Mimico GO: Are station & cemetery slipping into ‘the hole’?

“Are station & cemetery slipping into ‘the hole’?”

• Last week Metrolinx published a Request to Qualify and Quote (RQQ) for Geotechnical Monitoring Services for Mimico GO Station. Metrolinx has concerns about the degrading condition of the existing excavation retaining system at 327 Royal York, and its potential adverse impact on the surrounding station and rail areas. An objective is “predicting sudden movements/failures which is paramount in protecting the public safety and Metrolinx assets.“

• Already in 2024 Metrolinx hired WSP to start a Geotechnical Instrumentation and Monitoring Program (GIMP) because of concerns about the condition of the existing excavation retaining system at 327 Royal York Road and potential adverse impact on the surrounding areas.

“How did the 2018 plan derail?”

In June 2018, Metrolinx presented a procurement-ready plan for a new Mimico GO station building and two new tunnels with elevators.

According to the Auditor General, in November 2018 — a few months after Ford took office — the Ministry of Transportation directed Metrolinx to stop procurement of new GO stations and adopt a “market-driven strategy.” John Yakabuski, Christine Hogarth, Kinga Surma, Steve Clark and Phil Verster came to Mimico GO Station to announce their Mimico Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) plans with Vandyk.

“It’s just a few stairs …”

• No; It’s discrimination of residents with disabilities.

“I don’t take the train, why would I care?”

• A well-run transit system accessible for everyone reduces traffic on our roads.

“Are we receiving value for money?”

• The Ontario government is spending your provincial income tax and HST (the 8% you pay on top of most things you buy) to subsidize Metrolinx with about one billion dollars per year.

• How many of your tax dollars were lost when the 2016-2018 tunnel plan that already had 30% Preliminary Design completed was thrown out?

• How much Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario / Ministry resources got used in the creation and the termination of the Vandyk TOC (lawyers, planners, engineers; external & internal)?

• Do you think South Etobicoke has gotten its fair share of Metrolinx infrastructure investments?

“But they showed a new bridge design for Mimico”

• Yes, but the construction hasn’t been approved and Metrolinx doesn’t share a timeline. If there is a timeline, why won’t they share it?

“But they said they are working on it.”

• Yes, they have been saying that for over a decade.

“How many stairs does the new bridge design have?”

• A bridge over electrified tracks means 2-5 flights of stairs up and over the overhead wires and back down to the platform. The tunnel didn’t need much of a ramp as the south side of the rail corridor is already below the railway tracks and from below you need much shorter stairs and elevators to the platforms. Fewer stairs are great when the elevator is broken or too busy at rush hour.

• The original tunnel plan wasn’t just about reaching the platform — it was meant to be an alternative crossing of the rail corridor as well to unify Mimico, creating a connection for the thousands of new residents in the triangle to reach our waterfront.

• Will this newly proposed bridge be inside a fare-paid zone, or open to anyone who needs to cross the tracks?

“But isn’t it the developer’s fault who went bankrupt?”

• What due diligence and risk assessment was done before the Ontario Government presented Vandyk as their partner for a project of such significance for our community?

“But they are building tunnels at Long Branch GO, why not in Mimico?”

• We don’t know.

“Do you need help with this?”

• Yes, please email info@mimicoresidents.ca

“Who is coming to the Mimico Transit Forum?”

Confirmed:

• Metrolinx

• Councillor Amber Morley

• MPP Lee Fairclough

• Residents with disabilities

“What are we going to talk about?”

• About the importance of accessible transit.

“Are we going to do this every year?”

• Seems like we have to.

Have a nice day, Mimico!