City of Guelph voices opposition to Metrolinx pitch to build substation in city park

Metrolinx says a traction power substation, like the one pictured here, is needed to power the trains travelling along GO Transit's Kitchener line. - Metrolinx photo

A group of residents are voicing their opposition to a proposed substation in a nearby park — and the City of Guelph says it doesn’t want it there either.

In an email to the Mercury Tribune, Terry Gayman, city engineer and general manager of engineering and transportation service for the City of Guelph, says the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to Metrolinx’s proposal.

“The city’s position is that while improved rail service and associated environmental benefits from electrification are an important part of our strategic and community plans, the city does not want the (traction power substation) TPS infrastructure in a city park,” he says.

According to documents posted online as part of Metrolinx’s consultations on extending two-way, all-day GO train service along the Kitchener line, the provincial transit agency is looking to build a traction power substation near the line in Guelph, helping power the electrified tracks.

The substation, according to those documents, is needed to transform the power from Hydro One’s 230 kV high voltage grid, down to two 25kV lines running above the track, powering the trains.

However, while the documents show the study area for the substation being vacant with “no current development applications,” it is actually the west end of Margaret Greene Park.

In his email, Gayman says that while it is too early to say whether Metrolinx would purchase, lease or expropriate the land from the city should it go ahead with this proposal as is, “we will be encouraging Metrolinx to reconsider their selection.”

A neighbourhood meeting is currently planned for Thursday, Aug. 6, to discuss the transit agency’s proposal, with city staff slated to attend to answer any questions.