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Major Transit Station Areas

Major Transit Station Areas are lands within an approximate 500-800 metre radius of a transit station or stop, primarily along existing or planned transit corridors.

MTSAs are intended to be developed as high density, mixed-use, transit-supportive neighbourhoods that provide access to local amenities, jobs, housing, and recreation opportunities.

Study purpose

The Regional MTSAs study established policies to support the development of complete communities in Peel by planning for higher density mixed use growth in areas with existing or planned transit (i.e., GO Regional Express Rail Stations, Light Rail Transit, Bus Rapid Transit).

Key objectives

Why did the Region complete the study?

The Provincial Growth Plan, 2019, introduced new direction for upper-tier municipalities to work collaboratively with lower-tier municipalities to align transit investment and land use planning by directing transit-supportive densities to MTSAs along priority transit corridors.

As part of the Peel 2051 Official Plan and Municipal Comprehensive Review, the Region developed a strategy and policies to guide how growth is accommodated within Major Transit Station Areas across the Region. This work was undertaken in collaboration with Brampton, Caledon, and Mississauga.

Other information

Updates on items related to the Major Transit Station Area focus area were provided to Regional Council and the Planning and Growth Management Committee (PGMC) throughout 2021.

These reports and presentations are provided for reference below:

All other presentations and reports to the Planning and Growth Management Committee related to Peel 2051 can be found on the Official Plan Review Reading Room webpage.

During fall 2021 statutory consultations, the Region received comments and requests for changes to the MTSA delineated boundaries, classifications, and minimum densities from agencies and the public. Staff have reviewed these requests and proposed changes to several MTSAs. Revisions were presented in January 2022 comparison maps and a comparison table, and in February 2022, additional updates were made to two MTSAs, ECWE-3 (name change to Multi-modal Transportation Hub) and KIT-1 (Malton GO delineation change). The MTSA supplementary information package provides additional information on alternative densities and key changes to MTSA delineations. For further information on the requests, staff responses, and detailed mapping and tables, please refer to the documents below:

Draft MTSA Policies in the Regional Official Plan

As part of an updated Peel 2051 draft Regional Official Plan, the in-effect office consolidation was updated to illustrate tracked changes for draft policies and mapping as of October 1, 2021. Major Transit Station Area related policies can be found in Chapter 5.6.19 of this draft Regional Official Plan.

Draft Peel 2051 Regional Official Plan – October 1, 2021

Key Schedules and Figures Showing MTSAs (see “Mapping” Table)

  • Schedule Y7 – Major Transit Station Areas (New schedule being proposed)
  • Schedule Y6 – Employment Areas (New Schedule being proposed)
  • Schedule Z2 – Strategic Growth Areas (New schedule being proposed)

Ongoing Considerations

Provincial comments and comments received through statutory consultation and other engagement informed revisions to the draft MTSA Regional Official Plan Amendment.

In collaboration with local municipal staff, regional staff evaluated revising the MTSA policy framework for the following emerging corridors, as described in the October 21, 2021 Planning and Growth Management Committee Workshop presentation on Growth Management and MTSAs:

  • MTSAs previously identified as “planned” on Queen Street BRT Corridor (QUE) may be delineated and changed to a “primary” or “secondary” classification.
  • Stations on the future Eglinton Crosstown West LRT Extension from Toronto to the Pearson Airport Transit Hub may be identified as “planned” MTSAs.

Major Transit Station Area Display Boards

As part of open houses held in Summer 2021 for the overall Peel 2051 Municipal Comprehensive Review, display boards were prepared for each focus area, including Major Transit Station Areas. These display boards provide an overview of the MTSA study process, updated policy framework, and mapping.

Provincial Comments on the Draft MTSA Regional Official Plan Amendment

The Province provided comments on an earlier copy of the draft MTSA Regional Official Plan Amendment. The comments include directions to further recognize Growth Plan Priority MTSAs, expand delineated boundaries, further justify where lower alternative densities are proposed, and to make other refinements. Regional staff considered these comments for future updates to the MTSA policy framework.

Changes to MTSA Classifications and Delineations

In consideration of the August 2021 update to the MTSA Study Phase 1B report, the MTSA policy framework presented two changes:

  • The Bolton GO (HUB-1) MTSA classification was changed from “planned” to a “primary” station with a minimum density of 150 people and jobs per hectare and delineated in the draft Regional Official Plan Amendment. Compared to previous drafts in the Phase 1B MTSA profiles, the delineated MTSA boundary was expanded to include more lands in the Regional Official Plan Amendment 30 settlement boundary.
  • The Dixie (DUN-17) MTSA delineated boundary was expanded to include additional lands which are appropriate for intensification.

The changes were reflected as appropriate in the August 13, 2021 draft Regional Official Plan Consolidation Table 5.

An updated copy of the MTSA Study Phase 1B Report was prepared to address some corrections and new information on transit infrastructure and land use planning decisions. The revisions have informed the MTSA draft Official Plan policy framework of Summer 2021.

Peel MTSA Study Phase 1B Report, Revised August 2021

Peel MTSA Profiles – Part 1, August 2021

  • Hurontario Light Rail Transit (HLRT)
  • Milton GO (MIL)
  • Kitchener GO (KIT)
  • Lakeshore West GO (LWGO)
  • 403 Bus Rapid Transit / Mississauga Transitway (403)

Peel MTSA Profiles – Part 2, August 2021

  • Dundas Bus Rapid Transit (DUN)
  • Queen Street BRT (QUE)
  • 407 Bus Rapid Transit (407)
  • Lakeshore Bus Rapid Transit (LBRT)
  • Transit Hubs (HUB)

The MTSA policy framework was updated considering this further analysis and comments received from engagement with stakeholders and the public. As part of the December 10, 2020 Peel 2041+ Regional Official Plan Review update to Regional Council, a draft MTSA Regional Official Plan Amendment was presented.

Proposed Schedule Y7 and Table Y1 in the draft Regional Official Plan Amendment show how each MTSA will appear in the Regional Official Plan MTSA policy framework.

In Phase 1B of the study, each station area was reviewed through an integrated planning lens to develop a Regional classification of stations, establish minimum densities, and guide MTSA implementation planning to be undertaken by the local municipalities (i.e. official plan policy and zoning). Development and zoning capacity and infrastructure capacity cost analysis was used to determine proposed Regional Official Plan minimum densities for each MTSA.

Individual MTSA profiles reflect this information and provide recommendations for station area planning to create transit-oriented neighbourhoods.

As part of the June 25, 2020 Peel 2041 council report, an MTSA policy directions report was prepared to provide background information and initial directions based on Phase 1A of the MTSA study.

This report includes policy issues and updates necessary to reflect provincial policy direction and conformity.

The policy directions report also outlines next steps in the Phase 1B of the MTSA study, which will prioritize MTSAs and incorporate broader considerations including local priorities, infrastructure assessments, and strategic opportunities.

The results of Phase 1B and the policy directions informed the new Region of Peel Official Plan that guides the development of MTSAs across the Region, delineating station area boundaries, and establishing minimum density targets.

MTSA Policy Directions Report and Appendices (PDF)

Draft MTSA Policies in Proposed ROP Section 5.6 (PDF)

As part of the Phase 1A work for the Regional Major Transit Station Area study, the potential MTSAs were reviewed through an analytical lens evaluation, sorted into typologies, and profiled with preliminary boundary delineations and existing densities. The Phase 1A report outlines this work and an emerging framework which informed the next phase in the study.

The draft profiles provide a snapshot of the current conditions of each station, including preliminary boundary delineations and existing densities. The profiles were intended to frame a discussion on how each station will be planned for in the future.

Phase 1A Report

MTSAs on Priority Transit Corridors

Other MTSAs

If you have any comments on the profiles or preliminary delineations, please contact us.

The Region of Peel held an Open house (PDF) on July 9, 2019 for the community to learn about the study. Attendees had the opportunity to review the location of potential MTSAs in the Region, speak to the study team, and participate in an interactive exercise about the factors that support successful transit-oriented communities.

From July 17th to July 31st, an online engagement survey and accessible form were open to those who could not attend the open house to provide their input. Comments gathered in person and online were reviewed and considered to inform the MTSA Study

Review the open house display boards.

Supporting documents

For more information, email Regional Planning or call (905) 791-7800 ext. 7169.

Focus areas