A project to enhance runway safety at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

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The construction of RESA as well as any additional improvements will not lengthen the active runway, facilitate the use of new aircraft, or increase operations at the airport.  The boundaries and size of the existing Marine Exclusion Zone will also remain unchanged.

Runway End Safety Area 2027

PortsToronto, which owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto Centre Airport (the Airport), is developing a plan to comply with Transport Canada’s  Runway End Safety Area (RESA) directive. These regulations apply to Canadian airports that regularly serve at least 325,000 passengers each year.

The creation of new RESA zones at Canadian airports has three objectives: aligning with international standards and recommendations set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which emphasizes the importance of RESAs in improving runway safety; reducing the likelihood and severity of accidents involving aircraft overrunning the runway or undershooting it during takeoff or landing; and enhancing the safety of passengers and crew by providing an additional margin of safety in the event of an aircraft excursion beyond the runway.

By implementing the RESA directive, Transport Canada aims to create safer runways and improve overall aviation safety across the country. 

Environmental Assessment Study Report

June 2, 2025: AECOM and PortsToronto release the Runway End Safety Area, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Environmental Assessment Study Report (Large PDF | Small PDF) and Appendices.

Le rapport (PDF), et les annexes sont aussi disponibles en français.

News

Statement on Toronto City Council’s RESA and term extension decision (Read more)

Statement on Pedestrian Pathway Associated with Runway End Safety Areas (RESA) Design Proposed for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Read More)

Reports from our four public meetings concerning RESA

PortsToronto held two public consultation meetings to introduce the RESA compliance program on July 17 from 2-4 pm and 6-8pm at the Auditorium at George Brown Waterfront Campus (51 Dockside Drive)

  • To view the slides presented at these meetings, click here (PDF).

  • To view videos of the public consultation meetings, click here.

PortsToronto held two public consultation meetings to present the preliminary findings from an environmental assessment of three RESA options on Oct 15 from 2-4 pm and 6-8pm at the Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre.

  • To view the slides presented at these meetings, click here (PDF).

  • To view videos of the public consultation meetings, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Transport Canada’s new regulations were published in the Canada Gazette, amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Parts I, III and VI — RESA): SOR/2021-269 in January 2022. These regulations apply to any Canadian airport that reaches 325,000 passengers for two consecutive years. When Statistics Canada publishes its passenger numbers for 2023 (by Summer 2024), Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will have reached 325,000 annual passengers for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023). This triggers the 3-year implementation period timeline to complete the RESA project, requiring RESA to be in place at the Airport by Q2 2027.

  • None of the RESA options being considered will impact the marine exclusion zone (MEZ) and therefore will not impact the use of the lake.

    More work is being undertaken by PortsToronto with AECOM to further understand the environmental impact through a comprehensive environmental assessment.

  • As part of the RESA Enhancement Project, PortsToronto is working with AECOM to undertake a comprehensive environmental assessment. This will include components related to:

    • Natural environment

    • Marine physical environment

    • Water quality assessment

    • Socio-economic assessment

    • Marine navigation

    • Air quality

    • Noise

    • Built form and land use

    • Transportation

    • Archaeology and cultural heritage

    PortsToronto is committed to identifying and implementing sustainability measures and operational impact mitigation to ensure environmental protection and address community concerns.

  • No. In fact, some RESA options include noise walls that would reduce the impact of airport noise.

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