With several west-end open houses focusing on design for Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown stations now complete, a common theme has emerged centering on the need for better transit in York, said the director of strategic partnerships with the TTC.
"People have been quite supportive of the line," Anna Pace said. "I haven't heard a lot of opposition."
Pace made the comments during the preliminary design open house for Keele station Thursday, Feb. 9 at York Memorial Collegiate Institute.
The open house gave residents an opportunity to learn more about the Metrolinx project, specifically construction timelines, and to provide input into the Keele station design.
Station design must factor in several things, including a main entrance, secondary entrance, elevators and escalators, mechanical and electrical systems, ventilation shafts, ventilation fan rooms, and traction power substations.
Keele station will be made up of one main entrance, two secondary entrances, two vent shafts and one traction substation, all situated in the Eglinton Avenue and Trethewey Drive area.
The main station and one vent shaft will be built at the northeast corner of Eglinton Avenue and Trethewey Drive, eliminating the current EMS station. A secondary entrance will be located at the northwest corner in front of York Memorial Collegiate Institute, which won't affect the building's facade. Another secondary entrance is slated for the southeast corner, wiping out Coffee Time, while leaving room for possible landscape improvements or a new development.
A traction power station will be built just north of the main station, where a car wash currently operates. The site will also include a bus loop.
The second vent shaft will be located at Eglinton Avenue and Yarrow Road. A Subway sandwich shop and several apartments above the small block of retail businesses will be affected.
In all, seven properties will be affected to make way for the line, Pace said.
When asked why vent shafts aren't included in the main entrance, as is the case with other stations, Pace said it came down to available space, adding traction power stations will be built at every second station along the line.
"We need better transit, no doubt about it," resident Aaron Lee said while looking at renderings. "Construction will be tough to deal with, but it will be worth it in the end. Just get people moving."
Barb Maynard likes the idea of rapid transit, but is concerned with how businesses will be affected by construction.
"They could lose big time," she said. "People have to make a real effort to shop locally to keep our community afloat. I know with any big project construction is an issue, but I would hate to see this area suffer."
Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown is a 25-kilometre transit project.
The $8.4-billion project is funded by the province and owned by Metrolinx. The TTC is developing the project on behalf of Metrolinx and will be responsible for project management, planning, design, engineering and community relations. The line will be underground from Black Creek Drive to Kennedy Road and will include as many as 26 stations.
Tunneling construction for Keele station will begin in 2012-13, with station-specific construction scheduled for 2014.
Public open houses for preliminary designs of other stations along the line will be scheduled in coming months.
For information or to comment, visit www.thecrosstown.ca