Metrolinx has a new plan to win over the support of west-end residents before it even begins its next massive construction disruption in the heart of Toronto.

It wants to assemble a panel of 36 people in the affected area to talk about how newly freed-up railway lands can be repurposed for the community.

The provincial transportation agency wants to build a 1.6-km elevated track along the Barrie GO line above the existing CP rail corridor. It would extend from just northwest of Bloor St. to south of Davenport Rd.

At its highest point, the rails would tower 8.5 metres above the CP tracks north of Dupont St. The track would descend as it crosses the Davenport bridge.

The provincial transportation agency is sending 10,000 invitations soliciting citizen advisors, who would be asked to volunteer their time for four full Saturdays and an evening session running April through June.

The double-tracked elevation would allow for the closure of the Davenport Diamond near Dupont St. and Lansdowne Ave., and increase GO capacity as part of the provincial regional express rail plan that would send trains running up the track toward Barrie in both directions all day.

Meantime, the old rail corridor would be freed up to reconnect streets such as Paton Rd. and Antler St., create new walking paths and increase access to Campbell Avenue Park and Erwin Krickhahn Park.

Raising the tracks would take about $500 million and two years less than the alternative, which was to bury them, according to Metrolinx. It would also involve less noise, dust, truck traffic and road closures during construction.

"What we're trying to do is increase engagement," said Aikins, adding that the Residents' Reference Panel would be in addition to other consultations in the environmental assessment, expected to be complete in about six months.

The panel is an idea Metrolinx is testing as it commences its regional express rail (RER) plan to run all-day, two-way service as frequently as 15 minutes in some areas where the rails will be electrified.

"We want to try this; we may use it again, but not for every project," she said, noting that virtually every area of the region will be touched by RER.

"The Davenport Diamond is one of North America’s busiest train intersections. We want to ensure the improvement of this crossing will be beneficial for not only the trains that will ride the rails, but the surrounding community set to see new accessible public spaces, walking and cycling trails created," said Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca.

It's too soon to predict how this rail work will compare with the upheaval experienced by residents who lived near the Toronto West Diamond during the $1.2-billion grade separation and track expansion in the Junction neighbourhood, said Aikins.

Councillor Ana Bailão (Ward 18, Davenport) welcomed the resident panel. But she warned against setting people up for disappointment if there's no money to create new parks, trails and connections.

"We think there could be the potential for some very interesting projects. We just want to make sure at the end of the day it's not just a report on the shelf and we end up with an elevated track with none of the benefits," she said, adding that she wants to see data on what kind of noise, vibration and pollution impacts residents can expect as the result of more rail traffic.

West-end resident Kevin Putnam, a member of the Junction Triangle Rail Committee, tried to stop Metrolinx from installating giant noise walls near the West Diamond. He said he's deeply skeptical of the agency's motives.

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"They went through the whole consultations about noise walls having made their decisions," he said, adding that he fears that another community will be subject to the same pile-driving, noise and dust that was involved in the previous rail project.

There's no cost estimate yet for the Davenport Diamond project, but street and park improvements would be built into the overall RER budget, said Aikins.

The resident panel will be drawn from an area between Rogers Rd. and Dundas St. West and east of the Kitchener GO tracks. Interested residents and business people have to respond to the invitations by April 6.

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