
The Eglinton Flats and Fergy Brown Park are home to numerous sports and leisure activities like soccer and cricket. Currently those parks are surrounded entirely by urban forests. Removing the surrounding urban forest connects these green oases to Eglinton Ave. with it's noise, traffic, and pollution
Commenting on a flood mitigation project in Markham, Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo said, “The big absorbent green space, it actually gives water a place to go,”
Removing trees from the Eglinton Flats parks will increase flood risks.
Naturalization of floodplains reduces the risk of flooding. Allowing Metrolinx to clear cut trees and destroy the wetland marsh that has evolved in the SW corner of Fergy Brown Park will turn back the clock and increase flood risks in the area.
The elevated section destroys a key wildlife corridor
Construction of the elevated section along its proposed path would require the removal and destruction of the urban forest in its place. This forest is the main artery for wildlife such as deer, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, skunks, as well as a wide variety of birds from the Humber River ecosystem to Gladhurst Park and Topham Pond and all points in between
Underground can
- and has - been done
The lead engineering designer for the project, ARUP, was recently awarded the Canadian Project of the Year Award for 2014 from the Tunnelling Association of Canada for the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Pedestrian Tunnel 40m under Lake Ontario. Oakwood station is 25m deep and Avenue Rd. station is 32m deep.
ARUP has already planned on going under Mimico and Silver creeks.
The ECWE is already going water systems, Metrolinx should do so in Mt. Dennis.
