Clause No. 5 in Report No. 1 of the Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee was adopted, without amendment, by the Council of The Regional Municipality of York at its meeting on January 24, 2008.

YONGE sUBWAY ADVISORY TASK FORCE

DRAFT Terms of Reference

The Rapid Transit Public/Private Partnership Steering Committee recommends the adoption of the recommendations contained in the following report, January 17, 2008, from the Vice-President, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation:

1. RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that:

1. Council endorse the draft Terms of Reference for the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force as outlined in this report.

2. Council endorse the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force membership to be comprised of the appointees of York Region and the City of Vaughan, the Town of Richmond Hill, and the Town of Markham as outlined in this report.

3. Council authorize the Regional Clerk to circulate the draft Terms of Reference for the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force to the City of Vaughan, the Town of Richmond Hill and the Town of Markham for comment and request their endorsement of the draft Terms of Reference and their Task Force appointments.

4. Council authorize staff to bring back the Terms of Reference for the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force for finalization following the City of Vaughan, Town of Richmond Hill and Town of Markham responses.

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to bring forward the draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for establishing a Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force (Task Force). The purpose of the Task Force is to provide guidance, advice, and a forum for the coordination of the many considerations that will shape the evolution of the Yonge Street subway.

The Task Force is being recommended to act as a forum for stakeholder consultation to promote and support the goals and objectives of the Region and local municipalities for the delivery of a comprehensive higher order transit network, intermodal connectivity and transit supportive development. The Task Force will also act as a forum for discussions with City of Toronto stakeholders for the integration of transit facilities with the subway at the Steeles Station and for consideration of an intermediate station at Cummer Avenue within the City boundaries. The operations of the Task Force will be guided by this TOR.

3. BACKGROUND

The Provincial MoveOntario 2020 announcement identified funding for the extension of the Yonge subway to Richmond Hill Centre

On June 15, 2007, the Province of Ontario announced $17.5 billion in funding for transit projects for the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, including the funding of the Yonge Street Subway extension to the RHC. On June 21, 2007, Council directed staff to commence an environmental assessment (EA) and the functional design work for the extension of the Yonge Street subway from Finch Avenue to the Richmond Hill Centre.

The preliminary EA and functional design work has been underway since the summer

The functional design work has been moving forward since the summer and a number of early technical findings are emerging and are the subject of a separate report on this agenda. The ongoing work programme involves, amongst other things, the collection and evaluation of a range of existing documents, the identification of constraints and preliminary work on subway and surface transit operations.

The functional design work has also identified potential horizontal and vertical alignment options for further examination and vetting. A range of station location alternatives is emerging along the corridor that will require a process to evalue and seek input from the various key stakeholders including the local area municipalities. The work has also identified the need to carefully plan for an intermodal passenger hub at the Steeles station location and for a major intermodal gateway to York Region at RHC.

4. ANALYSIS AND OPTIONS

The work programme will require stakeholder involvement

As the work programme proceeds and preliminary findings emerge from the technical examination of the alignment options, stakeholder involvement will be required to provide input and to vet issues. At present, stakeholder consultations are immediately warranted to begin to address the alignment impacts and opportunities, the number and location of stations along the corridor, and the comprehensive planning of the major intermodal hub and transit gateway at Steeles and RHC. Discussion on these major elements of the system will require the input from a wide range of key stakeholders including amongst others the staff and Councils of the area municipalities and the Region, other transit agencies, Metrolinx and private landowner interests.

A Task Force is recommended as a forum for stakeholder consultation

The lands along and adjacent to the Yonge corridor are largely held in private ownership. The lands also fall under the planning jurisdiction of three local area municipalities, each of which has community development goals and objectives in place along the corridor or under policy review. As well, a number of significant development applications are in process or in the early stages of discussion.

Planning efforts along the corridor and at the intermodal hubs needs to be carefully integrated with the development of the subway design. Reaching consensus on the range of options and preferred strategy for the deployment of the subway and land use will be complex and challenging.

Staff is recommending that a multi-representational Task Force, similar in constitution and mandate to the Spadina Subway Advisory Task Force be established to provide a forum for input and deliberation in to all aspects of the design and delivery of the Yonge Subway extension and the integration of intermodal facilities with transit oriented development (TOD) opportunities. The outcome of these consultations with the Task Force will provide input to all of the authorities who will be responsible for final approvals and implementation of development along the corridor and construction of the Yonge Street Subway.

Terms of Reference have been drafted for the Task Force

Draft Terms of Reference (see Council Attachment 1) have been prepared to reflect the anticipated role of the Task Force. The draft TOR is to be circulated to the area municipalities for comment and brought back to Council for adoption as final TOR for the Task Force.

The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force membership is to be comprised of the appointees of York Region and the area municipalities

Membership for the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force is recommended to be comprised of appointees from York Region, the City of Vaughan, the Town of Richmond Hill and the Town of Markham. The Region and each area municipality may appoint two members from its respective Council to the Task Force, as well as one additional non-elected representative from each municipality. The intent of non-elective membership is to provide an opportunity for area stakeholder interests to be represented on the Task Force. The Regional Chair will serve as an ex-officio member on the Task Force.

5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Incidental costs associated with running the Task Force through its first year will be accommodated through the administration and overhead budgets of the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation (YRRTC).

6. LOCAL MUNICIPAL IMPACT

The Task Force will provide a forum for direct municipal stakeholder involvement along the Yonge subway corridor in York Region. This involvement will include municipal direct participation and contribution to:

· The many technical decisions associated with the design and construction of the subway.

· Their leadership and guidance in assuring that TOD goals and objectives of the local municipalities and the Region are being met.

· Ensuring that all modes of transit, together with commuter parking, are integrated, especially at the intermodal hubs.

· Ensuring that all measures have been taken to reduce the reliance on the automobile and maximize the use of transit in the subway corridor.

Municipal and Regional planning approval processes will continue in the normal course as per the Planning Act.

7. CONCLUSIONS

The Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force is being recommended as an effective assure that the Yonge subway extension supports the growth and long term viability of the regional transit network. The Task Force will provide a forum to provide strategic support and assistance to York Region and the local municipalities in facilitating and implementing transit oriented development. The Task Force will act to promote and support the efficient integration of TOD at subway stations together with surface transit, commuter parking, passenger pick-up and drop-offs and pedestrian routes. The task force will provide a forum to identify and discuss issues and problem solve and to partner with the Region of York and the local municipalities and all stakeholders on this important endeavour.

This report includes the draft Terms of Reference for the Yonge Subway Advisory Task Force and recommends a membership format for the Task Force.

The Senior Management Group has reviewed this report.

(The attachment referred to in this clause is attached to this report.)