Bloor West Village Residents Association

The City’s Public Works Committee wants to hear more from Bloor West Village residents about the proposed Annette St. bike lane. It, and Councillor Bill Saudercook, hosted a public meeting on September 15th which drew almost 100 people, a record number for such a gathering. Most spoke passionately in favour of a dedicated lane from Jane to Dundas – which wold be the only East/West bike lane in our area.

The Councillor favours a proposal that would see the lane removed from Annette from Jane to Runnymede, and replaced with a signed route (so no actual lane) on St.John’s Road.

Critics argue this is less safe and will not achieve the goal of moving more people from cars onto bikes. The meeting was not well publicized and the Committee says it wants to hear from those who could not attend before a final decision is made in October.

People have only until Monday, September 22nd to contact the Committee. The address is below.

We urge you to tell the Committee what YOU think, and send a copy to the Councillor: councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca

From the Public Works Committee

From: bikeplan [mailto:bikeplan@toronto.ca]
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 1:50 PM
To: bikeplan
Subject: Annette Street Bike Lanes

Hello,

We would like to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts regarding the proposed bike lanes on Annette Street between Runnymede and Jane, and the alternatives being considered. Many of you attended the public meeting held on Monday the 15th at James Culnan Catholic School; others have provided us with comments via mail and email.

All of the comments we receive on this issue are a valuable contribution to the decision-making process and we want to thank you for your time and input on this matter. If you have not sent in your comments yet, please send them to us by Monday, September 22nd. City Transportation staff need to integrate the comments received into a report that will be presented to City Council’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC). The PWIC will vote on how to proceed with this portion of Annette at their next meeting on October 10th, so there is limited time for staff to prepare the material that will help Council members arrive at their final decision.

In the meantime, we have posted a copy of the presentation made by staff at Monday’s meeting on the Cycling website here:

http://www.toronto.ca/cycling/public-consultations/annette-street-091508.htm

If you still want to provide us with comments regarding this issue you can:

- reply to this email address (bikeplan@toronto.ca);
- fax us at 416-392-2974; or
- mail your comments to:

Public Consultation Unit – Annette Bike Lanes
City of Toronto
Metro Hall, 55 John Street, 19th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6

Thank you again for participating in this process.

This is our last chance to weigh in on the routing of the Annette St. bike lane. As you may recall, there was to be a dedicated bike lane on Annette from Jane to Dundas West. But the route got de-railed in April by a few merchants on the Jane to Runnymede section of Annette.

Councillor Bill Saundercook asked City staff to find a way around that
section of Annette and the answer made many cyclists unhappy.
It eliminated the dedicated lane, replacing it with a signed-only section
along St.John’s Road.

Critics point out this is less safe and runs contrary to the principal that
a place must be made for bicycle traffic in order to encourage more of it.

In answer to criticsm of the first meeting, Councillor Saundercook has
called a second public meeting. Publicity for it again appears to be minimal. Advance notice was one week, at most.

The Councillor has said he supports the re-routing. If you disagree you
will have to help to change his mind by attending the meeting, or at least writing/calling him. City Hall Assistant: 416-392-4073
Constituency office: 416-338-5165 e-mail: councillor_saundercook@toronto.ca

The details of the meeting are below. If you have received a notice about this meeting, please drop us a line saying so: info@bwvra.ca

>>> Annette Bike Lanes Public Meeting
>>>
>>> In June 2008 City Council approved bike lanes for the section of
>>> Annette Street between Runnymede Road and Dundas Street West. As your Councillor I would like to discuss the section between Runnymede Road and Jane St. with you the community.
>>>
>>> The public meeting will include a presentation on alternatives for
>>> providing bike facilities west of Runnymede Road to Jane Street.
>>> Comments and questions may be submitted directly to staff and will be reviewed and considered. Public meeting is scheduled for:

>>> Monday September 15th, 2008
>>> James Culnan Catholic School
>>> 605 Willard Avenue
>>> 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

There is movement on a major transit project being planned by the City and the TTC. It involves the construction of an LRT, or light rail line on Jane St. from Bloor to Steeles.

This project has the potential to radically alter the character and traffic flows of this major artery of the Bloor West Village. The rail line will be dedicated and separate from car traffic. Some details and FAQs can be viewed at http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/jane_lrt/index.htm

The City has scheduled a public consultation meeting for next week, on Thursday, August 28, 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Syme Woolner Community School Gymnasium, 69 Pritchard Ave (north of Jane and St. Clair intersection, east of Jane). This is an open house format allowing you to view plans and ask questions.

Concern is being expressed about how much would be compressed into the relatively narrow roadway at Jane/Bloor. You are urged to see what is being planned.

The Tridel Corporation has announced that it plans a major condo project on the site of the Old Mill car dealership near Bloor and Jane (2500 Boor St. West). This is a key site and the project will set the tone at the “gateway” to Bloor West Village, including the old Humber Odeon block which has again changed owners.

Tridel has reached out to the community and created a working group that involves the BWVRA and several other residents associations. The goal is to develop a complex based after taking community concerns into account. Members of the BWVRA executive attended two “get to know you” meetings over the summer.

More substantial meetings will take place in September and we will report back to you once the proposals are spelled out. In the meantime you can visit the website created by Tridel to share information: http://www.2500Bloor.ca This will include minutes of the three meetings planned. There is a “workbook” from the initial meeting at http://2500bloor.ca/pdf/2500bloor_worksheet.pdf

As part of the road work on Annette this summer, the Toronto Bike Plan calls for the installation of bike lanes on Annette from Jane to Dundas. There was one public meeting held — with a bare minimum of publicity and very short notice — April 17, at which a few of the Annette businesses objected to the bike lane. Following this meeting, Councillor Saundercook directed city staff to find alternatives. Now the proposal calls for bike lanes on Annette only from Runnymede to Dundas, and a less-safe signed bike route (not lane) on St. John’s Road from Runnymede to Jane.

One public meeting at which only one segment of the community was able to have a voice is not sufficient. We support a solution on Annette that will work for all. In order to do so, we need to hear from all.

world19 has posted extensive background, discussion, and links to other coverage of this issue.

The city’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) will consider Councillor Saundercook’s proposal on TuesdayWednesday June 4. We encourage you to have your say at the PWIC meeting.

In order to speak at the June 4th PWIC meeting you need to contact Ros Dyer, Committee Administrator at 416-392-8018. The Committee’s email is pwic@toronto.ca for any written comments.

Flickr photo by urbanmkr

As you know the City is delivering new blue recycling bins throughout our area. It will soon be doing the same with gray garbage bins. In June you will have to tell the City what size you want and you will have to pay an annual garbage pick up fee based on the size.

To help you figure out the size you need, the Bloor West Village Residents Association (BWVRA) has asked the City to display the various options in the Village. This will be done this coming Saturday, outside the Runnymede Library (Bloor & Glendonwynne next to the LCBO).

City staff will be set up from 12pm to 4pm on May 31st to show you the bins, explain the pricing scheme and to answer your questions about the changes to the garbage and recycling pick up system. As you know the size of the new containers poses problems for some. City staff will be on hand to answer your questions about what options are open to these people.

The City’s website has further information:
http://www.toronto.ca/target70/qa.htm

This public service provided by the BWVRA. Members of our Executive will be on hand for you to renew or take out a membership – the cost is only $10. Please support us in our community work.