Friends,
This week at City Council, I was pleased to vote in favour of the Mayor's successful motion to accelerate the implementation of the Surface Transit Network Plan (STNP).
The SNTP aims to improve the speed and reliability of buses and streetcars by implementing a range of transit priority solutions along 20 major roads. Transit priority solutions can include dedicated bus lanes, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, transit priority signals, queue jump lanes, bus bays and other solutions.
With up to 70 per cent of all transit journeys requiring the use of a bus or streetcar, increasing surface transit reliability will improve the lives of thousands of transit users that depend on transit each day.
Council also voted unanimously to expand the City's Administrative Penalty System (APS) to include Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement violations, effective November 1, 2024.
The new process for Red Light Camera and Automated Speed Enforcement disputes will function similarly to the process already in place for parking violations, which is handled by the City instead of provincial courts.
Establishing the expanded APS moves forward the Vision Zero Road Safety plan, supports speedier dispute resolution, and enables more efficient use of limited court time in provincial courts.
I'm hopeful that together these two key items will improve service on our public transit network and will increase public safety on our roadways.
Sincerely,
Gord
- Notice: King Street West Construction
- Survey: Large Quadricycles
- Community Event: Great Backyard Bird Count in High Park
King Street West Construction - Dufferin Street to Shaw Street - 2024
The TTC has finalized details on how streetcars/buses will be diverted around the upcoming watermain replacement/streetcar track renewal work on King Street West (Shaw to Dufferin), starting February 18, 2024. The diversion details are as follows:
- 501 Queen streetcars will divert onto Dufferin Street (to Dufferin Gate Loop) until 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., 501 Queen streetcars will operate west to Long Branch Loop along its regular routing.
- 504A King streetcars will divert onto Queen Street West between Shaw Street and Roncesvalles Avenue. 504B King streetcars will divert onto Queen Street West between Shaw Street and Roncesvalles Avenue and extend to Humber Loop before 10 p.m., and to Roncesvalles Avenue after 10 p.m.
- 508 Lake Shore streetcars will divert onto Queen Street West between Shaw Street and Roncesvalles Avenue (starting February 19, 2024).
- 63 Ossington buses will be extended along King Street West between Dufferin Street and Roncesvalles Avenue. This will provide service both ways along this section of King Street West, Liberty/East Liberty Avenue, and Strachan Avenue.
The City’s project webpage toronto.ca/kingwestconstruction and TTC project page ttc.ca/KingStreetTrackRenewal have been updated with this information. A Construction Notice will be mailed shortly with additional details is below.
The City will be hosting a virtual public information event on February 15th at 6:30pm.
We will be presenting details regarding phasing, impacts about the project and provide a time for questions.
Large Quadricycle – Survey to Assess Pilot Program
Large quadricycles are bicycles with seats and pedals for up to 16 passengers, which move by pedal power and are steered by a trained operator. A pilot to allow large quadricycles in Toronto was approved by Council in June 2022. Conditions of the pilot include that operators need a Pedicab license and that the General Manager of Transportation Services must approve every route on which the large quadricycles operate. Since then, a single vendor has operated up to 4 large quadricycles on a seasonal basis, mostly in Ward 10. Toronto’s large quadricycle pilot operates under the Provincial Highway Traffic Act Large Quadricycle Pilot regulation. City staff are considering the experience of the pilot to date and are seeking input from the public. The survey link below asks five key questions about your experience and opinion regarding large quadricycles in Toronto. It will take about 10 minutes to complete. No personally identifying information is requested. The survey will be open until February 23, 2024.
Large Quadricycle (e.g. Pedal Pub) – Public Survey (chkmkt.com)
Great Backyard Bird Count Family Day Weekend in High Park
Join High Park Nature Centre with your friends and family for one or all four days of their Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) community science birding event. The event will be a walk through High Park identifying, learning about and counting the birds spotted. The data collected will be submitted to eBird.
Note: This is a beginner and family friendly birding event. Considering the duration and nature of the event, it may be more suitable for older children (10+ years old) or children who are comfortable being outside for long periods of time.
This event is part of the global four-day Great Backyard Bird Count weekend. The event will also take place on the following days:
Price: FREE
