The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is one of the first wave projects of Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan – The Big Move – a 25-year, $50 billion plan for coordinated, integrated transportation and transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The project represents an investment of $5.3 billion toward better transit in Toronto. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT was originally proposed to connect Kennedy Station all the way to Pearson Airport. Due to funding issues, the project currently terminates at Mount Dennis.
Urban Strategies led the development of conceptual grade separations, supported by HDR (design/engineering of the LRT track and roadway) and Marshall & Murray (cost estimates of the studied options).

For each of the six intersections studied, Urban Strategies first developed the range of potential grade separations according to location (ie. north side, centre, south side), type (elevated, below-grade), or design (side platforms, shared centre platform). From these options, the most feasible grade separation was selected for each.

Working with HDR to develop concept designs for the grade separations, Urban Strategies produced 3D visualizations showing these designs in the context of the existing neighbourhood. Three views of the grade separation and three views of an at-grade LRT were produced for each intersection, allowing direct comparison of the spatial and visual qualities of each option. An eye-level perspective was also produced, showing an at-grade LRT at Eglinton Avenue and Kipling Avenue, as well as a full-corridor rendering showing an at-grade LRT running the entire length of the corridor.

Eglinton West LRT Extension: Development of Conceptual Grade Separations

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