Don Mills Road/Leslie Street
Don Mills Road sounds like it was named after a person, but it wasn't. It was named after the nearby Don River, and the wool and saw mills that were situated along its banks during the 19th century.
Leslie Street, on the other hand, which is the continuation of Don Mills Road to the north, was named after George Leslie, who owned a nursery in the 1850s.
Even though the town of York continued to grow and evolve into the City of Toronto at that time, the area to the north and east of the Don River remained rural until after World War II. In large part, this was because it was cut off from the city by surrounding ravines. Up until then, Don Mills Road/Leslie Street was one of only two access routes into the City.
Then, in 1966, construction of the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) was completed. The fast and easy access it provided into the City at that time led to tremendous suburban growth to the north and east of the Don River, which continues to this day.
Today, the Don Valley Parkway is one of Toronto's busiest commuter routes. Heavy traffic congestion along its entire length often extends well beyond rush hours, earning it the unaffectionate nickname "Don Valley Parking Lot".
The proposed Don Mills Road/Leslie Street light rail transit line, which will extend from Highway 7 to the Bloor-Danforth subway, will provide commuters with fast and easy access into and out of Toronto, without having to sit in gridlocked traffic.
Transit hubs at Highway 7 and Steeles Avenue will further enable commuters to make quick and convenient connections with Viva, TTC, GO Transit and YRT local bus services. These transit hubs will significantly reduce passenger wait times and improve transit travel times to, from and within York Region and the City of Toronto.
So what is the current status of the proposed Don Mills Road/Leslie Street light rail transit line?
A series of consultation meetings with interested stakeholders and the public are currently being planned throughout the 2009 summer season to develop and determine the preferred design, including:
- Number and location of stations
- Cross-sectional elements such as landscaping, pedestrian features and bike lanes
- Intersection configuration
- Requirements for special track work
- LRT system requirements including electrical substations
- Highway 7 terminal facility needs and interface with the Hwy 7 Transitway and Hwy 407 Transitway
Following that, the proposal's environmental affects will be assessed under the Province of Ontario's new six-month Transit Project Assessment Process, with a decision expected in early 2010.
Metrolinx has identified the Don Mills Road/Leslie Street light rail rapid line as a key piece of The Big Move, its transportation plan to reduce gridlock across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
