Plans advance for LRT through campus

Pedestrian underpass with light rail vehicle in background
In a report approved unanimously by the city's Executive Council, the Eglinton East Light Rail Transit project would have two stations at U of T Scarborough. (Image courtesy of the City of Toronto)

Chris Garbutt

Rapid transit is a step closer to coming to U of T Scarborough.

The Eglinton East Light Rail Transit project will run from Kennedy Station along Eglinton Avenue, Kingston Road, Morningside Avenue and through the U of T Scarborough campus. A report unanimously approved by the city’s Executive Council recommends two stations on campus, one at Ellesmere and a realigned version of Military Trail, and another at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

Rapid transit is essential to the continuing vitality of this campus,” says U of T Scarborough Principal Bruce Kidd. “Our community relies on transit to get here, and to get around Scarborough, so we are excited to see this project move forward.”

Close to 700 buses already bring thousands of people to the campus each day. The LRT project will provide important capacity as U of T Scarborough continues to grow.

U of T Scarborough’s master plan accounts for the LRT, and further provides for a pedestrian underpass where Military Trail currently meets Ellesmere Road. The underpass will be next to one of the campus stations, and will follow the route of the existing path of Military Trail, which will be reoriented to the east. The underpass will provide a seamless connection between the north and south sections of campus, and a unique gathering place and walking route for members of the campus community.

The approved report also recommends that the LRT continue north to Malvern, providing deeper transit connections within Scarborough.

“This LRT will make a tremendous difference to our campus and to the people of Scarborough,” Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Arifuzzaman. He does note, however, that the report proposes build a bus loop closer to Ellesmere that would be on important land slated for development. The campus has suggested four possible alternatives for locating the loop.

The Eglinton East Light Rail Transit report will go to city council for approval on May 23.

“This project represents an important piece of a larger vision for transit in Scarborough,” says Principal Kidd. “This is a positive sign that the city is advancing a transit plan that is essential as a way to continue the development of this growing part of Toronto.”