The organization representing Ontario’s real estate industry is proposing a multi-billion-dollar project that would allow the diversion of freight trains running through central Toronto.
The Ontario Real Estate Association says the current system of criss-crossing freight and passenger rail lines in the Greater Toronto Area is creating bottlenecks. It says separating freight and passengers trains on to distinct tracks would enable significant growth in passenger volumes and new service for Milton, Kitchener and other communities.
“Freight rail, which carries heavy cargo, limits the passenger volumes that can share the same tracks,” the OREA says in a new research report detailing the 10 most urgently needed infrastructure projects in the GTA. “We need to move goods and people but it can’t be done well on the same tracks.”
The project recommended by the OREA would require construction of about 15 kilometres of new freight track in the west end – between two existing freight lines from Brampton to Mississauga along Highway 407. This so-called “missing link” would allow freight trains to avoid tracks that are currently used by passenger rail trains.
It would allow cargo trains to bypass the densely populated areas of the GTA, including the CP Rail line that runs through Toronto. The line is adjacent to Macpherson Avenue at the bottom of Rathnelly Avenue for several blocks.
“Less freight rail through densely populated areas means less noise, and more hazardous or potentially dangerous substances diverted from urban locations,” the OREA said.
The missing link had been advocated by the previous Liberal government but was scrapped by Premier Doug Ford soon after the Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018. Ironically, the CEO of the OREA is Tim Hudak, who preceded Mr. Ford as the PC leader.
In a statement, Mr. Hudak said the 10 infrastructure projects his organization is recommending – which also includes a transit hub at Pearson International Airport -- would increase Ontario’s prosperity.
“Lack of transit connectivity and traffic congestion often rank as Ontario’s most challenging economic problem so we need to address this barrier to economic competitiveness if we want to bring the dream of home ownership closer to more Ontarians.”
The OREA says the relocating of freight lines would cost between $2-billion and $6-billion and would involve the participation of all three levels of government and both freight railways.