February 2021

GO Expansion Early Works

Info Sheet

Trees and Vegetation: Small’s Creek Artist rendering of vegetation restoration after construction. For illustrative purposes only and subject to change. (Metrolinx image). PROJECT OVERVIEW We’re making improvements today to bring you even more service in the future. Preparatory early works are getting underway on the Lakeshore East Rail Corridor Expansion project in Toronto. This project covers the area between Pape Avenue and Kennedy Road. Completing this work will enable the future addition of a fourth track on the Lakeshore East Corridor. The new fourth track will contribute to passenger journey time improvements for all transit trips on the Lakeshore East Corridor, improve service reliability and deliver increased service benefits within the City of Toronto. WHY ARE THE REMOVAL OF TREES REQUIRED? In order to add more frequent, electrified service, this segment of railway corridor needs to expand from three to four tracks, and specialized electrification infrastructure, like the portal structures that hold up the overhead catenary system (OCS), will be installed alongside them. Efforts are being made to reduce the number of trees to be impacted, but tree removal is required in order to replace the culvert, accommodate the additional track, allow crews to work safely and to protect the future electrification infrastructure.

Agincourt Community Office: Address: 4142 Sheppard Avenue East Tel: 416-202-3900 (Community Office currently closed due to COVID-19)

Contact Us: Write to us at: TorontoEast@metrolinx.com Find us on Twitter @GOExpansion Visit the website: Metrolinx.com/lakeshoreeastrailcorridor Disponible en français

WHAT IS THE SUMMARY OF TREE IMPACTS? Tree removals are carefully studied and considered by a qualified arborist and reviewed by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry staff. A total of 268 (210 trees within Metrolinx Right-of-Way and 58 trees outside of Metrolinx Right-of-Way) trees will be removed in the Small's Creek area. Of the 268 trees identified for removal 205 are invasive species. The removals are reflected in an arborist report which identifies the maximum amount of trees that will be removed for permitting purposes.

Impacted trees. (Arborist report). WHAT IS THE RESTORATION PLAN? The ravine currently has a large number of invasive species, greatly reducing biodiversity, and out competing the native vegetation reducing high quality habitat that wildlife depend on. A restoration plan has been developed that includes planting 260 trees, 932 shrubs and thousands of herbaceous groundcover plants in the area. The restoration plan will not just restore the area after construction but revitalize the biodiversity by planting native species and provide native habitat for wildlife. The restoration plan has been developed by a landscape architect and reviewed by TRCA. Metrolinx submitted the project as well as the restoration plan to the TRCA for a voluntary third party project review. As part of the voluntary project review, TRCA performs a geo-technical and stormwater engineering review, as well as reviews the project's impacts on the watershed and local vegetation, and reviews the restoration plan to make sure form and function of the system is maintained or improved. In the Metrolinx Right-of-Way, which is the slope above the culvert on both sides of the track, the area will be re-naturalized with ground cover and shrubs where appropriate. Trees will not be replanted on the slope above the retaining wall as they would be too close to future electrification infrastructure and for passenger safety as roots and branches could cause future damage to electrification infrastructure and the retaining wall. In addition to the currently available restoration plan, Metrolinx has committed to additional plantings within the ravine in partnership with the City and TRCA which will include community engagement. Ecological restoration will be completed following the Metrolinx Vegetation Guideline which provides a landscape science-based approach to restoration. To stay up to date, sign up for Toronto East updates at metrolinx.com/lakeshoreeastrailcorridor and follow us on twitter @GOExpansion.