Metrolinx regional transportation plan review edging forward

NRU
Oct. 19, 2016
Andrew Cohrs

Despite generally positive reactions, some GTA municipalities are flagging concerns about policy gaps and missing pieces of key infrastructure in Metrolinx’s review of its regional transportation plan, known as The Big Move.

Released in August, Metrolinx’s discussion paper explains how the agency will carry out a review of the existing regional transportation plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, with several themes identified for stakeholders’ consideration ahead of a pending update to the plan.

The Region of Durham’s Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Brian Bridgeman told NRU the update is a step in the right direction.

“We support [the review] process...we’ve identifi ed some things that we would like [Metrolinx] to look at but fundamentally we think that the exercise is a good one and a right one.”

Principal planner Lindsay Edwards with the Region of Peel agrees, telling NRU that the review has clarified and refined the goals and objectives of the RTP and that they align with Peel’s council priorities.

“We are really pleased there is more focus on the relationship between land use and transportation...it was really positive to see that Metrolinx had acknowledged the influence that land use and transportation have on one another because we really need to better connect communities with better travel options and ultimately that is the end goal for us.”

However, Edwards notes that the regional transportation plan (RTP) update will need to address and clarify several issues.

“The focus is really on the intensification areas that have already seen the investment and are planning for more growth... now that the growth plan is proposing density minimum of 80 jobs per hectares in greenfi eld areas we will need more clarifi cation for how these areas are going to be serviced with transit.”

Pointing to Peel’s TransHelp program, Edwards says Metrolinx needs to address challenges, particularly on fare integration, faced by Peel and other accessible transit providers. She adds that the movement of goods is another critical component that needs to be acknowledged to ensure the success of transportation networks in Peel.

Edwards says the plan update must recognize “the complexity of goods movement and also its significance to the GTHA economy. We are hoping they will aim to complete [related] outstanding projects.”

Brakeman highlighted new infrastructure that would strengthen Durham’s transportation network, notably the importance of including rapid transit along Simcoe Street as a key piece of their local transit system.

“The importance for Durham, in general, is making sure that the right transportation infrastructure pieces are in the plan and so that they can be prioritized and developed overtime...we identified their ought to be some consideration for the emerging Seaton community...consideration for transportation needs for rural residents...improving local transit systems as a feeder for the regional express rail.”

Both regions have endorsed and submitted reports to Metrolinx ahead of updating their own regional transportation master plans, both set to occur sometime in 2017. Metrolinx will be accepting feedback on the discussion paper until October 31. A draft RTP is scheduled to be released mid-2017.