West Toronto RailPath
Encyclopedia
The West Toronto RailPath is a multi-use asphalt
trail
running from Toronto, Canada's The Junction
neighbourhood toward downtown Toronto. The RailPath has been developed and funded by the City of Toronto for bicycle and pedestrian use by local area residents and is an example of an urban rails-to-trail
project.
Construction of Phase 1 of the path, running from Cariboo Avenue to Dundas Street West
/Sterling Road, was designed by Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. in conjunction with Brown and Storey Architects and began in 2008 and was completed in 2009. The project combines the restoration of historical rail bridges with the installation of new public art pieces by artist John Dickson, all situated within a pallet of indigenous planting. New entrance points at Dupont Street and Bloor Street allow pedestrians to access the trail from street level and utilize the restored rail bridges that cross over the busy streets at these intersections. Unifying rhythms of concrete plazas are located along the entire trail at points where existing neighbourhood streets intersect the trail. These plazas provide strong neighbourhood connections and places for gathering within the surrounding community.
The realization of Phase 2 will potentially be coordinated with planned expansion of rail services along the Georgetown rail line.
Phase 1 is about 2 km, beginning at Cariboo Avenue and running southeast to Dundas Street West
& Sterling Road.
Phase 2 continues a further 2 km from Dundas Street West
& Sterling Road southeast and east to Strachan Avenue & Wellington Street, providing access to the Wellington on-street bicycle lane near the Liberty Village
development.
Continuing the RailPath to Union Station has been discussed, but such an extension is not included in City plans to date.
Organizations involved include the Evergreen Foundation and, although the RailPath is multi-use, notable advocacy by bicycling interests such as Toronto's Community Bicycle Network
.
had acquired the line.
Into the 1960s the portion of the track around Dupont was known as "The Old Bruce". It served several industries, including the Viceroy plant, and the scrapyard.
This land was acquired in July 2003 by the City of Toronto from the St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway
. The purchase agreement demanded the vendor perform some "soil work" (remediation to industrial standards). After acquiring the lands, the City of Toronto needed to terminate a lease that a salvage yard (M&S Waste and Salvage) had for a portion of the land, leased when the land was owned by Canadian Pacific.
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
running from Toronto, Canada's The Junction
The Junction
The Junction is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is near the junction of four railway lines in the area known as the West Toronto Diamond. The neighbourhood was previously an independent city called West Toronto, that was also its own federal electoral district until amalgamating...
neighbourhood toward downtown Toronto. The RailPath has been developed and funded by the City of Toronto for bicycle and pedestrian use by local area residents and is an example of an urban rails-to-trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
project.
Construction of Phase 1 of the path, running from Cariboo Avenue to Dundas Street West
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
/Sterling Road, was designed by Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. in conjunction with Brown and Storey Architects and began in 2008 and was completed in 2009. The project combines the restoration of historical rail bridges with the installation of new public art pieces by artist John Dickson, all situated within a pallet of indigenous planting. New entrance points at Dupont Street and Bloor Street allow pedestrians to access the trail from street level and utilize the restored rail bridges that cross over the busy streets at these intersections. Unifying rhythms of concrete plazas are located along the entire trail at points where existing neighbourhood streets intersect the trail. These plazas provide strong neighbourhood connections and places for gathering within the surrounding community.
The realization of Phase 2 will potentially be coordinated with planned expansion of rail services along the Georgetown rail line.
Location & Phases
In total, the RailPath is proposed to run about 4 km from Cariboo Avenue in The Junction to Strachan Avenue near the downtown core (see map). Like other rail trail projects, the path runs along railway rights-of-way established many years ago that have been narrowed or abandoned.Phase 1 is about 2 km, beginning at Cariboo Avenue and running southeast to Dundas Street West
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
& Sterling Road.
- The contract for Phase 1 construction was awarded in April 2008 at a cost of (CDN) $3.8 million.
- Construction began in 2008 and was completed in summer 2009, with the formal opening held on October 30, 2009
Phase 2 continues a further 2 km from Dundas Street West
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
& Sterling Road southeast and east to Strachan Avenue & Wellington Street, providing access to the Wellington on-street bicycle lane near the Liberty Village
Liberty Village
Liberty Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded at the north by King Street West, the west by Dufferin Street, the south by the Gardiner Expressway, the east by Strachan Avenue, and the northeast by the CP railway tracks...
development.
- The Georgetown South Service Expansion and Air Rail Link projects by Metrolinx could have potential conflicts with Phase 2. Toronto City CouncilToronto City CouncilThe Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
continues to support the RailPath. Metrolinx has indicated that it will work with the RailPath's advocates to try and include the path as part of the Georgetown South expansion plans.
Continuing the RailPath to Union Station has been discussed, but such an extension is not included in City plans to date.
History
The City of Toronto Economic Development and Parks Committee and grassroots community support began for this project before 1990, but the project has necessitated purchase of land and negotiations with rail operators and other stakeholders.Organizations involved include the Evergreen Foundation and, although the RailPath is multi-use, notable advocacy by bicycling interests such as Toronto's Community Bicycle Network
Community Bicycle Network
Started in 1993, the Community Bicycle Network existed to provide a network for bike recycling clubs and other community economic development projects in Toronto...
.
Toronto Grey and Bruce Railway
In 1868, the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway was incorporated to provide rail service connecting Toronto to Southampton and Owen Sound (and points between). Sections of this railway in Toronto ran along the right of way of other existing railways. As this railway was a different (narrow) gauge, a separate set of tracks along the right of way were required. Due to service problems associated with the narrow gauge, the line was eventually converted to standard gauge in 1881. By 1883, the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
had acquired the line.
Into the 1960s the portion of the track around Dupont was known as "The Old Bruce". It served several industries, including the Viceroy plant, and the scrapyard.
Acquisition of land by the City of Toronto
The City of Toronto first authorized purchase of the land for the portion from Cariboo to Dundas (known as the CP LEAD spur) in 1997. Funds ($920,000) were approved in 2000.This land was acquired in July 2003 by the City of Toronto from the St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway
St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway
The St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway.The SL&H arose out of a corporate reorganization at CPR that was announced on November 21, 1995...
. The purchase agreement demanded the vendor perform some "soil work" (remediation to industrial standards). After acquiring the lands, the City of Toronto needed to terminate a lease that a salvage yard (M&S Waste and Salvage) had for a portion of the land, leased when the land was owned by Canadian Pacific.