A Rapid Transit Connection Between
Pearson International Airport and Union Station.
(City Council on July 29, 30and 31, 1998, deferred consideration of this Clause to the next
regular meeting of City Council scheduled to be held on October 1, 1998.)
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(Clause No. 1 of Report No. 9 of The Urban Environment and Development Committee)
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends:
(1)the adoption of the following report (June 26, 1998) from the Commissioner of
Urban Planning and Development Services, subject to Council's support being
conditional upon the project including a portion of the financial cost of the required
upgrades to the subway platform at UnionStation; and
(2)that Council support the addition of a $1.00 airport fee to be used for the proposed
rapid transit connection between Pearson International Airport and Union Station:
Purpose:
To update Council on issues related to planning for a rapid transit connection between
Pearson International Airport and Union Station and to recommend next steps.
Financial Implications:
The recommendations of this report do not require any additional funding.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that City Council:
(1)endorse the concept of a rapid transit connection between Pearson International Airport
and Union Station;
(2)endorse the conclusions of Provincial and Federal studies that the corridor adjacent to
Highways 409 and 427, as shown in Figure 1, should be protected for a rapid transit
connection between Pearson Airport and the CN Weston rail corridor, and request the
Province of Ontario, Transport Canada, the City of Mississauga, the Region of Peel, and the
Greater Toronto Airports Authority to pursue measures to protect the corridor;
(3)support upgrading of the Weston rail corridor to accommodate a new station in the
vicinity of the Woodbine Racetrack and all-day GO service from Union Station to the new
station, and request GO Transit to advise on costs;
(4)support the extension of the internal airport transit system from the airport to upgraded
GOrail service in the CN Weston rail corridor as the preferred rapid transit option in the five
to ten-year time frame, and request Transport Canada (in conjunction with the City of
Toronto, the Ministry of Transportation, GO Transit, the Greater Toronto Airports
Authority, the Region of Peel, and the City of Mississauga) to conduct a physical,
operational, and financial feasibility study for this extension;
(5)request the Greater Toronto Airports Authority to consider technologies for the internal
airport transit system which would be capable of being extended into the CN Weston rail
corridor for a transfer-free connection to Union Station;
(6)request the Province and GO Transit to ensure that the upgrading of the CN Weston rail
corridor for all-day GO service to the airport is a high priority for GO Rail expansion;
(7)request the Greater Toronto Airports Authority to continue to plan for an internal airport
transit system in a manner which serves passenger convenience, and to be prepared to build
the transit system in conjunction with the upgraded GO rail service, or prior to, if demand
warrants;
(8)request the Mayor and the Chair of the Urban Environment and Development Committee
to meet with the Federal Minister of Transport to discuss Federal support for the feasibility
study and for the early implementation of the rapid transit connection; and
(9)direct the City Clerk to distribute copies of this report to Transport Canada, the Ministry
of Transportation, GO Transit, the Region of Peel, the City of Mississauga, the City of
Brampton, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Toronto Olympic Bid Corporation,
the Toronto Board of Trade, and Tourism Toronto.
Background:
On July 30, 1997, the former Metropolitan Council requested the Acting Commissioner of
Planning, in consultation with the Chief General Manager of the Toronto Transit
Commission, to submit a report to the Task Force on Downtown Rapid Transit Access to
Pearson Airport on:
(a)the Official Plan Amendment required to protect public transit access to Lester B.
Pearson International Airport;
(b)the design of the new terminal in relation to its availability to accommodate public
transit including rail:
(c)implementation options for rail and subway;
(d)interim rapid transit arrangements for access to Lester B. Pearson International Airport,
e.g.,enhanced bus service; and
(e)negotiating arrangements with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for cost-sharing of
rapid and public transit access to Lester B. Pearson International Airport, similar to the
arrangements being made with the Provincial Government for improvements to road access
to the Airport.
The Task Force on Downtown Rapid Transit to Pearson Airport was not reconstituted by the
new City Council. Over the past year both the Provincial and Federal Governments have
completed studies which specifically address a rapid transit connection to Pearson Airport.
City staff have also been directed by Council to negotiate with the Greater Toronto Airports
Authority (GTAA) on an accord on matters of mutual interest regarding Pearson Airport; the
rapid transit connection is one of the issues to be addressed in the accord.
This report summarizes the findings of the recent studies, responds to the issues raised by
the former Metro Council, and provides staff recommendations to pursue this initiative
through the accord negotiations and through more detailed feasibility analysis.
Discussion:
Over the past several years Planning staff have been involved in transportation studies of the
airport area and have responded to the directions and requests of the former Metro Council
regarding support for a rapid transit connection between Pearson Airport and Union Station.
The Metropolitan Toronto Official Plan shows a connection between the CN Weston rail
corridor and the airport. Planning for the connection has become more prominent with the
GTAA beginning its plans for the redevelopment of Pearson Airport.
The GTAA's plans for the redevelopment of Pearson Airport include both airside and
groundside improvements to be made over the next ten years which will increase passenger
capacity to meet projected demands from the existing 28 million to 50 million. Improved
access to the airport is essential to accommodate these new demands. The principal
component of the plans is the development of a new terminal to replace Terminals 1 and 2.
Highway access to the new terminal will be via Highway 409 and will require extensive
improvements to Highway 427 and Highway 409 including widenings and modifications to
the Highways 409 and 427 interchange. A new cargo facility on the west side of the airport
will be provided with a new interchange with Highway 401 for cargo traffic only as well as
new access routes to the surrounding road system. The airport redevelopment plan includes
an internal airport transit system to provide access between parking areas and various points
within the new terminal, but the GTAA is not committed to build the airport transit system
until it is warranted by demand.
The Georgetown GO commuter rail service (peak periods only) and VIA Rail service (to
Sarnia) are currently provided in the CN Weston rail corridor which runs north-westerly
from Union Station and passes within 1.5 kilometres of the airport property. The upgrading
of the Weston rail corridor has been proposed by GO Transit to accommodate all-day
commuter rail service to the high growth areas of Brampton and Georgetown. The cost of
upgrading the entire corridor to Georgetown was estimated at $238 million (in 1994). The
cost to provide all-day frequent service, every 15 minutes, as far as Pearson Airport, has not
yet been determined. The Weston rail corridor was also identified as a possible routing for
high-speed rail between Toronto, London and Windsor.
Union Station may be redeveloped to include remote terminal facilities for Pearson Airport
and the Toronto City Centre Airport. The addition of the airport facilities would further
enhance UnionStation as an intermodal transportation terminal.
The redevelopment of Pearson Airport, the proximity of the Weston rail corridor, the
proposed upgrading of the Georgetown GO rail service and the possible redevelopment of
Union Station present a unique opportunity to connect Pearson Airport to the regional rapid
transit network and particularly to Union Station. Such a connection would be a valuable
asset for the City's tourism and convention business and for hosting the 2008 Olympics.
Recent Studies:
In response to a request from the former Metropolitan Council, the Ministry of
Transportation identified a corridor from the Weston subdivision to Pearson Airport to
accommodate a rapid transit connection between the airport and downtown Toronto. The
draft report recommends a new Woodbine GO Station between Highway 427 and Highway
27 adjacent to Woodbine Racetrack and a corridor for rapid transit from the new station,
along the west side of Highway 427 and the north side of Highway 409 to connect with the
airport property east of Airport Road (see Figure 1). The preferred corridor is entirely within
the City of Mississauga. Given the regional significance of the corridor, the Province,
Transport Canada, the City of Mississauga, the Region of Peel, and the GTAA should use
their powers to protect the corridor.
A 1997 Transport Canada study supported the Provincial study and also recommended that
Transport Canada and the GTAA should protect lands for a station to accommodate a
potential rail/airport transit system interface as well as a corridor from the airport south to
possible future transit facilities on Eglinton Avenue.
Design of the New Terminal:
The GTAA redevelopment plan for Pearson International Airport protects a transit
right-of-way within the access corridor that runs between the parking garage and the
terminal building (Figures2 and 3). The internal airport transit right-of-way extends to a
station north of the terminal complex which the GTAA intends to be the transfer station with
the regional transit system as shown on Figure 1. The internal airport transit will be
constructed when the need for the service is established. In the interim, bus service will be
provided.
A terminal design which incorporates the internal transit system directly into the terminal
building and as close to the terminal passenger facilities as possible would provide a more
convenient connection for air passengers by reducing walking distances. An internal airport
transit system, built with and integrated into the terminal, would provide the optimum
arrangement for passenger convenience.
Options for Rapid Transit Connections:
The following broad categories summarize the various options for providing a rapid transit
connection between Pearson Airport and Union Station: (Figure 4)
(1)Bring Regional Transit Service into the Airport:
(a) diversion of the Weston rail corridor through the airport to provide direct VIA and GO
station in the airport; and
(b)spur line from the Weston rail corridor to the airport.
(2)Extend Airport Transit System to Connect to the Regional Transit Service:
(a)to upgraded GO and VIA services in the Weston rail corridor; and
(b)to the possible future Eglinton rapid transit line and Mississauga busway.
(3)Provide a New Regional Transit Service from Pearson Airport to Union Station:
(a)extend the airport transit service to Union Station through or adjacent to the Weston rail
corridor;
(b)provide a subway in a separate right-of-way in or adjacent to the Weston rail corridor;
and
(c)provide a busway in a separate right-of-way in or adjacent to the Weston rail corridor.
The preliminary estimate for the diversion through the airport (1a) is $1 billion (1994); for
the spur (1b), $300 million (1994). Option 2a, extending the internal airport transit system to
the Weston rail corridor, is estimated at $40 million (1997). All three of these options (1a,
1b, 2a) also require the upgrading of the rail corridor at least to the new station near the
airport. The cost of the connection to the Eglinton line, Option 2b, has not been estimated;
the cost of the Eglinton rapid transit line itself is likely over $1 billion. No estimates are
available for a new transit service, (3a, b, and c), but these options could be $1 billion or
more. Appendix 1 includes more information on the preliminary assessment of options.
Currently, passengers from downtown Toronto account for less than 15 percent of the total
Pearson Airport passengers. It is unlikely that even the most optimistic ten-year forecasts of
transit travel to Pearson Airport would justify the high capital and operating costs of a new
rapid transit infrastructure, such as Options 3a, b, or c. These options would require a
widening of the Weston corridor as well as new tracks or a road, in addition and parallel to
upgraded GO service in the Weston corridor. To ensure that transit service to the airport is
cost-effective, it should be integrated with the regional rapid transit services serving the
growing commuter demands to downtown Toronto and providing access to Pearson Airport
from all parts of the GTA. An airport transit service should be frequent all day while a
commuter line generally focuses on peak period demand. Running both kinds of service on
the same track requires flexibility in the type of vehicle and service provided, i.e.,shorter,
more frequent trains to the airport outside the peak period. Further analysis is required to
determine the operational requirements and costs of such a service. Assuming that GO
service in the Weston rail corridor is upgraded to be compatible with the needs of the airport
passengers, extending the airport transit system to the Weston rail corridor is the most
promising option (2a) which could be operable within the next five to ten years.
The extension of the internal airport transit system to the Weston rail corridor (Option 2a)
could be the first phase of a longer-term extension to Union Station via the Weston rail
corridor (Option 3a) to ultimately provide transfer-free service. If the airport system could
run on the same tracks as the GO rail service, the cost of new infrastructure would be
significantly reduced. This type of mixed service on one set of tracks should be considered
as changes to rail operating requirements are made. In order to protect for a transfer-free
connection to Union Station, the GTAA should focus on technologies for the internal airport
transit system which also have the capability of providing frequent service in the Weston rail
corridor.
A detailed feasibility study is required to determine the operational, physical, and financial
requirements for the extension of the internal airport transit system to the Weston rail
corridor and all-day GO service in the corridor. This study should include preparation of
more detailed ridership projections.
Costs and Cost-Sharing:
The costs to upgrade the corridor to provide all-day frequent service to Pearson Airport, or
to extend the internal airport transit system to Union Station, have not been estimated.
Currently, there is no obvious funding source for either the operating or construction costs of
the connection of the internal airport transit system to the Weston rail corridor. The GTAA
would fund the construction of the internal airport transit system within the airport. Funding
of the Weston rail corridor upgrading for the GO rail service would be the responsibility of
GO Transit, but financial constraints have put the project on hold indefinitely. A funding
source for the link between the airport and the Weston rail corridor has not been identified.
The City is requesting that the Province give the City and other GTA municipalities
authority to establish new sources of funding, such as gas taxes and surcharges on parking
revenues and vehicle licenses. Such revenue could fund or partially fund the connection
between Union Station and Pearson Airport. Private sector parties may be interested in
providing contributions toward the connection particularly owners of lands in the vicinity of
the connection, such as Woodbine Racetrack, who could benefit through increased
development potential. Another possibility is a public-private partnership for a
design/build/operate arrangement. To date these funding options have not been investigated.
A study to determine the business case and financial feasibility of the connection should be
conducted. The potential for cost-sharing with the GTAA is an issue which is being
addressed in the negotiations on an accord between the City and the GTAA on matters of
mutual interest regarding Pearson Airport.
Conclusions:
A rapid transit connection between Pearson International Airport and Union Station will be a
valuable asset to the City, its tourism and convention business, and its bid for the 2008
Olympics. The extension of the internal airport transit system to connect with the Weston
rail corridor and all-day frequent GO rail service is the most cost-effective option for
providing the connection within the next five to ten years. The further extension of the
internal airport transit system through the Weston rail corridor would provide a direct
transfer-free connection to Union Station in the longer-term.
The Pearson Airport redevelopment plan is a unique opportunity to ensure that the rapid
transit connection is integrated into the airport in a manner which is convenient and
attractive to passengers and which will influence travel to the airport to be more reliant on
transit. The new terminal at Pearson International Airport is now being designed and site
preparation work for the redevelopment plan is underway. Transport Canada should take the
lead in conducting a feasibility study, consistent with environmental approval requirements,
to determine the type of technology, operating requirements, capital and operating costs and
funding sources for the connection between the Airport and the Weston rail corridor and the
future extension through the Weston rail corridor to UnionStation. The GTAA should only
consider technologies for the internal airport transit system which can be extended through
the Weston rail corridor to Union Station in the future. GO Transit should conduct a review
of the requirements and costs for upgrading the Weston rail corridor for all-day GO service
to the airport.
Contact Name:
Ms. Anna Pace, Metro Hall, 392-8117, Fax: 392-3821.
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Appendix 1
Options for a Rapid Transit Connection between Pearson Airport and Union Station:
(1)Bringing Regional Rapid Transit to the Airport |
(a)Diversion of the Weston
rail corridor through the
Airport
(b)Spur line from the Weston
rail corridor to the Airport |
-implications for the operation of commuter rail and
intercity rail services
-passengers require a transfer to the airport transit system
-(1)(a) estimated at $1 billion (1994)
-(1)(b) estimated at $300 million (1994)
-requires upgrading of the Weston rail corridor |
(2)Extend the Airport Transit System to Connect to the Regional Transit System |
(a)To the GO and VIA
services in the Weston rail
corridor |
-passengers require a transfer to the airport transit system
-requires upgrading of the Weston rail corridor
-estimated $40 million (1997) |
(b)To the possible future
Eglinton rapid transit line and
Mississauga busway |
-requires construction of Eglinton subway
-access to the airport from more locations within the City
-long travel times and many stops from Union Station
-passengers to and from Union Station require at least two
and possibly three transfers |
(3)Provide a new Regional Transit Service in the Weston Rail Corridor from the Airport to
Union Station |
(a)Extend the Airport transit
service to Union Station
(b)Subway in a separate
right-of-way
(c)Busway in an exclusive
right-of-way |
-could be compatible with Options (2)(a) and (b)
-long-term possibilities
-(3)(a) would be transfer-free for passengers to and from
Union Station
-Option (3)(b) would require a transfer for passengers to
and from Union Station
-(3)(b) possible cost greater than $1 billion |
The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports, for the information of
Council, also having had before it a communication (June 19, 1998) from the GTA Mayors
and Regional Chairs Committee submitting a copy of the following motion which was
adopted by the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs Committee on June 19, 1998:
"Moved by:Mayor Peter Robertson - Brampton
Seconded by:Councillor Doug Holyday - Toronto
THAT the GTA Mayors and Regional Chairs meet with the Federal Minister of Transport to
discuss the Federal Government's participation in funding with public transit, particularly
with GO Transit and the link to the Airport and including UnionStation."
(City Council on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, had before it, during consideration of the
foregoing Clause, a communication (July 21, 1998) from the President and Chief Executive
Officer, Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), clarifying that the GTAA does not levy
a passenger fee at Lester B. Pearson International Airport; advising that the GTAA has
been working to develop revenue generation with cost-savings to delay any imposition of a
passenger facility charge; and stating that in the event that the GTAA does have to impose a
passenger fee, it is committed in its agreements with government and airlines to ensure that
all funds raised through this fee would exclusively fund airport capital projects.)
Respectfully submitted,
COUNCILLOR JOE PANTALONE,
Chair
Toronto, July 13, 1998
Nancy Rickford
Tel. (416) 392-4274