Project Prioritization Framework Principles February 20, 2009

Background November 28, 2008, Metrolinx Board approved the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and Investment Strategy RTP identified Top 15 Priority Projects for early implementation leveraging Province’s $11.5 B MoveOntario 2020 commitment Board also directed staff to complete project-level Benefits Case Analysis (BCA) work for all Top 15 Priority Projects, beyond those with pre-existing, legacy commitments

BCA/Prioritization Work Plan Pearson Airport-Union Rail Link Spadina Subway Extension Mississauga Transitway Peel Queen Street RT Summer 2009 Hamilton King-Main RT Halton-Peel Dundas RT Peel Hurontario RT Durham Highway 2 RT GO Transit Rail: Bowmanville extension and other service improvements November 2008 Spring 2009 February 2009 Scarborough RT Eglinton Crosstown Finch West LRT Yonge North Subway Extension GO Lakeshore Electrification Construction start in 2009 October 2008 York VIVA Sheppard East LRT Proposed Workplan Strategy BCA Completion Project Prioritization Framework to support 2010/11 and beyond Metrolinx Capital Plan recommendations (Summer 2009) Pre-Metrolinx implementation priorities Previously announced and funded by other sources Continuing progress towards construction start

Prioritization Rationale Ensure fair, transparent, defensible basis for decisions on the optimal multi-year staging of Top 15 Priority Projects Provide comparative, evidenced-based evaluation and ranking of priority projects on a region-wide basis for the first time in the GTHA Prioritization decisions will support development of the 2010-11 and 5-Year Metrolinx Capital Plan “Made-in-GTHA” approach informed by best practices in other leading jurisdictions

Proposed Prioritization Timelines Three-step approach recommended for development of Prioritization Framework: Allows sufficient time to complete: Outstanding BCAs and Consultations with municipal, transit agency, provincial and other stakeholders on prioritization parameters February 2009 Board approval of Prioritization Framework guiding principles Spring 2009 Board review of potential prioritization scenarios, weighting and criteria following completion of additional BCA reports Summer 2009 Final Project Prioritization recommendations, supported by completion of all remaining BCAs, presented for Board approval

Proposed Guiding Principles Staff recommend five principles be adopted to guide development of Prioritization Framework: Process should be clear, logical and transparent Decisions should be evidence-based and data-driven Consistent, region-wide application of prioritization criteria Build on project-level BCA results and broader RTP goals and objectives Provide advice and support to decision-makers, but not prescribe decisions based on rigid, quantitative rankings Flexibility to accommodate Board-directed strategic policy preferences and weightings

Prioritization Criteria – Considerations BCA and RTP measures provide data that could form the basis of the Prioritization Framework BCA process provides comparative, standardized assessment of the “triple bottom line” costs and benefits of project alternatives, consistent with the goals and objectives of the Big Move BCA assessments undertaken in close collaboration with municipal and transit agency staff through project technical teams Metrolinx staff are reviewing BCA outputs to ensure comparability between projects for the purposes of the Prioritization Framework Costs, benefits and other impacts can be scaled to allow comparisons between projects of differing orders-of magnitude (e.g., benefits per dollar invested/per kilometre/per new rider) Additional criteria beyond BCA and RTP measures can be incorporated, if appropriate Review required to avoid double-counting project costs and benefits

Potential Evaluation Criteria Staff recommend that criteria broadly consistent with the following categories form the basis of the Prioritization Framework: Transportation User/Customer Benefits Financial Impacts Environmental Impacts Economic Development Impacts Social and Community Impacts Other Impacts (e.g., potential network implications) Staff will review BCA and RTP measures, as well as potential additional criteria, and report back with recommended criteria in Spring 2008, following consultations with municipal, transit agency, provincial and other stakeholders

Staff Recommendations Receive Report ISP 09-002 “Project Prioritization Framework Principles”; Five principles to guide the development of the Project Prioritization Framework: Clear, logical and transparent; Evidence-based and data-driven; Consistent, region-wide application across the Top 15 Priority Projects; Builds on The Big Move and project-level Benefits Case Analysis Accommodates strategic policy preferences and weightings as may be directed by the Board

Staff Recommendations Prioritization criteria broadly consistent with: Transportation customer and user benefits; Financial impacts; Environmental impacts; Economic development impacts; Social and community impacts; and Other impacts as appropriate. Metrolinx staff consult with municipal, transit agency, provincial and other stakeholders and partners in the ongoing development of a viable Project Prioritization Framework; and Metrolinx staff report back to the Board: In May 2009 with the next iteration of the Prioritization Framework, including project prioritization ranking scenarios based on BCA and RTP data inputs; and In July 2009 with a final report and recommendations for prioritizing the balance of the RTP Top 15 Priority Projects, and to support the development of the Metrolinx 2010/11 Capital Plan and update to the rolling Five-Year Capital Plan.