Fight Gridlock in Brampton is a group of Brampton residents and business owners. We support and advocate for the City of Brampton’s Transportation Master Plan, and proposed rapid transit solutions, in particular, Light Rail Transit. The following is our response to the Citizens For a Better Brampton post entitled “LRT is Good for Brampton, let’s get the final route alignment RIGHT!”

In 2004, 11 years ago, residents of Brampton were first introduced to “AcceleRide”. It was a precursor to higher order transit on key east-west and north-south corridors, to be implemented in the short-term. The concept included high frequency branded services on Main Street from downtown to Mississauga, and on Queen Street from Brampton to York Region. These streets were proposed to be designated as transit priority corridors in the City’s Official Plan. This concept is now implemented in what we know as our ZUM lines.

LRT Is A Brampton Plan

In 2009, 6 years ago, Light Rail Transit was discussed. It mentioned many points that are still relevant today.

For reference, Transportation and Transit Master Plan Final Report − Executive Summary

http://www.brampton.ca/en/Business/planning-development/Documents/PLD/TransPl/2009/Executive%20Summary_Mar%202010%20v2.pdf

“In the process of widening roadways that are designated as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) or other higher order transit corridors, staging opportunities should be investigated to ensure that balance between modes is maintained and long-term strategic objectives around increased transit and active transportation are achieved. Such staging opportunities should also consider transit and road network consistency with adjacent municipalities (Mississauga)”

The 2009 Transportation Master Plan recognizes that Brampton cannot consider its strategies in isolation. People move from city to city for different reasons, including to go to work, to shop, or to meet with friends. The Metrolinx LRT project is not a “Mississauga” LRT, any more than Hurontario-Main is Mississauga’s road.

“For corridors designated as BRT / LRT but not identified as requiring widening to six lanes, a four-lane cross section does not preclude operation of BRT / LRT service…Arterial road sections identified as BRT corridors operating alongside four general purpose lane roadways…include…Hurontario Street and Queen Street through the Downtown and Central Areas.”

This “made in Brampton” plan identified the downtown road space as being capable of handling LRT, 6 years ago.

“The implementation of BRT or LRT technology and associated infrastructure should be proactive and accelerated where possible and feasible.”

Metrolinx is providing Brampton with an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of LRT, which is entirely consistent with the Plan.

Transit service intensification, potentially converting some BRT corridors to LRT, is identified in the 2004 TTMP as a long term or 2031 strategic initiative. Further to that, the overall transit objectives as stated in the Brampton Official Plan support BRT corridors to be operated as LRT corridors in the future. And that, the City should aggressively move towards dedicated transit lanes in centre median right-of-ways and seriously consider LRT technology as transit supportive land uses continue to be implemented, transit ridership grows, and funding becomes available.

The plan recommends that ZUM lines be replaced with LRT ASAP, particularly when funding has become available — which it has!

“The City should strongly consider transitioning from mixed traffic BRT to dedicated rapid transit (BRT or LRT) in partially exclusive rights-of-way when investment grade transit ridership forecasts show demand of at least 2,000 to 5,000 per hour in the peak direction.”

Brampton is expected to reach the upper threshold of ZUM capacity by 2031. That’s only 15 years away. Ridership on Brampton Transit into on Hurontario-Main in 2006 was already over 2000 per hour during peak AM. ZUM service didn’t start until 2011, which further increased ridership on Hurontario-Main. Between 2011-2014, transit ridership in Brampton has risen 25%, and continues to rise.

We’ve Had Time

It is inaccurate to say that Brampton was only given 2 months notice on a funding capital commitment. Both updates to the Transportation Master Plan went through a series of Public Information Centres, providing the public an opportunity to provide their input. The plan for LRT upgrades comes as no surprise. Where funding is concerned, Brampton was guaranteed funding in the 2014 provincial budget. We’ve known for over a year that the province was prepared to pay for the surface route into downtown Brampton.

Space For People, Not Cars

Downtown Brampton is not seeing the kind of foot traffic that it needs to be truly successful. Raising those numbers will not happen by adding more capacity for cars, increasing the problem of congestion. Allocating the already congested space for LRTs instead of single-occupant motor vehicles is a better use of the road allowance. It will move more people into the inner core.

LRT Is Safe

There continue to be concerns around safety, and traffic conflicts. According to research conducted by Transit Cooperative Research Program (established by the US department of transportation ) a large majority of LRV-Automobile collisions are caused by motorists making illegal maneuvers. US-based research on traffic safety shows that public transport is safer than private motor vehicles and that transportation systems that have their own infrastructure are safer than those that do not. LRT is more than one-and-a-half times safer than motor vehicles.

A Collision Analysis has been published as part of the Hurontario-Main LRT plan. According to the analysis, none of the top intersections with the highest collision rates and frequencies were in downtown Brampton.

Main and Clarence scores high on opportunities for safety improvement. The number of collisions for that intersection is larger than the expected number of collisions at intersections of similar design. These are preexisting conditions, that have nothing to do with the safety of LRT. What’s more, this LRT project presents an opportunity to improve the intersection.

Parking Is The 1%

Alternate parking spaces are available in several locations around downtown: John Street Parkade; Diplock Lane; Rose Theatre; and City Hall to name a few. The 40 or so on-street parking slated for removal represent about 1% of the 4,050 parking spaces in downtown Brampton. Further, shops along the LRT surface alignment would be switching out parking for a few people, for hundreds of people every 5-10 minutes. Is this an unreasonable trade?

Events Will Go On

Brampton has many great traditions including the Farmer’s Market, the Flowertown Parade, and other festivals. There are many ways to accommodate these events, including short-turning the LRT line at a switchback on Wellington. Ultimately, it’s up to Brampton and the event coordinators to work together in deciding how best to accommodate or relocate any given event.

The Etobicoke Creek Valley?

Alternate routing to the Hospital redevelopment site via the Etobicoke Creek Valley has already been determined to not be feasible, for these reasons:

It’s not supported by TRCA due to significant impacts on regulatory floodplain (can cross a floodplain, but not travel parallel within it).

Alignment is contrary to TRCA “Valley and Stream Corridor Management Program” and would be subject to “significant flood hazard”.

TRCA noted that the alignment contradicted general policies for infrastructure, as per the Living Cities Policy, and “…does not demonstrate that intrusions to natural features contributing to the conservation of land can be avoided”.

TRCA stated these options may negate the majority of options to reduce flooding in Downtown Brampton (flooding solutions trying to increase the flow capacity of the watercourse while presence of LRT would decrease the flow capacity).

Significant property impacts can be expected along the channel realignment and the facilities in Centennial Park.

Overlap with Queen Street Rapid Transit would occur, since HMLRT needs to connect back to Hurontario-Main Street to be extended to the Brampton-Caledon boundary in the future

We are unsettled about the claim of concern for the subjective perception of ambiance of downtown Brampton. This seems in conflict with the idea of suggesting an alignment that poses a risk to an essential Active Transportation corridor, the City’s greenspace, and would actually have significant property impacts along the channel.

The opinion of Fight Gridlock in Brampton remains unchanged. The best option for a better Brampton is to agree with the approved, studied, and funded TPAP alignment: Main St. The City of Brampton has procrastinated long enough on this project.

Let’s get building!

See: Action Needed: July 8, 2015 Special Council Meeting

Update: In point 8), Citizens for a Better Brampton (CFBB) raises the issue of St. Paul’s United Church and the Main Street alignment. Fight Gridlock represents residents of Brampton, including some members of St. Paul’s United Church, who support the alignment on Main Street and believe it will be a positive addition to Brampton. These specific members believe the HMLRT will be positive for Brampton and their church which they dearly love. The concerns raised by CFBB can be addressed. LRT has been successfully implemented all over the world including in historic areas and near historic buildings. Learn more here.

It is clear that members of the Church have different opinions on the Hurontario-Main LRT and in a democracy that’s to be expected. Fight Gridlock in Brampton doesn’t represent the church; we represent those members who support the Main Street LRT alignment. St. Paul’s congregation has used the current church building on Main Street since 1885 and members of the Church who support the HMLRT and Main Street alignment believe it will be an exciting opportunity for Brampton. They do not support stalling the project.

If anyone wishes to specifically speak with members of the Church who support the Main Street alignment to learn more on their position and how the concerns raised can be addressed, please email us: fightgridlockbrampton@gmail.com

Further update: members of the Church who support LRT on Main Street note that technology exists to document the current condition of the Church and measure any impacts. However, millions of dollars has been invested in the Church over the past decade to strength it including the tower, the ceiling of the sanctuary, and the roof. Further, St. Paul’s successfully survived much bigger construction projects on its doorstep: the construction of City Hall in the 1990s and watermain work on John Street. If it can make it through those projects which were much bigger, the Church can get through the construction on Main Street.