Staff is recommending what the Mayor’s Office has likely told them to recommend.
Toronto City Council should stick with the long term plan for transportation and reduce grid lock through encouraging sustainable alternative forms though applicable infrastructure improvements – like cycle lanes, and better walking environments.
Please support the "Alternative B" recommendation by City Staff as presented in "John Street Corridor Improvements Environmental Assessment Study" - in keeping with the City of Toronto's 'Complete Streets' Policy.
To:
City of Toronto Public Works and Infrastructure Committee,
(councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, councillor_layton@toronto.ca,
councillor_parker@toronto.ca, councillor_perks@toronto.ca,
councillor_shiner@toronto.ca, councillor_minnan-wong@toronto.ca, pwic@toronto.ca
- and -
cc: councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca, info@bikeunion.to, councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca)
(Councillor Paula Fletcher is councillor in the ward where I live; find your councillor's address - http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp
Re: "John Street Corridor Improvements Environmental Assessment Study" - City of Toronto reference number: P:\2012\Cluster B\TRA\TIM\pw12002tim (Web: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-44944.pdf?)
City of Toronto Public Works and Infrastructure Committee,
Please support the "Alternative B" recommendation by City Staff as presented in "John Street Corridor Improvements Environmental Assessment Study" - in keeping with the City of Toronto's 'Complete Streets' Policy.
The Alternatives in Redeveloping John Street
Alternative A: Narrow Lanes with a flexible boulevard(Via City of Toronto action document - reference number: P:\2012\Cluster B\TRA\TIM\pw12002tim - http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-44944.pdf? - page 10)
• 3.2 m wide travel lanes to maximize road narrowing and calm vehicular speeds;
• Cyclists move in tandem with vehicles;
• A continuous ‘flexible boulevard’ along the east side that maintains an expanded sidewalk while accommodating occasional deliveries & other programming;
• Narrow 3-lane section south of Wellington Street to accommodate turning movements; and
• Mountable curbs for flexible boulevards and to accommodate truck turns
Alternative B: Conventional Lane widths
• 4.2 m wide travel lanes to accommodate cyclists beside vehicles;
• Deliveries at curbside as currently permitted;
• Roadway width maintained and not widened north of Queen;
• Northbound right turn lane provided at Adelaide Street;
• Lay-by provided in front of Metro Hall; and
• Typical 3-lane section south of Wellington to accommodate turning movements.
City of Toronto Sustainable Development Policy
City of Toronto's sustainable development policy - also known as the "Complete Streets Policy" - is described at the City of Toronto website under "City Planning" which is linked to a page titled, "Transportation Planning", which states, in part:
"Transportation Planning oversees policies and projects with the goal of improving transit, discouraging automobile dependence and encouraging alternative forms of transportation such as walking, cycling, subways and streetcars.(via http://www.toronto.ca/planning/tp_index.htm)
"Transportation Planning delivers a number of services including identifying strategic improvement opportunities, assessing transportation needs that focus on implementing the Official Plan, and developing leading-edge policies on major transportation initiatives in the City and the Greater Toronto Area. We research and analyze transportation and travel trends in the City and surrounding Regions and provide travel demand forecasting services city-wide. We work closely with the TTC, GO Transit and other transportation agencies in the many areas of mutual interest."
And as well, directly from the City of Toronto Official Plan - (December 2010) in chapter two of which under the title "Shaping the City", and in a section titled "Policies" (page 2-26, 2-27 and 2-28) states:
(Item 1 and item 7 of 14 items)(via (http://www.toronto.ca/planning/official_plan/pdf_chapter1-5/chapters1_5_dec2010.pdf)
1. Travel demand management (TDM) measures will be introduced to reduce car depndancy and rush hour congestion by:
a) increasing the proportion of trips made by transit, walking and cycling;
b) increasing the average car occupancy rate;
c) reducing the demand for vehicular travel; and
d) shifting travel times from peak to off-peak periods.
...
7. Policies, programs and infrastructure will be introduced to create a safe comfortable and bicycle friendly environment that encourages people of all ages to cycle for everyday transportation and enjoyment including:
a) an expanded bikeways network;
b) provision of bicycle parking facilities in new developments;
c) provision of adequate and secure bicycle parking at rapid transit stations;
and
d) measures to improve the safety of cyclists through the design and operation of streets and through education and promotion programs
...
In support of the Toronto Cyclists Union 'Action Alert' of February 14, 2012
"In June 2011, the short-listed design concepts for John Street were released. Alternative A recommended 3.2m travel lanes where cyclists would ride in the centre of the lane in tandem with vehicles. Alternative B recommended 4.2m travel lanes which would provide an extra 1m of space to cyclists to ride beside vehicles. The extra space would also allow for sharrows or a different pavement pattern to delineate the space for cyclists. In June, the bike union expressed support for the project and Alternative B for these reasons. Now, city staff are recommending to the Public Works Committee that Alternative A be adopted instead."(no web address)
Sincerely,
Michael Holloway
Resident Ward 30,
Jones Av. and Dundas St
END
--------------------------------
Find YOUR councillor's email address via a ward map of the city:
City of Toronto: Ward Profiles - http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp
mh
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