London s Rapid Transit Initiative

April 2017 D RK R E PA HAW S FAN MASONVILLE COMMERCIAL AREA E RD MER DER WIN WESTERN DISCOVERY PARK H LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL UNIV ERSIT KING S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE RD O OXF TT ONN SS HHUURRO E Y AV BTON DR LAM RICH ND MO BRESCIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE WESTERN RD HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FANSHAWE COLLEGE MAIN CAMPUS ST JOSEPH S HOSPITAL HBU E V RY A ND ERLA RD London s Rapid Transit Initiative H ST HIG ST ND WO WESTERN UNIVERSITY IDE APS CHE ST E TUNNEL CHERRYHILL MALL RD O OXF RICHMOND ROW AL NTR ST W CE WESTERN FAIR DISTRICT E QUE REN KING RIVERSID E DR HOR T S TON E ST LAID ADE N TO NG LLI WE E GRAND AV ST OUT RID WHARNCLIFFE RD ST BASE LINE April 7, 2017 ST K ST YOR T CE S DOWNTOWN Frequently Asked s & Answers OLD EAST VILLAGE VE NS A CLA WONDERLAND AND OXFORD COMMERCIAL AREA T S DAS DUN AVE H RD COMMISSIONERS RD H LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE VICTORIA HOSPITAL PARKWOOD INSTITUTE RD SOUTHDALE BRADLE Y AVE HWY WHITE OAKS COMMERCIAL AREA EXETER RD 401

Frequently Asked s (FAQ) What is Rapid Transit?... 2 Study Process... 8 Rapid Transit Corridors...10 Cost Estimate...13 Public Consultation...15 Business Impacts...16 Design and Property Impacts...19 Richmond Street Transit Tunnel...21 Construction Impacts...26 Traffic, Congestion and Parking...26 Operation and Service...28 This document issued April 7, 2017. April 7, 2017 1

What is Rapid Transit? What is Bus Rapid Transit? Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) means a public transit system designed to improve capacity and reliability using roadways or lanes that are dedicated to transit, transit priority at intersections, and other features to reduce loading and unloading time at stations. What is Shift? Shift is a bold and important initiative for transportation for London, which focuses on Rapid Transit being a part of the transportation system along with cars, buses, bikes and pedestrians to help our city grow and prosper. Shift will define where Rapid Transit will go, what it will look like, and how it will be implemented. It is about finding environmentally sustainable ways to move people in London faster and create great places to live and work. Why does London need Shift? Londoners love their cars and will always use them. While it is true that Londoners love their cars, we have heard clearly that Londoners also want choice. That is what Rapid Transit will provide a choice of taking the car or taking Bus Rapid Transit to get to work or to connect with their community. Shift is an important step forward to provide families, consumers and employers the transportation choices that they want. Londoners who wish to remain using their cars will still see benefits from Rapid Transit. Rapid Transit will encourage our City to grow inwards and upwards, meaning less urban sprawl and fewer cars added to busy streets. April 7, 2017 2

I don t use transit currently and I don t think I ll use Rapid Transit. Why is this important to me? Rapid Transit will offer Londoners a new transportation choice that will help shape London's future. Rapid Transit fits with other established plans including the London Plan to support transit-oriented development along the Rapid Transit corridors and create a vibrant street-level experience for pedestrians. Rapid Transit will influence how pedestrians, cyclists, cars and trucks move in all parts of the city. An improved, faster, reliable transit service will attract more transit riders as residential and commercial buildings develop along the corridors. One of the City s goals is to maintain rural natural and agricultural lands, by concentrating future population growth in existing built-up areas. As the city grows inwards and upwards, we need more space-efficient ways to move people. Widening roads is not an effective solution on its own creating a way to move more people with fewer vehicles is also needed. Increasing transit ridership will reduce the impact of population growth, providing a greener choice for the Forest City. Rapid Transit also has environmental benefits such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This supports the City s goal of becoming a greener, more sustainable, healthier city something that is beneficial to everyone. How can Rapid Transit improve communities? Rapid Transit creates great places to live and work by bringing people and places closer together. It will create permanent infrastructure that provides better access and mobility for everyone; support smart, sustainable growth; and provide viable, greener choices for transportation. Rapid Transit reprioritizes the public right-of-way to reflect the number of people moved on transit, with the goal of moving more people rather than more vehicles. Increasing the number of transit riders will create opportunities to reshape our roadways and public spaces including improved cycling connections and more lively pedestrian spaces. April 7, 2017 3

Why can t we just expand or add to the current bus service? If we simply add more regular buses to the road, those buses would still be mixed with regular traffic and experience delays from congestion. Currently it costs LTC $92 per hour in direct expenses to operate a bus, so every minute saved adds up. By providing lanes that are dedicated to transit, Rapid Transit passengers will experience shorter travel times, with more frequent, reliable and comfortable service. Bus Rapid Transit vehicles are larger and modern and can carry more passengers than a regular bus. How is Bus Rapid Transit different from the existing Express Service? The biggest difference is providing dedicated lanes for Rapid Transit vehicles, meaning passengers will have shorter travel times and experience more reliable and comfortable service. However, Rapid Transit also consists of a combination of elements including modern vehicles, state-of-the-art stations, electronic fare collection systems, and smart technologies such as real-time travel information. This combination of elements makes the Rapid Transit system easier to access, quicker to get where you re going, and more enjoyable along the way. Is Bus Rapid Transit just dedicated bus lanes? How fast will the buses travel? ADDED April 7, 2017 Rapid Transit is more than just dedicated lanes. It is a combination of elements including modern vehicles, state-of-theart stations, electronic fare collection systems, and smart technologies such as real-time travel information. This combination of elements makes the Rapid Transit system easier to access and more enjoyable to ride. In London, the proposed Rapid Transit buses will not travel at high speeds. The buses will travel at around the same speed as general traffic, with a maximum cruising speed of the posted speed limit for that street. The rapid part of Rapid Transit in an urban setting comes from two key features: 1) Dedicated lanes which allow transit to by-pass general traffic. Transit won t be waiting in a long line of cars at each intersection. Transit won t have to merge in and out of the curb lane to serve transit passengers; and, 2) Frequent, reliable service that provides freedom to transit passengers, plus re-organized local bus routes. April 7, 2017 4

What will the Bus Rapid Transit vehicles look like? The vehicle fleet specifications have not been defined yet. However, the vehicle cost estimate in the business case was increase to cover the potential purchase of electric buses. The Rapid Transit buses are expected to include: an articulated design so they can hold more passengers, low-floors for improved accessibility, and bike racks to encourage cycling connections. The vehicles will be climate controlled for comfort, and will be modern looking with comfortable seats and large windows. Why spend all this money on transit? Nobody uses public transit. Annual transit ridership in London in 2015 was 22.4 million, compared to 11.9 million in 1996. London currently has more transit riders per capita than comparable urban areas such as Waterloo, Hamilton and Mississauga, which are already implementing Rapid Transit. One of the London s goals is to maintain rural natural and agricultural lands, by concentrating future population growth in existing built-up areas. As the city grows inwards and upwards, we need more space-efficient ways to move people. Widening roads is not an effective solution on its own creating a way to move more people with fewer vehicles is also needed. Shift isn t just about improving public transit, it is also about sustainable growth, economic development, and community building objectives that benefit all Londoners. April 7, 2017 5

What are the major impacts of Rapid Transit? There are positive outcomes for all transportation modes. Transit users will experience shorter waiting times and travel times, and more reliable service. Car users will have less congestion on already busy streets. Cyclists will have better access to transit. Pedestrians will enjoy more vibrant and lively spaces along the corridors and around stations. Finally, Rapid Transit will bring about environmental benefits such as air quality improvements and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions something that is beneficial to everyone. The combined investments of $560 million from all governments will lead to over $1.1 billion in short and long-term economic growth for London. Shift will create over 5,500 person-years in direct employment and will support employment across the City, including future forecasts of 43,000 new jobs by 2035. Empirical evidence from other municipalities that have Rapid Transit proves that there will be greater opportunity for businesses with increased pedestrian activity and net positive land value uplift in commercial areas around Rapid Transit stations and corridors. There are trade-offs for these benefits. There will be changes to accesses, on-street parking and loading in some areas. The overall goal is to minimize the impacts of these changes. Where median Rapid Transit lanes are proposed, some driveways and streets will be converted to right-in, right-out and movements will be made at adjacent signalized intersections. This type of operation is similar to many other rapid transit corridors in North America. Like all transportation infrastructure projects, there are will be short-term impacts through the construction phase. The City is planning additional meetings with key stakeholders across the preferred corridors to identify and develop solutions to mitigate the short-term impacts that construction may have in their neighbourhoods and on their businesses. April 7, 2017 6

Why disrupt the City with RT for the student population when they are gone for 4 months. ADDED April 7, 2017 Western and Fanshawe students make up one of the largest percentages of transit ridership. Every Western University and Fanshawe College student pays for a bus pass regardless of whether they use it or not. University and college students also contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy every year. The 2016 customer service survey of LTC riders found that the majority (40 per cent) are between the ages of 18 and 24. The gender split between riders is 57 per cent female and 43 per cent male. April 7, 2017 7

Study Process What has occurred so far for Shift? Shift is following the Master Plan process a public process that provides all citizens with an opportunity to have input in planning and designing our rapid transit network. The first stage of Shift was completed in Fall 2015. This stage assessed the need for rapid transit; the problems that rapid transit can help solve such as congestion, longer travel times, and the high cost of driving. Corridors that would be suitable for rapid transit and how streets can be designed to improve mobility for everyone no matter how they travel; and, the form of rapid transit, including vehicle type (bus, rail or a hybrid), the alignment and technologies. The second stage of Shift was completed in May 2016 with Council s adoption of the business case, which included preliminary rapid transit corridors and a plan to build the rapid transit network including how it will be funded. We are now nearing completion of the Rapid Transit Master Plan, pending approval by City Council. We Are Here April 7, 2017 8

How can we show support for Rapid Transit? Please consider writing a letter of support to Council. Contact information is available for all Councillors here: https://www.london.ca/city-hall/city-council/documents/council- Contact-List.pdf I have questions about my property or business, who can I talk to? If you have specific questions, please contact the project team by emailing to shift@london.ca call us at 519-661-2500, or contact Edward Soldo, Director of Roads and Transportation, City of London, P.O. Box 5035, London, ON N6A 4L9. How can we receive project updates and find out new developments in the study? You can sign-up for the project email list by emailing shift@london.ca or by using the following link: http://www.shiftlondon.ca/get_involved You can also stay up-to-date by using the following social media: Website - www.shiftlondon.ca Twitter - @shiftldnont Facebook facebook.com/shiftldnont Instagram - @shiftldnont Why is the Rapid Transit Master Plan taking so long to complete? Recommended corridors were presented to Council in May 2016 with the Business Case. Since that time, the corridors have been refined based on feedback from the public, businesses, and stakeholders. For example, the change in Old East Village to two-way Rapid Transit on King Street between Waterloo Street and Ontario Street. The corridors presented during the Rapid Transit Master Plan Public Information Centre #4 represent the preferred corridors for Council consideration. Getting feedback through public events and stakeholder meetings is part of the process and takes time. This is a generational investment for the City of London so we want to take the time to get it right. April 7, 2017 9

Rapid Transit Corridors Can the proposed Rapid Transit corridors change? The corridors presented during the Rapid Transit Master Plan Public Information Centre #4 represent the preferred corridors for Council consideration. Once approved, these corridors will be the basis for the next stage of the EA, which includes engineering designs, the detailed environmental assessment and identification of required mitigation measures. Are the preferred corridors really the best ones for Rapid Transit? The Rapid Transit Master Plan developed and evaluated thirteen different corridor segments. The evaluation applied a comprehensive evaluation framework based on five guiding principles: Economic Development and City Building Transportation Capacity and Mobility Community Building and Revitalization Ease of Implementation and Operational Viability Affordability and Fiscal Responsibility Long List of Corridor Segments The corridors presented during the Rapid Transit Master Plan Public Information Centre #4 represent the preferred corridors for Council consideration. These corridors were selected based on having best met the guiding principles. April 7, 2017 10

Why did Alternative 1B change between December 2016 and March 2017? The Rapid Transit Master Plan has examined many combinations of corridors to connect to the north. This included different connections into the downtown along either Oxford Street or Wharncliffe Road/Riverside Drive. The Wharncliffe- Riverside corridor avoids constraints at the Oxford Street/CP underpass, and bridges over the Thames River. The map showing the Wharncliffe-Western alternative (1B) included in the December 2016 presentation included the earlier Oxford connection to the downtown, but was intended show the Three broad routing alternatives to the north as noted in the presentation. In fact, it was a lead in slide to the main point of the presentation which was to present an update on the Western University alternatives. It should be noted that the March 9, 2017 presentation and Technical Briefing presented the final evaluation of north corridor alternatives. These documents show the final 1B alternative along Western Road, Wharncliffe Road, and Riverside corridor. Why does the Rapid Transit go through Western University campus? Western students do not need any more buses. The purpose of Rapid Transit is to improve the efficiency of transit service to and from various locations in London. Postsecondary students represent a large proportion of current transit ridership. The 2016 customer service survey of LTC riders found that more than 90 per cent of LTC customers take transit at least three days per week. The majority (40 per cent) of LTC customers are between the ages of 18 and 24. The gender split between riders is 57 per cent female and 43 per cent male. In addition, the preferred north corridor serves people who work at Western University, University Hospital, King s College, and St. Joseph s hospital. Existing bus routes will be re-organized to connect to Rapid Transit, and balance service to Western with service to other areas. April 7, 2017 11

Why does the Rapid Transit go to Fanshawe College? Fanshawe students do not need any more buses. The purpose of Rapid Transit is to improve the efficiency of transit service to and from various parts of London. Postsecondary students represent a large proportion of current transit ridership. The 2016 customer service survey of LTC riders found that more than 90 per cent of LTC customers take transit at least three days per week. The majority (40 per cent) of LTC customers are between the ages of 18 and 24. The gender split between riders is 57 per cent female and 43 per cent male. In addition, the preferred east corridor serves major employment areas along Highbury Avenue, and will serve future development at the London Psychiatric Hospital Lands. Existing bus routes will be re-organized to connect to Rapid Transit, and balance service to Fanshawe with service to other areas. Why are you shortening the east/west corridor? East London is left out of Rapid Transit. Transit service will continue to serve London as it does today. Existing bus routes will be re-organized to connect to Rapid Transit stations. This work has been started by LTC, and will continue once the Rapid Transit Master Plan is approved by Council. London Transit Commission conducts an annual service plan process, which will be integrated with Rapid Transit. The Full BRT network could be expanded in the future with further study, including extending Rapid Transit service in dedicated lanes along Oxford Street East from Fanshawe College to the London International Airport. April 7, 2017 12

Why was King Street selected? York Street is a better option for Rapid Transit. ADDED April 7, 2017 One key consideration in the recommendation for King Street included maintaining traffic capacity on York Street into and across Downtown. York Street is a major east-west corridor for general traffic to the east and west through Downtown. Converting two lanes to Rapid Transit on this major corridor would have greater impacts to the downtown transportation network than converting one through lane and one parking lane on King Street. Another key consideration is the existing and future transit ridership. Rapid Transit needs to go where people want to be, within a reasonable walking distance. York Street is further from major trip generators in the downtown, which are more prominent along King Street, Dundas Street, and Queens Avenue. Locating the Central Transit Hub on York Street would provide a convenient connection to the inter-regional bus station and train station. However, these are not major transit trip generators compared to other downtown businesses and attractions. Placing Rapid Transit closer to the major trip generators is preferable to attract regular daily transit ridership, as opposed to specialpurpose trips. Cost Estimate How much will Shift cost? Shift is expected to cost $560 million dollars (in 2016 dollars). The cost to London taxpayers is capped at $130 million, the majority of which will be paid by development charges in support of growth. A portion would be from the general tax base. The remaining investments will be requested from provincial and federal government. April 7, 2017 13

Wasn t the project supposed to cost $500 million? $500 million was the original estimate. As part of the due diligence review of the business case, it was suggested that a higher contingency be adopted at this stage. The project s contingency was increased from 40% to 50%. Contingency funds are used to address unforeseen challenges during construction and are only spent if needed. In addition, a smaller increase to the cost estimate was added to cover the potential purchase of electric buses. How is London going to afford the cost of Rapid Transit? While Shift is expected to cost $560 million dollars (in 2016 dollars), the cost to London taxpayers is capped at $130 million, the majority of which will be paid by development charges in support of growth. A portion would be from the general tax base. The 2017 budget has incorporated the City s share in the 10 year budget. The remaining investments have been put forward as a funding request from the provincial and federal government. Don t I have to pay for this anyway through federal and provincial taxes? Londoners are already paying for transit projects through their federal and provincial taxes, just not in London. If provincial funds were allocated on a per-capital basis over the past five years, for example, London could have received $413 million. London s allocation over the last five years was $51 million. How much of the $560 million cost estimate is for the Richmond Street Tunnel? The cost estimate includes $90 to $100 million for the proposed Richmond Street transit tunnel (in 2016 dollars). The current design is conceptual, and additional engineering work is required to refine this cost estimate. Does $560 million cost estimate include the cost of property acquisition along the corridors? Yes, the $560 million cost estimate (in 2016 dollars) includes property acquisition for the preferred Full BRT Network. April 7, 2017 14

Does $560 million cost estimate include the cost of utility relocations along the corridors? Yes, the $560 million cost estimate (in 2016 dollars) includes utility relocations for the preferred Full BRT Network. ADDED April 7, 2017 Public Consultation Has there been public consultation on Shift? Shift has included the largest consultation process the City has ever undertaken, and additional consultation has occurred through The London Plan, Smart Moves, and the City s Strategic Plan. Shift has held meetings with business associations, community associations, and other stakeholders. You can see the list of events so far on our website. Can I see the Business Case? Can I review other technical reports? Please visit the project website to see reports including the Business Case. You can also review material from the Public Information Centres. I have specific questions about Shift and its impacts on my property. What do I do? If you have specific questions, please contact the project team by emailing to shift@london.ca call us at 519-661-2500, or contact Edward Soldo, Director of Roads and Transportation, City of London, P.O. Box 5035, London, ON N6A 4L9. April 7, 2017 15

Are you going to talk to me about access to my property during construction and once rapid transit is operational? The Rapid Transit Master Plan needs to be approved by City Council to confirm the corridors. The next study phase will develop design solutions for traffic, loading zones, parking, accessible parking, and other uses. More detailed meetings are planned throughout 2017 as the next study phase moves forward and the preferred corridors are designed to minimize impacts. This will be part of our ongoing community consultation. Detailed plans have not yet been developed (this will be completed in the next phase of the project) and so impacts on each individual property and access are not yet fully known. The City is committed to ensuring that our consultations take into account the considerations of Londoners. As the next phase of the project commences, this will become an ongoing conversation with impacted property owners. Business Impacts I hear concerns that Shift will be bad for the Downtown. Didn t you talk to businesses? With Shift, the City has undertaken one of the largest consultations in London s history. We are committed to moving forward while also working to ensure the potential short-term impacts on businesses and families are mitigated. The City takes consultation very seriously and will continue to do so as we move to the next phase of the project. Input from residents, businesses, intuitions and others is valued and will always be considered. The City is planning additional meetings with key stakeholders in the Downtown to identify and develop solutions to the short-term impacts that construction may have in their neighbourhoods. April 7, 2017 16

Has the City taken into account the potential impact of lost assessment revenue should businesses in the affected area actually depart/relocate/wind down? Empirical evidence from other cities that have a Rapid Transit network has shown that there is greater opportunity for business and net positive land value uplift in commercial areas nearby Rapid Transit stations and corridors. The City is committed to minimizing potential short-term impacts to businesses along the Rapid Transit corridors while construction is taking place. How long will it take to build the Rapid Transit system? At this time, the funding has not been secured so the timeline remains uncertain. It is anticipated that the Full BRT Network would take about 7 or 8 years to construct. This would be done in stages, and timing of construction on other roads will be considered when planning the rapid transit construction. Other roads with planned construction include Western Road, Dundas Street, Wharncliffe Road, Wonderland Road, and the potential Adelaide Street / CP Rail grade separation. April 7, 2017 17

What are the benefits of Bus Rapid Transit to businesses and families? Whether you are a current transit rider or never wish to give up your car, investments in Rapid Transit will benefit you. Here are some potential benefits: Make transit a more attractive choice. Transit trips will be 15 to 30% faster on the Rapid Transit corridors compared to buses in mixed traffic. Create jobs, attract talent and investments. Rapid transit projects are a catalyst for urban regeneration, community building and economic investment. Over 77,000 new residents and 43,000 more jobs will call London home by 2035. Encourage compact and walkable communities. Mixed-use, transit-oriented development will enhance the public realm. Reduce congestion on streets. By 2030, 25% more cars are expected to be on London roadways. Bus Rapid Transit can move more people more efficiently, comfortably and reliably. Increase land values. When looking at similar cities undertaking Rapid Transit in Canada, the U.S. and Australia, Rapid Transit is proven to increase land values. Increase activity in business areas. Pedestrian activity will increase around transit villages, Rapid Transit stations and downtown. Reduce emissions and create a greener London. Shifting to Rapid Transit will help to eliminate nearly 260,000 tonnes of GHGs in the coming decades. Reducing the per trip greenhouse gas emissions will improve air quality across the city. Increase the carrying capacity of our roadways overall. A rapid transit lane can carry three to eight times as many people as a general purpose vehicle lane. Save households income. Families can save $7,500 per year for each extra vehicle they don t need to own. April 7, 2017 18

Are there any previously approved multi-residential projects that will alter their plans to build as a result of the current SHIFT routing scheme? The City is unaware of any previously approved projects that will alter their plans to build as a result of the preferred Rapid Transit corridors. Moving forward, the City anticipates that some developers may wish to alter their proposals to take advantage of the benefits of Rapid Transit. What type of compensation will be provided to affected businesses? ADDED April 7, 2017 There are a number of things that the City can do to assist businesses which will be impacted by construction one example is the implementation of a Community Improvement Plans (CIP). These plans are significant tools to help neighbourhoods address many of the challenges they face and to provide financing assistance for activities that help restore or enhance neighbourhoods. Design and Property Impacts What are the proposed solutions for the Focus Areas identified at Public Information Centre #4? The focus areas will be reviewed in detail during the next phase of the study, which will evaluate design solutions in an effort to minimize impacts. Is there room to fit the proposed Rapid Transit dedicated lanes and stations? Yes, most of the preferred Full BRT network fits within existing road rights-of-way. Localized widening is generally required at station locations and intersections. Roads that may need to be widened for rapid transit include: Wellington Road south of the Thames River, Oxford Street west of Wharncliffe Road, and Western Road north of Windermere Road. The design will be developed in the next study phase to minimize impacts. April 7, 2017 19

What is the narrow strip between the BRT lanes? Can it be removed to make the street narrower? What is the surface material on the Rapid Transit lanes? ADDED April 7, 2017 What happens at the Wellington curve when there is currently barely enough room for four lanes? For most of the Rapid Transit network, the dedicated transit lanes will be separated from general traffic by a raised curb. This separation is required to provide safe and efficient transit operations. In some areas, the raised curb will be between the transit lanes. Note that the conceptual designs presented at Public Information Centre #4 are not final, and alternative designs will be developed to minimize impacts in the next study phase. For some segments, such as King Street through the downtown, rapid transit lanes cannot be separated by a curb due to space limitation and also to provide access to parking lots and garages. In these cases, it is expected that the lanes will be clearly designated using paint and lane markings. The exact pavement design has not been defined at this point. The City is considering different surface materials, such as the red asphalt used in York Region for VIVA bus rapid transit (e.g., Davis Drive near Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket). The Rapid Transit project proposes improvements to the horizontal alignment of Wellington Road curve, between Grand Avenue and Whetter Avenue, in addition to widening for dedicated transit lanes. The design will be developed in the next study phase with efforts placed on minimizing impacts, including: Property impacts such as land acquisition, reduced driveways, parking, trees; and, Traffic impacts such as changes to lane configurations, restricted turning movements. Why do we need to change driveways along the Rapid Transit corridors to right-in, right-out? Along most of the Rapid Transit corridors, dedicated lanes will be provided in the middle of the road to be used by transit. To provide safe and efficient transit operations, unsignalized intersections and driveways will become right-in/right-out only to reduce conflicts between transit and turning vehicles. This is a typical approach used for many BRT systems in North America. April 7, 2017 20

Richmond Street Transit Tunnel Why do we need the Richmond Street transit tunnel? ADDED April 7, 2017 The purpose of the tunnel is to provide a grade separation between the RT lanes and the CPR tracks. The tunnel will provide reliability of transit service and eliminate the potential for delay due to conflicts with rail. The tunnel will also: Provide some relief to the congestion at the restricted and heavily travelled intersection at Richmond and Oxford Street by diverting north-south transit underground; Provide access to emergency service vehicles improving response times and security of service through the corridor; Maintain a minimum of four lanes of traffic on Richmond Street south of Grosvenor Street with potential for future streetscape enhancements. April 7, 2017 21

Why do we need to separate Rapid Transit from the CPR tracks? The existing at-grade CP Rail crossing on Richmond Street is a significant constraint to traffic and transit operations. Freight trains cross 10 to 12 times a day, and each train requires all traffic to stop for up to 12 minutes. With the proposed 5-minute service on this Rapid Transit corridor to serve forecasted demand, every time a freight train crosses Richmond Street, there would be system-wide effects on the transit system. As a transit only tunnel, the proposed Richmond Street tunnel offers many advantages to transit, including schedule reliability, a by-pass to traffic and the rail crossing, and easy transfers to surface bus stops from the underground Rapid Transit station at Oxford Street. These benefits will help to attract transit riders to Rapid Transit. Emergency vehicles and local buses will also be allowed to use the transit tunnel. Allowing general traffic to use the tunnel would reduce the advantages to transit, and result in conflicts and safety concerns at the Oxford Street underground Rapid Transit station. How much will the Richmond Street Tunnel cost? The cost estimate includes $90 to $100 million for the proposed Richmond Street transit tunnel (in 2016 dollars). The current design is conceptual, and additional engineering work is required to refine this cost estimate. How long will it take to build the Richmond Street tunnel? Tunnel construction methods and duration varies. From start to finish it could be two to three years of construction. The construction will be sequenced so that disruptions will not occur along the entire length of Richmond Row at the same time. At this time, we expect the tunnel will be built using a cut-andcover or top-down construction method and will be completed in stages. This means that sections of Richmond Street will be excavated and then covered, such that cars, pedestrians, and buses, can still use the street while construction continues below the surface. April 7, 2017 22

Why is the Richmond Street tunnel only for transit? Several options were considered in the early project stages in regards to providing tunnel access to both Rapid Transit and regular vehicles. However, given that many of the buildings on Richmond Row have basements located right against the road right-of-way, it is not physically possible within the available 20-22 metres to construct a four-lane tunnel, while also leaving enough space for utilities and structural walls. As a transit only tunnel, the proposed Richmond Street tunnel offers many advantages to transit, including schedule reliability, a by-pass to traffic and the rail crossing, and easy transfers to surface bus stops from the underground Rapid Transit station at Oxford Street. These benefits will help to attract transit riders to Rapid Transit. Emergency vehicles and local buses will also be allowed to use the transit tunnel. Allowing general traffic to use the tunnel would reduce the advantages to transit, and result in conflicts and safety concerns at the Oxford Street underground Rapid Transit station. Why can t the CN and CP rail lines be relocated elsewhere in the city, or to outside of London entirely? Re-routing CN and CP rail lines has been considered and discussed with the railway companies. It would be extremely costly, including: property acquisition, the cost to construct rail lines, yards, spurs, and new grade separations of roads and rivers. Re-routing the rail lines would also require approval from surrounding municipalities and the provincial and federal governments. The City has no jurisdiction over railway companies in terms of restricting train frequency, length or timeof-day scheduling. April 7, 2017 23

How will the tunnel be built? ADDED April 7, 2017 It is important to note that the design is preliminary and there are different construction methodologies that could be applied. Different construction methods have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, duration, noise, and complexity. At this time, we expect the tunnel will be built using a cut-andcover or top-down construction method and will be completed in stages. This means that sections of Richmond Street will be excavated and then covered, such that cars, pedestrians, and buses, can still use the street while construction continues below the surface. The tunnel would be completed in sections. Side support walls are drilled down and capping beams put in place at or near ground level. This allows for the reinstatement of surface features such as roadways, sidewalks etc. while the excavation of the tunnel takes place under the permanent tunnel roof. April 7, 2017 24

April 7, 2017 25

Construction Impacts How will you manage construction noise along the Rapid Transit corridors? ADDED April 7, 2017 During construction, contractors will be required to follow provincial guidelines which place specific restrictions on source equipment sound levels. City by-laws also place restrictions on the hours of operation for construction activities. A protocol will be developed before construction begins to address noise and vibration complaints, similar to the City s standard practice for construction projects. The construction will cause a decrease in foot traffic in the downtown for businesses. ADDED April 7, 2017 Roads under construction will be closed from time-to-time to through traffic; however, local access for emergency services, businesses and residences will be maintained, including pedestrian access. Detour signs alerting drivers, cyclists and pedestrians of the construction area will be provided during construction, and wayfinding signs will be added to help guide visitors, delivery trucks and customers, to businesses and key destinations. Traffic, Congestion and Parking Shouldn t we spend more money on roads instead of transit? Our streets are already busy. One of London s goals is to maintain rural natural and agricultural lands, by concentrating future population growth in existing built-up areas. As the city grows inwards and upwards, we need more space-efficient ways to move people. Widening roads is not an effective solution on its own creating a way to move more people with fewer vehicles is also needed. We cannot continue to widen roads to accommodate single occupant vehicle travel as the preferred mode, particularly in the Downtown. One bus can replace dozens of cars, and so Rapid Transit can move more people much more efficiently. This project supports growth across the city and in high traffic areas such as Downtown London. April 7, 2017 26

How is removing two lanes from Richmond Street going to improve traffic congestion? Richmond Street between Grosvenor Street and University Drive is one of the focus areas identified for the next study phase. A decision needs to be made on whether this stretch of Richmond Street will have 2 lanes or 4 lanes for general traffic. The decision will consider impacts of the two options, including: 4 lanes will require road widening and result in property impacts, reductions to driveways and parking, and the removal of some trees. 2 lanes will result in increased congestion for general traffic, and require a shift in travel patterns. Other parallel roads are already planned for improvements to accommodate future north-south traffic. These include: Widening Western Road https://www.london.ca/residents/environment/eas/pages/west ern-road-widenining-environmental-assesmnet.aspx Grade separating Adelaide Street from the CP Rail crossing https://www.london.ca/residents/environment/eas/pages/adela ide-street-and-canadian-pacific-railway-grade-separation-.aspx Doesn t Shift mean we will lose parking spots on the streets? There will be impacts to on-street parking in some locations. A recent parking utilization study indicates there is capacity to absorb the parking that will be impacted by Rapid Transit. In addition, solutions to provide additional parking in Downtown London as required for growth are being developed through the Downtown Parking Strategy. One bus can replace dozens of cars, and Rapid Transit will bring more people to the downtown than single occupancy vehicles can. Fewer cars in the Downtown means less of a need for on-street parking. What is the plan for park and ride? Currently, one park-and-ride facility is being considered at the south terminus of the Wellington Road corridor. For the north, east, and west terminals, the integration of local transit will provide connections to Rapid Transit stations, and park-and-ride facilities are not planned at this time. April 7, 2017 27

Operation and Service How do we know there is enough demand to make the service work? Ridership projections have been completed by experienced and reputable transit planners and are consistent with the requirements of the provincial business case. In general, higher order Rapid Transit systems are more attractive (as compared to regular bus systems) to people who have a choice between a personal automobile and transit. What time savings could practically be achieved by dedicated lanes versus buses in mixed traffic? Approximate travel time savings for Rapid Transit vehicles operating on dedicated lanes (compared to buses travelling in mixed traffic) from Downtown London during peak travel periods are as follows: To Masonville Mall 6.5 minutes To Fanshawe College 4.5 minutes To White Oaks Mall 3.5 minutes To Wonderland/Oxford 3.5 minutes Does Shift mean other transit services won t be important? Rapid Transit does not replace the current LTC bus system. In fact, strengthening local transit service to work together with Rapid Transit is an important part of the proposed plan. Existing bus routes will be integrated to provide connections to Rapid Transit stations. This will help improve transit throughout the entire City not just along the Rapid Transit corridors. What about Paratransit? LTC s specialized transit services will continue during and after the implementation of Rapid Transit. In addition, Rapid Transit vehicles will be accessible, and station areas and platforms will be designed and built to meet accessibility standards. Is the autonomous future driverless buses and cars (and car sharing) being considered in the Rapid Transit plan? In the future, autonomous and connected vehicles (CAVs) will provide several benefits to the transportation network in London, including safety and operational efficiencies. However, CAVs will not have the person carrying capacity to replace Rapid Transit. The City will remain adaptive to ensure CAVs can be integrated into a complete and multi-modal transportation system, with Rapid Transit as its backbone. April 7, 2017 28

What will the Rapid Transit stations look like? A typical Rapid Transit station has two platforms; a separate platform for each direction. Stations will be located at signalized intersections to provide controlled pedestrian access. In general, far-side platform placement at signalized intersections provides the most space-efficient design. This configuration places the platform opposite the dedicated left-turn lane. April 7, 2017 29