Item - 2019.EP2.9

The Board of Governors of Exhibition Place:

1.  Requested the Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition Place to:

a.  Work with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) on any meetings or information related to the proposed improvements to the TTC and Light Rail Transit (LRT) at Exhibition Place; and

b.  Report to the Board on the impact of the TTC expansion projects (the Dufferin Bridge construction, the potential extension of the Harbourfront LRT to Dufferin Street, and its future expansion west to connect to the Lakeshore LRT) on the construction of a new parking facility at Exhibition Place, as directed by City Council at its meeting of August 25, 2014 in its decision on Item EX44.3 titled Proposed Basketball Training Centre at Exhibition Place.

2.  Recommended that City Council consider prioritizing the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) projects including TTC Waterfront Light Rail Transit (LRT) expansion project, which will further the success of the Exhibition Place, in the next phase of design and funding for transit expansion.

Cheryl Murray, HDR Inc. gave a presentation on Waterfront Transit Streetcar Connection: Exhibition Loop - Dufferin Gates Loop.

The Exhibition Place LRT loop and the Exhibition GO Station have been an area of congestion for users for quite some time. As the Exhibition Place grounds, Liberty Village, Ontario Place, The Bentway, Fort York neighborhood and other areas continue to grow, the current LRT loop and GO Station configuration will not support the future increased volumes using the TTC and requirements for west bound LRT.

The LRT streetcar track extension west to Dufferin received Environmental Approval in 2008 and the project has received City Council approval as recently as January 2018 as part of the Waterfront Transit Network Plan.

The TTC will attend the Board meeting and will provide a presentation on the proposed improvements/changes.