City
The St. Clair LRT
The sign at the corner of St. Clair and Bathurst originally said that the roadworks tearing up St. Clair from Vaughan till Oakwood would be completed last fall. Someone tried to cover up the year with gaffer tape, but the point has been made - no one is willing to hazard a guess as to just when the construction of the LRT line will be completed, never mind the road works and water mains improvements the city is undertaking at the same time.
Few projects have inspired more anger and division than the St. Clair LRT, especially now that further rapid transit lines are planned for Eglinton, Finch West and Scarborough, as part of the Transit City master plan. Construction on St. Clair began four years ago, and the completion date has been bumped up twice, though the earliest anyone is willing to hazard a guess at a completion date is next year, but not for the whole line, never mind a projected extension west to Jane Street.
If you want some idea of what it'll look like, the finished line between St. Clair and St. Clair West subway stations is a serene ride, with streetcars gliding on their right-of-way past fine homes and condo construction sites. This stretch of St. Clair is mostly residential, however, and building it wasn't nearly as painful as construction on the long blocks of stores and businesses from Bathurst to Keele. Groups like Save Our St. Clair joined local councillors such as Cesar Palacio in opposing the project, though despite lawsuits and a halt work order in 2005, it went ahead, and St. Clair West has been a traffic nightmare since then, and though they haven't been able to stop construction, local merchants announced this week that they're considering a class action suit against the city to recoup lost income.
The streetcar stop at Bathurst is already looking run down, before a single streetcar has had a chance to use it - the steel wires on the barrier have already been broken, and either sag between their uprights or wrap around them. They were a nice design feature - like the waist-height "bum shelves" built into the stops - but you can't help but wonder how much thought went into their maintenance.
The city has decided to improve road works along the line, with the result that shuttle buses and traffic weave in and out of the LRT right of way along the line until Oakwood, where the right of way is currently a wide gash in the middle of the street. It's always startling to see a busy stretch of city street torn up right down to the earth beneath; you can't help but remember the dirt road that preceded it, or imagine the channel as a riverbed, a fantasy helped by the crude wooden bridge stretching across the hole at Glenholme Avenue - impractical as it might be, I think we all dream of living in Venice.
As predicted, construction has been hell on the street's businesses, and it's hard not to notice the empty storefronts, like La Perla Draperies east of Oakwood, which I remember as a fixture from my daily commutes along St. Clair to high school, over 25 years ago. It's also had the effect of freezing stretches of the street in mid-transition, where the soccer cafes and macellerias coexist with the first wave of a future St. Clair - restaurants like The Rushton and Boom Breakfast, The Cupcakery, Pain Perdu and Boubah's Pet Store, "Specializing in Holistic Pet Supplies."
The building site ends at Dufferin, where another completed phase of the LRT sits empty, and it's possible to walk for blocks down the centre of the Corso Italia without worrying about traffic. It's a unique experience, and I'd recommend you try it before the streetcars take it over again - though from all appearances, there's probably no rush. The finished right-of-way ends again just before Caledonia, where the tracks abruptly stop, then start again a few feet away, but mysteriously off centre. Road crews are already starting to tear up the street, and the businesses lining the street up till Old Weston Road are preparing for the worst.
Across from the big box stores on the old stockyard lands by Gunn's Loop, there are rows of new streetcar rails piled up, waiting for the jackhammers and diggers to start work. Back by Oakwood, a construction worker said that they'd have their stretch of track finished by November, but he couldn't say anything about the rest of the line.
Finally, a dig through the City of Toronto Archives for some context unearths a photo of St. Clair and Dufferin in the last year before the 1929 Stock Market Crash, and reveals the street with a dedicated streetcar right-of-way, photographed by the city just before...
...it was torn up, a project that took at least three years, judging by the evidence in the archives, merging the streetcar line with the street. It's familiar, and more than a bit ironic, of course, since, for all the talk of speeding - painfully - into the light rail future, it just seems that we're taking an all-stops trip into the past.
Archival photos of St. Clair courtesy City of Toronto Archives.
Discussion
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Everyone needs to remember that this infrastructure project includes water-main upgrades, curbs, and roads in addition to the streetcar ROW. Merchants and residents will benefit from this for decades to come. I always avoided driving along St. Clair due to the vagaries of on-street parking, pot-holes and dodging streetcars but now it might even become a destination point if I can get there by transit in comfort, if there is a merchant who attracts my business.
FOR THE HORDE!!!
This serves as a reminder that LRT only LOOKS cheaper than subway construction. Subways create much more benefit in terms of speed, comfort, predictability, and increased density. LRTs just offload the costs of construction onto the neighbours and present a perpetual drain thanks to decreased traffic capacity, accessibility, and resilience of the street.
(Everyone needs to remember) that this project is ludicrously out of hand. I moved to the aforementioned current disaster zone (St. Clair & Oakwood) because of the ... still forthcoming ... right-of-way.
Initially the loops (Robina, Earlscourt, Weston) were to be removed, but due to the insane amount of time that this project is taking, two of the three loops (Robina, at Oakwood and Earlscourt, at Lansdowne) will be reinstated (Robina is already fully rebuilt) so that (theoretically) streetcars can run as more than an 8 minute, 10 vehicle shuttle between St. Clair and St. Clair West Station.
The water-main, sewers, curbs and roads, and hydro utilities reallocation were intended to be a necessary part of this construction. Too bad no one told the TTC/Hydro One/City of Toronto Works department, that they ought to LIAISE (come together) on their scheduling so that the road/trackage/sidewalks can be ripped up while the watermain is relocated, the sewers are realigned, the sidewalk is replaced and the road is reinstalled while the Right-of-Way is being built.
Once again, a coherent and sensible method is FAR TOO MUCH TO ASK from this city.
Imagine a city where staged construction projects start on time, with everyone "friends" on board. No muscle, no jostle, no politics.
The line closes, opens to Bathurst, opens to Oakwood, opens to Lansdowne and then!!! opens to Gunn's Loop.
Year FOUR of a one-year project continues ...
I think they did a crappy job in the planning and roll-out. That said, St Clair does not merit a subway. The numbers just aren't there. Especially with one at Bloor and a planned underground something on Eglinton between Keele and Leslie. Saying otherwise is just silly.
Some drivers may have avoided St Clair for various reasons, but more did not. It was one of the only roads south of the 401 that was 6 lanes west of Yonge for most of the trip. It was and to some degree will remain the Midtown highway.
Frankly, I am suspicious of those who say that they might come and shop in the area due to the improvement in transit. I doubt they shop at Kipling, Donlands, Vic Park or Lansdowne much. The benefits of the ROW is for those who live in the area, especially those who commute using transit. It also makes the planned densification along St Clair an eaiser pill to swallow. Those are the people that will support the local stores in the future. That's who the store owners in Corso Italia have to think about.
True, I do not live in the area, and it is really the local residents and commuters who will benefit most from the new ROW and so on. The point I wanted to make is that this project must be done, and will be a huge benefit to the community. I agree that the execution has a lot to be desired, and perhaps when the city does this somewhere like Broadview near my home, the process will be better.
Considering that I'm moving to this neighbourhood soon I'm anxiously awaiting streetcar availability. Glad to see the links to those restaurants. Despite negative comments about The Rushton in BlogTO's profile I'll have to check it out.
I'm surprised you didn't add a picture of the sidewalk being torn up from Wychwood to Rushton, with the trucks blocking the only place on the north side of the street to walk (i.e. the RoW). I got pushed into traffic last night walking over there. Good times, let me tell ya.
However, this pain will be worth the gain. It should encourage more people to hop on the streetcar vs. using cars.
People don't go to Kipling or Donlands to shop much because there's nothing interesting there. St Clair W (like Danforth or College) has the potential to be a draw for people from outside the area... if it's easy enough to get to. I think businesses that survive the prolonged construction will ultimately benefit, especially restaurants and the like.
@Reality Check - except subways require tunnels, stations, elevators - none of which are cheap.
That said, the St. Clair "LRT" should have been Transit City Line 1 - with new streetcars, new overhead wire (pantograph compatible), double end cars (no requirement for loops, just crossovers and traffic signal priority. A yard built in Weston between St. Clair and Eglinton could then have been the jump off point for the Eglinton West LRT.
Instead St. Clair gets the worse of all worlds, a newly rebuilt line with old technology.
Mark, I think you are dead-on with your comments, except I'd say that St. Clair is much improved by this. But an opportunity was missed, although the political will and public support isn't there yet for what you propose. Maybe the next line to get the treatment will be what you envision.
By the way, have you read "Carefree Cities" by JH Crawford?
I never quite understand what takes these projects so long to complete? Sure we have a short-ish season for construction but we have really between April to November - that is 8 months. It took just 13 months, over 1930-1931 (using 1930’s technology) to complete the empire state building. It was the tallest building in the world until 1972! I can’t fathom why is takes 3 years to lay some tracks and fix some pipes. It is complex work sure. But this really is unreasonable. If I lived on St. Claire I would demand the city give me a full accounting of the project, it’s timescales and if it has failed or met those metrics. Putting some duct tape over the completion date is insulting and flies in the face of accountable government.
Tear up the tracks and put bike lanes there instead. Joking aside, many businesses are hurting because of this mess. City hall should give them huge tax credits for this. Don't you agree mayor miller? Hello?
The St. Clair ROW is the reason that I bought a house in Corso Italia early last year.
Having access to transit and being reasonably close to downtown were key factors in deciding to buy here. Not to mention that this area is affordable and has a great neighbourhood feel with fantastic food.
I can understand the pain of those who have been living here for the whole duration of the construction but I think that once it's complete it will make the area more desirable for young urbanites..... and maybe (I almost daren't say it) gentrification?
I've been living in the area, about one block north of St. Clair for about 20 years. Besides the process being complete corrupted, the result, if the completed section from Vaughan to Bathurst is any indication, will be worse for local merchants and local residents. Sidewalks are narrower, and the reduction in available on-street parking has made for nothing but increased traffic tickets in front of the Shoppers, for instance. But, worst of all, is the increase in traffic density along the narrowed roadway, and the streets that feed St. Clair. Because of the lack of objective thinking on the part of "City Staff" and anti-car politicians, the EXACT OPPOSITE of the desired effect is occurring: greater density of traffic, and less safety for pedestrians (I walk most places, so I know whereof I speak).
As for the improvement in transit times, at the time, there were other alternatives proposed that would have been less expensive, easier to implement, and without the massive disruption. But they tended to be lumped into the dismissive "do nothing" category by local councillor Mihevc.
Those who are rabidly pro-transit/anti-car at any cost, who live elsewhere in the city, I can understand your vehemence on this issue. the St. Clair ROW is an iconic hot button issue. Count me with the get-out-of-you-car crew (did I mention that I walk most places in the city). But this process has been a disgrace, and its implementation has been disgusting.
I think you're forgetting the delays caused by the some of the same people on St. Clair who are bemoaning the length of time it has taken to build the LRT. TTC couldn't even start work on some sections simply because the project was in contention with some residents. Once they got clearance, then they could start work... behind schedule.
Subway > Street Car
Street Car = Fail
It looks terrible and it's definitely hurting businesses, but once done it'll be a huge improvement. I've been living in the area two months now and the progress over the last month has been very noticeable. Maybe it's finally being taken more seriously.
It's interesting to note that the Canada Line in Vancouver, a $2 billion transit line that is about 80% underground, has been built, and is open, in about the same time as this project. It was done as a "P3" project, where the contractor was responsible for design, construction, operation and maintenance (and the in-service date), but as to whether this was the right solution, I say look at the evidence. The problems with the St. Clair project stem from the fact that the City and TTC didn't consider all the complexities from the outset, and had no plan to deal with them. P3s can address these complexities, while keeping the asset available as part of the public system. Ontario is building all its new hospitals this way; I hope that (provincial funded) transit will be included in this scope.
It's interesting to note that the Canada Line in Vancouver, a $2 billion transit line that is about 80% underground, has been built, and is open, in about the same time as this project. It was done as a "P3" project, where the contractor was responsible for design, construction, operation and maintenance (and the in-service date), but as to whether this was the right solution, I say look at the evidence. The problems with the St. Clair project stem from the fact that the City and TTC didn't consider all the complexities from the outset, and had no plan to deal with them. P3s can address these complexities, while keeping the asset available as part of the public system. Ontario is building all its new hospitals this way; I hope that (provincial funded) transit will be included in this scope.
Actually the P3 had some problems of their own due to changes in the tunnel design.
If a P3 were working in Toronto on St. Clair, they would still be subject to the same bungling and lack of interagency co-ordination. The only difference would be that they would get to issue a change order for this and the cost would show up with a real dollar figure for changes to scope of work.
There are too many parties to blame for this mess, but it all boils down to each group having its own agenda, and the City failing to read the riot act to them all.
Steve - thanks for your comment. I will say that P3s only work where the public client (in this case the City) has done all its homework and planning in advance. A private consortium won't sign a contract otherwise. My only comment is that P3s force this work to be done, with certainty. They are not a panancea, and won't work in many cases (St Clair might be one), but in cases where we need huge complex projects delivered in reasonable time, they shouldn't be ruled out. Given the massive scope of Transit City, how Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario, the City and TTC will address this, remains to be seen - I will be watching with much interest!
As a semi-regular 512 user, as much as I love the (albeit short) ride between the two St Clair Stations, this planned route pissed off too many people in recent memory for those memories to pass any time soon. And as the tracks are no where near completion, it's a bitter reminder of something many opposed from the start.It doesn't help that the proposed end of the line, Gunn's Loop, is in no man's land. Why the line could not continue to a decent connection is beyond the planners, I guess. As a semi-alternate to the Bloor line on hot, lazy days when you have some time to kill, the street car is a joy, albeit very short-lived and going nowhere.
I hope the "southern" line work in 505/504 land actually gets done according to schedule... [nervous]
I have a better idea; Lets cancel this entire B.S. LRT crap altogether, it is the biggest waste of money I have ever seen in my life. Take a look at St. Clair an absolute disaster! You’ll save 5 min on existing surface bus routes and walk a lot more!
Lets instead build an Eglington subway from Keele to Laird. Extend the Sheppard subway from Yonge to Downsview. Extend Yonge line to Steeles.
They are going to extend the Spadina line anyway to York U. Put 6 lanes on Eglington W. from Keele to 401 and make extra lane diamond for express bus rush hour service, same from Laird to Kennedy on the east route. Yes use Weston rail route for streetcar LRT from Bloor up to Finch Hydro ROW. and use Finch Hydro right of way for north crosstown LRT way from Airport to Zoo. Then you can connect the Scarbrough line from Town centre to this. They can make 6 lane Sheppard from Don Mills with diamond HOV to this line as well. Don Mills rd already has HOV lane! Money spent = about the same, traffic surface disruption = much less. Future capacity = much greater as subways beat out glorified streetcar lines any day and these stupid LRT lines will disrupt surface traffic with this plan permanently causing traffic jams and much more CO2 output as well as lost time!