Our Vision

The Backgrounder

Concerns about the Project

Diesel pollution

The current plan envisages use of diesel locomotives only. While Metrolinx has indicated a desire to electrify the system after fifteen years, there is no funding, commitment or obligation to do so.

Diesel is a “dirtier” fuel than gasoline; diesel emissions have more nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons and particulate matter (soot) than gasoline emissions. Diesel emissions do however have less carbon dioxide than gasoline emissions, giving it the reputation for being less of a contributor to climate change than gasoline. Still, recent studies show that diesel soot, also known as black carbon, may contribute as much to climate change as carbon dioxide. Further, there have been a number of studies showing the deleterious health effects of diesel emissions, causing everything from asthma to heart disease and cancer.

Metrolinx plans to use what they are referring to as “clean diesel”. The GSSE will use Tier 2 diesel (the American standard as of 2014 is Tier 3) and the UPRL Tier 3 diesel.

According to the Metrolinx GSSE/UPRL Draft Environmental Project Report, Part 1, there are 80 schools, childcare centres, and long term care centres in the rail corridor area. Children and elders are the people most sensitive to the deleterious health effects of diesel emissions.

Noise and vibration

Diesel trains are noisy and cause substantial vibration; it is unknown what impact a five-to-tenfold increase in daily train traffic will have on the foundations of nearby homes. Constant noise and vibration is also a quality of life issue; it is difficult to quantify the effect of living in such circumstances, but assuredly it contributes to general stress levels.

Threat to Community Health and Livability

Many of the communities along the rail corridor straddle the trackway and the construction and operation of this expanded corridor is seriously disruptive to community life and neighbourhood vitality, creating new barriers to free movement within a neighbourhood. As a result, there are concerns about the economic and social health of these neighbourhoods, as new rail traffic divides residents and businesses.

People with property directly adjacent to the rail corridor who will have trains running much closer to their homes will be seriously affected by noise, vibration and pollution, and will see their property values deteriorate. Given that these trains run through some of Toronto’s poorest neighbourhoods, this is a serious continued economic threat.

The Metrolinx GSSE/UPRL Draft Environmental Project Report, Part 1 makes no mention of the communities along the rail corridor, indicating only that it is a mix of residential, industrial and commercial land use. No value is placed on the health and liveliness of intact communities, or their fragility in the face of serious disruption.

Lack of Access and Affordability

The GSSE/UPRL project has the primary purposes of transporting out-of-town commuters to and from work and business travelers to and from the airport. No accommodation is being made for transit services for local residents and workers; stations are intended to service only express travelers. Access to the trains will be restricted for people living in the corridor. Between Union Station and the Dundas West GO station there will be no access, and current fare projections are prohibitive for residents. The new $875 million rail infrastructure will not serve the communities it affects most.

Previous plans for cycle path at risk

Many cyclists have patiently awaited the completion of the Rail Path, a cycling route from the eastern suburbs into the heart of the city. Metrolinx is working to accommodate the bike path south until Queen St, but notes it may be impossible to maintain the path south of Queen St. It is unclear how many cyclists would elect to cycle beside 300-450 diesel trains.