Urban Strategies was retained by the City of Toronto to prepare an updated planning framework for the Union Station Rail Corridor between Bathurst Street and Blue Jays Way, informing the City’s proposed Official Plan Amendment for these lands.

Key aspects of our scope of work included: a study of the built form and land use contexts of the rail corridor site and surrounding Secondary Plan areas; an historical examination of the development of the Railway Lands and its related planning framework; documentation and analysis of population and employment growth within Downtown Toronto; an inventory and assessment of existing and planned parkland, including a site-assessment study of potential downtown locations for a large park; and the formulation of planning opinions and conclusions related to future use of the site. Our work culminated in a comprehensive Rail Corridor Planning Study, a planning analysis and rationale written in support of the proposed Rail Deck Park Secondary Plan and related proposed amendments to the Railway Lands West, Central and East Secondary Plans. We also prepared the planning evidence in support the City’s proposed Official Plan Amendment at the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). The LPAT- approved Official Plan Amendment protects for long-term parkland uses in this area.

Renderings from the City of Toronto (Public Work)

Rail Deck Park | Rail Corridor Planning Study

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