Hurontario Light Rail Transit Update – July 6, 2016

Mississauga staff reported to Council today on milestones for the Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project.

“We are pleased to see this public transit project progress to the next stages,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “Each aspect of this City building initiative will come together to ensure the success of the project. Mississauga looks forward to working with Metrolinx to further this transit project in the months to come. The LRT is one of the keys to our city’s future. It will build and connect our city and make it easier for people to choose transit. It will grow our economy and provide a new and reliable form of transit.”

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Metrolinx, the City of Mississauga and the City of Brampton has been negotiated with key terms, timelines and conditions for the project.

The MOU defines:

• Metrolinx’s role as owner and developer of the project with responsibility over scope, budget scheduling, planning design and construction, property acquisitions and public consultation;
• Municipalities role in supporting Metrolinx in the delivery and implementation of the Project by, among other actions, minimizing and/or streamlining municipal approvals where possible;
• Management of real estate matters and transportation management between Metrolinx and Mississauga; and
• How Metrolinx will work with the municipalities to assign the Public Realm Amount included in the project budget.

In addition, the MOU outlines the project’s governance and dispute resolution process. The MOU also includes a Real Estate Services Protocol, which protocol outlines the services the City will provide to Metrolinx as they work to obtain property for the Hurontario LRT Project.

Working groups that include both City staff and Metrolinx staff were created to discuss various aspects of the project including property, utility locations, traffic, infrastructure, stop and design of what the street will look like. The Ad-hoc Council Working Group formed of Mississauga Council and City staff has been meeting and the City’s senior leadership team receives regular progress reports. As the project proceeds, staff in co-operation with Metrolinx, will continue to bring forward updates to General Committee for discussion.

Since the previous update on February 3, 2016:

• The City of Mississauga has retained consulting services to provide the City with strategic advice over the next two years on the project in engineering, streetscape, stop architecture and integrated public art.
• The Hurontario LRT Ad-hoc Council Working Group, formed of Members of Council and staff, has met three times to discuss the project. Updates were also provided on Mississauga’s interests in stop design, streetscaping and public art.
• The Planning and Building Department is proceeding with a report to Council to set a process for collecting contributions from developers for streetscape upgrades to the public boulevard along key municipal corridors, including Hurontario Street. This will ensure the applications for new development promote ridership and enhance the public spaces of the HLRT.

Metrolinx held a workshop on June 21, 2016 to explore and identify design opportunities by looking at stops from other cities, including public art. The workshop was also used to develop a common understanding in defining the priorities, principles and requirements for the HLRT.

Hurontario LRT Ad hoc Council Working Group

The Hurontario LRT Ad hoc Council Working Group is composed of Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Mississauga Councillors most impacted by the project including, Jim Tovey, Councillor Ward 1; John Kovac, Councillor Ward 4; Carolyn Parrish, Councillor Ward 5 and Nando Iannicca, Councillor Ward 7 and Ad hoc HLRT Council Working Group chair; as well as City staff from the Transportation and Works, Planning and Building and Corporate Services Departments.

About the Hurontario Light Rail Transit Project

The Hurontario Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project will bring 20 kilometres of fast, reliable, rapid transit to the cities of Mississauga and Brampton along the Hurontario corridor. New, modern light rail vehicles will travel in a dedicated right-of-way and serve 22 stops with connections to GO Transit’s Milton and Lakeshore West rail lines, Mississauga MiWay, Brampton Züm, and the Mississauga Transitway. The Hurontario project is part of Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan to provide residents and businesses in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with fast, convenient and integrated transit. Metrolinx will be responsible for implementing the project. Metrolinx will work in partnership with the cities of Mississauga and Brampton and other stakeholders to advance work on the project. For more information, go to www.metrolinx.com/hurontario. The Hurontario LRT project is funded through a $1.4 billion commitment from the Province of Ontario, the Hurontario LRT is a signature project of the Moving Ontario Forward plan.

For more information:

Hurontario Light Rail Transit Project Update – July 6, 2016
Hurontario Light Rail Transit Update – February 3, 2016
Hurontario Light Rail Transit