David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, has filed an official objection to Metrolinx’s proposed Georgetown South Service Expansion and Union-Pearson Rail Link (GSSE/EPRL) using diesel trains. Mr. McKeown says that Metrolinx has underestimated the health effects of 5-9 times as many diesel trains passing through our neighbourhood each day. He says these effects include respiratory irritation and unacceptable risks of leukemia.
He has asked John Gerretson, Ontario Minister of the Environment, to stop the expansion unless it uses an electrified line.
Torontoist recently published an excellent summary of the GSSE/UPRL controversy. The Clean Train Coalition has urged residents to contact the Minister of the Environment before August 31 to demand immediate electrification of the GSSE/UPRL.
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For very detailed analysis of how this expansion will affect the west of Toronto and the Queen Street Arts District, you can go to http://railroadedbymetrolinx.blogspot.com/ – it has a lot of great information about the GSSE/UPRL corridor expansion and Metrolinx.