The Megaprojects Transforming Toronto's Waterfront

Toronto's Waterfront has been a fast growing area for a while now, and the megaprojects that are currently happening there will boost it along further - Learn more about them in this video!
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[@namenamename390]

Can I just say that it's insane how many urban freeways run along waterfronts in major north american cities? Waterfronts are some of the most valuable and enjoyable pieces of land a city can have, no matter if it's a river, a lake or the sea. The planners of the 60s thought, nah, let's blast a freeway along there instead of utilizing that space logically. Same other big, noisy things like heavy rail corridors or airports.

[@gmbrusselsprout]

Agreed, they really should've removed the Gardiner Expressway and put an a Linear Park and Boulevard in its place.

[@asayed8051]

If you want to see a really sad example of a freeway along a waterfront in Europe, search up the Genoa waterfront. I hope they take it down some day, it's awful.

[@namenamename390]

@@asayed8051 I've visited Naples, and although it isn't a freeway, there's a major arterial road running right along the majority of the waterfront, and it's awful. It doesn't actually look bad on satellite, but I can tell you that I was not having a good time walking there.

[@Sneder]

In Amsterdam they build a heavy rail corridor along its waterfront. Or rather, the waterfront is that heavy rail corridor since it sits on reclaimed land. It was constructed during the nationalization of the railways when Amsterdam had 3 different railway stations from three different companies and the government wanted a single central station. And thus Amsterdam Centraal was born.

[@namenamename390]

@@Sneder yes, the central station is not actually the nicest place to be in my opinion. However, Amsterdam does have plenty of space on the water, given its many canals. There's also a nice public space north of the station if you take the ferry

[@gabriellisi7349]

I never thought a waste water bypass would be so interesting lmao

[@lukeeclair7736]

Then you haven't heard about the Thames Tideway project in the UK 😉

[@gabriellisi7349]

@@lukeeclair7736 I’ll look into it!

[@petitkruger2175]

That bypass sewage tunnel is amazing! London recently completed the ‘super sewer’- it’s the same concept where they use tunnel bore machines to create huge pipes. it’s great to see other cites remove the old practice of combined sewers and find new ways to diver storm water from natural rivers and lakes!

[@petitkruger2175]

@Pinned by RMTransit kinda sus

[@toffthe]

The London super sewer is still under construction but all the funding etc is secured so it's just a matter of time now.

[@pauldevey8628]

I have been following these developments for years/decades. I have never seen such a thorough and detailed review. Thank you! This video really helps to integrate and show how transit is a transformative element in Toronto’s growth

[@collin4194]

Hey man, love the videos but sometimes im hungry for more imagery of the things you are talking about. Keep it coming!

[@RMTransit]

At the end of the day its always a tradeoff, I included more images and maps in this video than almost any other talking head one! Of course my explained videos are all maps and photos but those take an astonishing amount of time to produce!

[@boldontarian]

Definitely. I don't mind the talking head, but I do much better with absorbing information when there's images to give context. More pictures!

[@maxplanck9055]

Great to hear Toronto is being modernized,many cities are behind the times with infrastructure and need a 15 year programme of repair and renewal, good to see Toronto is getting what it needs 👍❤️🇬🇧

[@JamesScantlebury]

The downtown core centred on the Yonge Subway, is becoming more of a downtown “upside down T” shape!

[@MarceloPlus]

I still don’t understand how stupid people have to be to drive down the queens quay tunnel like: 1. U get fined 2. U get ur car stuck 3. U cause streetcar delays

[@lemonade4181]

They should add green tracks with grass, make it more clear that it's a right of way. That way even drunk ppl won't drive on them.

[@cheesyrider6914]

All that dirt from the Coxwell tunnel is being added to the Leslie st spit just south/east of the water treatment path,creating new park land.

[@Italianmarcus10]

I love this super in depth video. You usually don’t get this kind of info on other infrastructure channels let alone Canadian content at all. I look forward to new videos on other Canadian infrastructure projects!

[@oriondias1184]

we need more permeable pavers! i love the design. it would be cool if they make some sort of permeable paver and city road hybrid.

[@jonathan_careless]

Excellent Info!!

[@elliottmcpeek7443]

these videos r so awesome thank u

[@JosheeBwoi]

I have wondered for years what that giant hole in the Don Valley was for. Thank-you so much for solving this for me!

[@aakarshakjain996]

Amazing video

[@alexjohnson8209]

Amazing projects to come toronto is a global megacity thanks for the info. An many other canadian cities as well.

[@glenatkinson1230]

Great video again. This reminds me of a comment made by Irish raconteur and writer Brendan Behan during a visit to Toronto in the early 1960's. He said Toronto will be a fine city-"When it's finished." Haha.

[@AlbertaGengar]

Great video

[@glenpower1677]

Makes sense.

[@martybarons761]

Just need to add the Gardiner realignment to the list of major projects for the eastside of the city. Nice video.

[@frenchonionsoup8789]

nice ltt desk pad!

[@winchangkou]

Dream on Toronto. Dream on

[@WilliamChan]

I really lament what happened with Sidewalk Labs. It seems like a mix of opaque planning and public paranoia doomed it in the end. Would have been super cool to see what kind of city tech we would have seen tested there, and even if it had been a total flop, it was only a relatively small parcel of land

[@Puff996]

Finally, I now know what that giant hole in the don Valley is for

[@fengtianshi1090]

Your video sounds really technical/neat, but I just realized I live 10km from the Nuke Power Plant....been having some bad dreams, I hope God can bless City of Toronto, all projects goes well.

[@thathuskydoggo2430]

if u mean pickering, its being closed soon so just hang in there

[@MrJaywed]

You forget about the integrated pumping station at ABTP that Coxwell will connect to. It will be massive project!

[@susanluster9301]

U of T sweater guy. You are a sweetheart. I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!! They are fantastic on my big TV screen.

[@peternouwen]

I haven’t heard of one of the most important features, that Toronto of course ábsolutely múst have to look like Amsterdam: Grassy streetcar tracks with cycletracks alongside and no cars!

[@Liafram]

Are cars still getting stuck in the Queens Quay tunnel? I thought that was addressed a few years ago when they installed gates.

[@e30farmer85]

Slight correction on the coxwell by pass its a 7.3/7.5 m diameter tunnel.

[@coolwaters2829]

I like Toronto…it’s like Chicago… but in Canada

[@allenageorge]

Unfortunately, a large number of the projects referenced here are unfunded or in the preliminary planning stages only. This is especially true for the Waterfront LRT (ie streetcar) projects.

[@RMTransit]

I'm not concerned about them being built honestly

[@allenageorge]

@@RMTransit it’s highly likely the storm water bypasses will be built. I don’t share your confidence on the LRT projects. Waterfront LRT West has been proposed for over a decade with minimal work.

[@RMTransit]

Given the amount of money generated by all the development I think if the city really wants it it can find a way.

[@allenageorge]

I mean…ok? This statement could be applied to many Toronto projects, including tiny ones like replacing the Jersey barriers in front of Union. I appreciate your optimism, but the track record of Toronto-driven transit projects is fairly weak right now.

[@musicforaarre]

13:57 The red line should be shown up to Queen St., not just Eastern Ave. Slight point. Aarre Peltomaa p.s. I'm listening and watching, or I wouldn't have noticed.

[@abadheshchandrajha4206]

hi can you please explain any subway project on going in future shepherd road east and west ?

[@maxplanck9055]

Flooding is a hazard people in cities should pay attention to,it's the most likely problem in big cities that is being neglected or ignored, heavy protracted rainfall for a whole day or more,bored tunnels and storage tanks should help reduce flooding and give people time to get away from the danger zone ❤️🇬🇧

[@civilape]

would love to see a GANTT of all these

[@madameghostly]

6.3 meter sewer tunnels? I guess life really does imitate art

[@nashvalen4307]

HI, I have a question, when the municipal government is going to build the Rail Park? was this approved or?

[@TheEntreprize]

4:30 Thought Yonge Street was the east-west boundary for Toronto.

[@01296501923654]

These neighborhoods looks to become great places. Of course they are not meant for working class people. Are there any interesting projects in the less well-to-do areas of Toronto or other cities worth taking a look at?

[@edlanger9207]

I grew up in the east end of toronto the flooding is relatively new last 20-30 years they need to stop allowing builders to build over every park and allow water to be absorbed into the soil. The natural flood areas have long been built over.

[@ph11p3540]

All those wonderful projects and very few people can afford to live anywhere near the Toronto area. Kind of makes all these projects a white elephant.

[@rtw67]

“Massive shaft” teehee*

[@stephen7938]

Permeable pavement is a great idea and very useful in accounting for stormwater. The only problem is that they don't work in areas that see below freezing weather with precipitation.

[@MonicaElleRose]

TIL about the sewer tunnels, thats so oddly fascinating, had no idea these were even being planned or .. are already in development

[@sheltr9735]

Let's hope that the re-designed Queen's Quay is more successful than the current design. As you say, it's a mess! We've got cars that are (unknowingly) driven down the LRT lines and getting physically stuck on the raised rails. The clean-up involves big machines, and in the meantime, transit can be blocked for hours and/or days. We've also got pedestrians that (unknowingly) stroll leisurely right across dedicated bike lanes. No doubt, there are frequent collisions. I'd bet good money that the designers explicitly chose to avoid clear English warning signs, opting instead for language-free icons and coloured lanes painted on the pathways. Marvelous! Now EVERYBODY is EQUALLY UNAWARE of the traffic flows and the dangers! That's progress. In reality, it was designed maddeningly horribly!

[@daelbows5783]

I really hope the Port Lands ends up looking really nice and lively, and not like the West Don Lands which I think is a failure in urban planning. The West Don Lands does not have enough density and feels empty, and the architecture is just dull glass mid-rises. It feels like a towers-in-the-park design seen commonly throughout our suburbs. Except the park has been replaced with a lifeless promenade.

[@Daniel-jv1ku]

Beautiful architecture that is human-scaled and with a clear identity is definitely important.

[@Daniel-jv1ku]

The Port Lands OPM (Official Plan Modification to the Central Waterfront Secondary Plan) includes a lot of policies on architecture, although it may change as they are being appealed at the LPAT.

[@daelbows5783]

​@@Daniel-jv1ku what really makes a place lively is great architecture, an abundance of local businesses (meaning small retain spaces) and high density. This is prime space to help solve our housing shortage and it can easily house over 100k people. I hope the city uses it to its fullest extent as it is one of our last opportunities to redevelop such a large space.

[@Daniel-jv1ku]

@@daelbows5783 Agree 100%. Hopefully the LPAT doesn't screw it up.

[@carstoniu]

the new river is open but there was no rush of water they let it in very slowly to no disrepute all the work they just did on the lining of the river.. i dont think you know much about it lol

[@sijiroy5535]

I want to ask what should be there in waterfront

[@metropolitantransit7276]

It will create a city of the future as sea ice may melt but Toronto won't sink.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

?

[@metropolitantransit7276]

I think I read it from the video.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@metropolitantransit7276 Ok. I tuned out because of the Canadian metro dweller verbiage.

[@robsonwilianwinchester9726]

Hey guys.any brazilian here?

[@ZOG_EXTERMINATOR]

Why?

[@jceeross6763]

I love you

[@Machodave2020]

A little thing I disagree with. All streetcars are LRT, but not all LRTs are streetcars.

[@darthwiizius]

Funnily London is also building(built really just finishing the project off) a "super sewer" to create a new unblockable separated sewer system as the old Victorian sewers have gone beyond their 7 million(how's that for advanced planning eh?) designed capacity and were never designed to carry the modern materials people flush away these days. The new sewer terminates in Essex where a super sized treatment plant has been constructed, I mean I always thought Essex was a sh*thole but now it's officially London's "dumping" ground. 🤣

[@johnflorance4356]

Why so bullish on great lakes cities? I'm hopeful but we've been through some very hard decades.

[@MarceloPlus]

2:09 that one commercial: “it’s PICANNLE

[@markwoodley658]

I smell some pretty hefty tax increases

[@RoboJules]

Toronto is the new Chicago.

[@lemonade4181]

No, Chicago is the old Toronto.

[@deepmatharu2462]

@@lemonade4181 chicago looks like a proper fucking city chicago is way better and it's more clean

[@lemonade4181]

@@deepmatharu2462 Yeah and it’s not like Chicago has 5 times the homicide rate and a decreasing population. I’ve been to Chicago, it’s very nice, it reminded me of Toronto- on the surface. But notice how some of the streets are multilayered, try walking on the bottom layer of one of those streets and you’ll see how dirty Chicago really is. It’s past its peak, Toronto hasn’t reached its peak yet. If you define a city by skyscrapers- Toronto is on pace to surpass that; population- Toronto has already passed that. Transit usage- Toronto is miles ahead.

[@deepmatharu2462]

@@lemonade4181 compared to european cities toronto is trash have you ever been to london Berlin and melbourne?

[@deepmatharu2462]

@@lemonade4181 someone I know has visitors few years back from melbourne and their over-riding impression was just how shabby toronto is being better than chicago according to you doesn't make it good city it sucks

[@videochannels000]

not the overpriced uoft hoodie

[@cdnbearguy]

I love how they call this waterfront????? have you been to Toronto....do you see ANY waterfront????what a joke

[@y.g.1313]

This guy is kinda obsessed with non-existent floodings in Toronto. He should join Al Gore in pushing climate alarmism.

[@MKPiatkowski]

Non-existent? Have you seen what happens to Lower Simcoe and Lower Don Valley in heavy rainfall? Maybe tell the people who got flooded out on that Richmond Hill GO Train that it was all their imagination. The flood models they are using are based off of the flooding that happened when Hurricane Hazel came to town. That storm did a Harvey, just dumped a ton of rain on us for a very long time. The Humber and Don flooded and people died, which is why there is a ban on building on floodplains in Toronto now. With all the new development by the lake basin on former industrial lands (where flooding wasn't as big a deal), you bet your ass we have to take flooding into account, even it it is more about property damage at this point.

[@marks501]

Good more street cars… just what we need.. makes the city look ugly, messes up traffic, and will be out of date by the time they are done.. what a complete waste of money. Street cars are antique and obstruct traffic. Busses and trains would be better

[@MKPiatkowski]

Give me a streetcar over a bus any day. Handles more people, is a smoother ride, and doesn't take up the space trains do.

[@iancooper6689]

Your series of videos is terrific. As a former city planner for Vancouver and Toronto Waterfront, I appreciate the quality and clarity of your explanations. I also love the LFC shirt. YNWA. Check out the LFC Supporters Club that meets at the Madison Pub for live match viewing and a chance to make noise. I have a question. In your review of how you would plan Toronto's rapid transit future improvements you seemed to disparage the LRT/Streetcar scheme for Scarborough and favored the subway option over it. Was this because your video was about transit for the larger region? The Scarborough LRT/Streetcar proposal was intended to provide an enhanced network for moving within Scarborough. Were you favoring one over the other as the best service improvements/public investment option? Or are these two different discussions, i.e regional and local? I look forward to your assessment of the Scarborough local service option.

[@quantum1953]

Still 25 years behind in your infrastructure. Our commonwealth dumbest anglos getting excited over nothing.