A potential overpass or underpass where the rail line crosses Edinburgh Road is one of the things that will be looked at in an upcoming city study on the rail corridor between downtown and the Hanlon Expressway.
It’s a parallel study to one currently being done by rail operator Metrolinx, who’s study includes looking at whether it will be necessary in the future to close any of the other four streets in that corridor to through traffic where they intersect with rail lines, as was recently done on Dublin Street.
The Metrolinx work also includes where to place an essential piece of equipment once the rail line is electified. Its plan to put it in Margaret Greene Park has drawn lots of criticism and the city is also against it.
Metrolinx has started its study, the city expects to start its study later this year after a consultant is hired.
The city study is expected to be completed sometime next year.
It’s all part of the province’s move to improve the speed and frequency of rail service in the region, including likely all-day frequent GO Train service at some point.
The city, says Mayor Cam Guthrie, is not sitting idly by as decisions are made.
“There still is a role for the city to make sure we’re doing our part,” said the mayor, adding they will not be left out of the decision-making process.
“The (city) study proves we take this seriously,” Guthrie said.
Both studies include community engagement.
City of Guelph general manager of engineering and transportation services Terry Gayman said an Edinburgh Road overpass/underpass is just one of the things that its study will look at.
“We’re at the very beginning of it and we absolutely will be out engaging with the community once the project is going,” said Gayman. “We’re reviewing the area to understand different kinds of future scenarios.”
The upcoming study will help determine if a major, and expensive, change is needed at the tracks on Edinburgh Road.
Gayman said that if it was determined an underpass/overpass was required, it would be a lengthy process that would be years before it came to fruition. It would have to make its way onto the city’s capital budget forecast, along with many other projects.
“The city would make its own decision on that, based on our own information,” Gayman said, adding it’s too early to say when that final decision would come.
Traffic volume, growth, rail service and possible closure of other roads are all factors that would be part of the equation, Gayman said.
“The study is going to look at transportation movements throughout the entirety of the area.”
“Metrolinx is doing a review of street level rail crossings for their own compliance and safety-related reasons. No decisions have been made beyond Dublin Street at this point and Metrolinx has agreed to collaborate with the city as the review moves forward.
“As they do that they may propose additional closures, the city will certainly be advocating for them to explore all options in keeping our community moving and protecting our community’s interests.”
The main focus of the Metrolinx study will be the four streets in that corridor where the rail line and road meet on the same level.
City CAO Kealy Dedman said that so far Dublin Street is the only one of six at-grade rail crossing locations in the city (there is also one on Watson Road) where the road had to be closed.
“Dublin Street is the only crossing that was non-compliant,” Dedman said. “The current Metrolinx study is determining if additional improvements are required at the remaining level crossings.”
Dedman added that “it is Metrolinx that has the sole responsible authority to ensure compliance for both the road crossings and railway.”
But even the city’s public engagement page on“Metrolinx in Guelph” warns that Metrolinx “may propose additional closures.”
The recent closure of Dublin Street to through traffic and pedestrians has people concerned that other busy streets in the area could also be dead-ended.
There are currently four locations locations in that corridor where the road still crosses the tracks.
“If Metrolinx gets its way in Guelph, Dublin Street, Glasgow Street, Yorkshire Street and Alma Street could all be permanently closed at the tracks,” local activist Susan Watson wrote in a recent letter to the editor, echoing the concerns of others who live in those areas.
“Downtown neighbourhoods will be severed in half by their chain link fences. Our Active Transportation plans will go into the shredder.”
Metrolinx has a virtual engagement page for public input.
Community engagement will be part of the upcoming city study, but no consulting team has yet been brought on board. Gayman anticipates the study would be done in 2021.
