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| Home> News & Views> Streetcar News> MF 031107 |
This email has been posted with the permission of the author. From:
Mauro Franzoni
St. Clair Ave. West COMMENT SHEET I am a resident of the St. Clair corridor and attended the meeting at Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre on Thursday October 16, 2003. I have the following comments on the proposed transit ‘right of way’ along St. Clair Avenue West.
1) Item – Holding up of traffic and transit at signaled intersections. Comment a) I believe that all signalized intersections should also have advance left turn signals especially the major ones. This would reduce vehicle backups and improve the movement of public transit.
2) Item – The question of vehicle vs. transit users. Comment a) I believe that the use of cars in our society will not go away. You can’t expect or legislate people to not have cars. The idea here is to help transit improve and still allow the vehicle user to function. The program items that need addressing are vehicularmovement, streetcars, parking, pedestrians, business access andcommunity function to name a few. How can we best accommodate these items and keep the integrity of the street as as whole not parts.
3) Item – Dedicated transit ‘right-of-way’ Comment a) Why not create dedicated transit lanes during rush hour to allowthe transit system and taxis use of these. Similar to the signals on Jarvis St. b)
Someone mentioned that in a foreign country they recently saw
the use of round curbs as separators during rush hour and then
they would drop down during other periods to allow other users
into the laneway. If we are going through all the work all
4) Item – Traffic Study. Comment a)
Throughout all this I have not heard anyone mention specificallythat
a traffic study will be conducted to show the complete before
and after analysis of the patterns, which will be fully explained
and the results made public at a meeting. This has to b) The point being; ‘INDEPENDANT TRAFFIC STUDY’
5) Item – 23% of the affected population are retirees. Comment a)
The fact that 23% are retired and that there will be other younger
families taking there place is correct but, just the sameothers
will be retiring and take their place. Furthermore, census statistics
show that our population is getting older not younger.
6) Item – Is the concern rush hour traffic? Comment a) If the concern is to control the rush hour traffic then why Implement something, which will affect the street permanently. It would seem that a solution that controls vehicles and streetcars during rush hour is not required during off peak hours.
7) Item – Different zones for St Clair. Comment a) St. Clair functions with many zones and intensities along it’s Corridor. It would be wrong to isolate them, why implement something which will affect the street permanently. It would seem that a solution that controls vehicles and streetcars during rush hour is not required during off peak hours.
8) Item – Cost of street car track replacement. Comment a) The cost to replace the tracks is said to be $25 million. This is to replace as is, but to do anything different like raising the tracks could cost significantly more. This plan also doesn’t allow for any other street improvement or beautification. b) There are not enough options being investigated to provide the public with a complete picture for evaluation. c) As someone mentioned at the meeting, never have we seen a set of streetcar tracks last 25 years as the TTC is insisting it will.
9) Item – Traffic diversion. Comment a) By implementing dedicated street car tracks with little chance of left turns, the traffic will only be diverted to the side streets to address the congestion on St. Clair. The very reason traffic calming measures and street directions are used is to deflect traffic to the main arteries allowing the residential streets to be less busy and quieter. b) The problem with the left turns being deleted means cars will have to drive around in circles to get at their homes or for visiting.
10) Item – Where will all the parking go? Comment a) If the street parking is reduced and/or eliminated in some cases and not replaced in some form by either lots or garages near the retail the public will be forced to go elsewhere to shop and for entertainment. b) People travel from other cities and communities to St. Clair to shop, eat and socialize. By stifling any street dynamic, reducing vehicular access and not providing anything to compensate for it will drive those users to other areas outside the city (box retail malls) to provide their needs.
11) Item – Urban planning? Comment a) If the plan is to re-urbanize the streetscape along St. Clair and create a viable, thriving, dynamic and culturally diverse atmosphere, the idea should be to unite the street not separate it. b) There needs to be a complete study undertaken to address the social and economic needs for St. Clair as a whole and throughout its very individual zones. c) St. Clair needs to be reassessed as a major street and zoning bylaws require revisions. d) The idea of the piazza or meeting place needs to be part of the concept along with umpteen other issues which promote the vitality of the street. e) The street needs some cleaning up or street design to help the businesses and this will also ultimately improve the economy of the street as a whole.
12) Item – Emergency vehicles. Comment a) By creating raised streetcar tracks the emergency vehicles will not be able to use the whole street to get to an emergency. If there should be a congestion or problem on their side they have no means of accessing the other side of the road as they might do now.
13) Item – Services. Comment a) As part of the street beautification why not look at this opportunity to bury the services and get rid of some of the ugly street poles and confusion of wires.
14) Item – Work schedule. Comment a) The people of St. Clair and more so the merchants should have a clear understanding of the scope of the work and be promised a fixed schedule so any interruption to their businesses will be as minor as possible.
Conclusion –Providing
new streetcar tracks for St. Clair is a requirement which cannot
be avoided, but the lack of thought and microcosmic decisions
by the TTC being pressed upon the public and merchants with no
alternatives but their own is shortsighted and concerning. The
whole picture is not being presented and the responses to the
issues are dogmatic and skewed toward their agenda and political
needs. We have an opportunity to create the most vibrant street in the city and this will all slip away if all the planning issues are not addressed in a master plan for the entire street which could be implemented over a few years if need be. I urge all parties involved to think about the larger picture for St. Clair and take this opportunity to create a model that the city and residents can be proud of. Mauro
Franzoni Editor's note : The facts and opinions expressed in the above email are those of the author and do not represent the views of MyStClair.com. Our interest remains to act as a conduit for information regarding matters relating to neighbourhoods along St Clair Ave W and the Ridge. Anyone wishing to comment is encouraged to do so. |
