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If you are just tuning into the issue now, you'll want to read our previous summaries so you can get all caught up:

• Streetcar Right-Of-Way - The Story So Far   (Mar 5, 2003)

• Streetcar Right-Of-Way - The Saga Continues   (Jun 13, 2003)

• Streetcar Right-Of-Way - The EA Gets Underway   (Oct 9, 2003)

• Streetcar Right-Of-Way - A New Chapter Is Opened   (Nov 4, 2003)

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In the coming days and weeks the EA Study Team will be revealing which of the alternatives it will take into the 'design concept' phase, with the third round of Public Meeting scheduled for April 13 and 14.

A lot as transpired since our last summary so this seemed like a good time to catch up. If you want a more complete story, read our previous summaries (see links above).

First of all was the municipal election on November 10th which saw David Miller emerge from a pack of 5 front-runners to take the post as mayor, broom firmly in hand - a symbol of his campaign to clean up the city.

On the transit front, this period saw a number of public consultations between the EA Study Team and community groups from along the length of St Clair. (A list of these is available here). These were essentially information exchanges and an opportunity to ask more specific questions about the process, the alternatives under consideration and their potential impacts.

It was during November that the Study Design was finally released to the public, the document which outlines how the Environmental Study is to be conducted, a process which had begun in August with the assignment of the consultants Marshal Macklin Monahan (MMM) to conduct the study.

On December 16th, MyStClair organized a Community Streetcar Meeting at Holy Rosary Parish Hall, which sought to bring together all the community groups along St Clair in order to share what was known, how each group viewed the situation and what steps, if any they were planning to take in future. Ward 21 Councillor and TTC Vice Chair Joe Mihevc was at the meeting and made himself available for questions.

The following day, December 17th, a delegation of community representatives from Ward 17 as well as Ward 17 Councillor Cesar Palacio and Ward 11 Councillor Frances Nunziata met with Mayor Miller to discuss concerns over the EA process.

Speaking of community groups, this period saw the formation of two new groups on opposite sides of the dedicated right-of-way alternative.

The first to form was a group of residents and business owners under the acronym SNAF (St Clair Now and for the Future) which was later to become SOS for Save Our St Clair. The group stands in opposition to a dedicated right-of-way and has been conducting a postering and petition campaign. They have now also established a website (www.saveourstclair.ca)

The second group to form was SCRIPT (St Clair Right-of-way Initiative for Public Transit) who held their first organizing meeting in January of 2004. In addition to establishing a website and organizing information sessions, the group has also been pamphleting throughout the community (www.script2004.ca).

It is interesting to note that founding members of both groups are or had been at one time, members of SWRC (St Clair West Revitalization Committee).

The new year also saw the introduction of a new component to the study process with the first of a series of Community Workshops conducted on a very wintry day in late January at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. Over twenty community groups, including SOS and SCRIPT, as well as residents and business associations were involved in an exercise designed to help in the formulation of the Evaluation Criteria which would subsequently be used to determine the preferred alternative.

There has been no shortage of meetings during the last few months. In addition to the ones noted above have been meetings amongst the St Clair BIA's (Business Improvement Areas). Most notable of these was a meeting organized by Jeff Gillan of Corso Italia which saw presentations from SCRIPT and SOS. Particularly noteworthy was the unveiling of their proposed alternative for transit improvement developed by Corso Italia BIA, which includes the elimination of safety islands. The BIAs are presently considering a common position on the transit issue and possibly endorsing the Corso Italia Alternative.

The second round of Public Meetings were conducted in February at which time the public at large had an opportunity to input on the Evaluation Criteria. The 9 alternatives under consideration were also presented in greater detail than at the previous meeting.

The second Community Workshop was conducted on March 30th, where the focus was on applying the Evaluation Criteria to the 9 alternatives noted above.

In February, and now in April, the EA Study Team distributed newsletters throughout the community.

IN March, a discussion document addressing urban design issues as well as parking and other considerations was released

Details on the alternatives and other considerations, as well as PDFs of the Study Design, the Urban Design Working paper and the newsletters are available on the City's website:

www.toronto.ca/planningstudies/...

Tuesday April 13 and Wednesday April 14 will the third round of Public Meetings, at which it is understood we will be advised of which alternatives will be considered for the design concept phase (Phase 3). Details are available here:

Public Meetings - Round 3

Anticipating a green light for a dedicated right-of-way, SOS is planning a rally on Sat April 17th. Details are available on their website:

www.saveourstclair.ca

 

SCRIPT will be holding a community forum on Wed April 21, with details on their website:

www.script2004.ca

We are now very much in the middle of this process, with the first indication of what alternatives will be pursued imminent. Stay posted and stay informed on this very important issue.

If you have any information or comments, please be sure to let us know. We are encouraging people to let their positions be known, whatever that position may be. We will post those comments unedited and identify you in whatever manner you deem appropriate. We also invite you to review the postings we have already received.