406A - Transit and housing: How the Metrolinx TOD Program will bring new housing supply where it is needed most

September 30, 2020

12:00PM - 12:30PM

Metrolinx owns more than 1,200 acres of non-rail corridor lands across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, primarily at 68 GO train stations along its seven active rail corridors. By and large, these lands have been used for surface parking to facilitate drive-and-park station access for GO customers. But, what were once relatively low-value properties in industrial areas suitable for expansive surface parking are quickly becoming valuable transit-oriented development (TOD) sites that offer some of the best new opportunities for locating people and jobs along the rapidly improving GO system.
 
As Metrolinx makes a commitment to dramatically increase GO service throughout the GGH, including two-way, all-day, 15-minute service on portions of five of the seven corridors in which Metrolinx operates, there is a corresponding effort to facilitate new TOD opportunities across the network. TOD will help Metrolinx capture land value and offset capital expenses, while driving increased transit ridership and improving the GO customer experience. Along the way, TOD can address provincial and municipal objectives, as well as increase housing supply close to transit.
 
Through its TOD Progam, Metrolinx has partnered with Infrastructure Ontario (IO) to seek opprtunities to work with the development community to build high-density mixed-use developments around GO rail stations (similar programs are in place for subways and LRTs). These TOD opportunities include unsolicited proposals from developers as part of the “market-driven strategy” work stream, as well as opportunities Metorlinx/IO will bring to market as joint development projects or disposition of strategic lands suitable for TOD. Opportunities are based on property availability, TOD-supportive planning permissions, and a viable real estate market for TOD projects.
 
This presentation provides an overview of how the TOD program has evolved in only a few short years, some of the program’s major transactions and accomplishments, and key issues and challenges the program faces moving forward.
 

Speakers