BikingToronto is a TCAT supporter. Here's the latest from TCAT:
(To subscribe to TCAT News, go to http://torontocat.ca/main/?q=join)
1. TTC Station Improvements – Public open house, November 7th, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Apologies for the short notice, but the TTC is holding a public open house this evening to provide information and receive comments regarding the plans for a 3-year construction project that will result in a wide range of improvements for Kipling and Islington stations.
Date: Wednesday, November 7
Time: Open House, 6:00 pm; Presentation, 7:30 pm
Location: Islington United Church, 25 Burnhamthorpe Road (Burnhamthorpe and Dundas)
You can view the flyer by clicking here
For information on the entire station modernization project, including Pape and Victoria Park stations, click here
2. Toronto's Walking Strategy - Public consultation, November 8th, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
As reported in October, the City has released a report titled Steps Towards a Walkable City: Proposed Framework for a Toronto Walking Strategy. This report builds on the public consultation the City has already undertaken and was put together by City staff in the Transportation Services division, along with input from an inter-divisional working group.
The next public meeting to learn more and provide comments on the development of the Walking Strategy is this Thursday.
Date: Thursday November 8
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Toronto Reference Library - Beeton Auditorium, 789 Yonge St. (north of Bloor on Yonge)
For more information about the event call 416-392-7200 or email pedplan@toronto.ca
3. 2008 Capital Budget Process – Public Hearings, November 13th
Last week the City released its draft 2008 Capital Budget. TCAT is still pouring over the many documents to see where the City is directing funds that invest in active transportation, and we will be releasing our public comments and recommendations later this week – STAY TUNED!
TCAT encourages all our supporters to come speak to the Budget Committee next Tuesday during the public hearing session. This is the only opportunity to voice your support for funding of projects that improve the walking and cycling environment in Toronto.
To find the public presentation and analyst briefing notes visit the City’s web site by clicking here
To sign up to make a deputation on November 13th, contact the committee secretary at mmacdona@toronto.ca or 416-392-7340.
4. Neighbourhood Design linked to Diabetes – Toronto study released
As reported in all the major news outlets last week, The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and St. Michael’s Hospital released a report titled Neighbourhood Environments and Resources for Healthy Living: A Focus on Diabetes in Toronto – ICES Atlas.
[note: the ICES Bicycle User Group is a TCAT supporter]
This report links various neighbourhood factors with the incidence of diabetes in Toronto. Many of the findings relate to neighbourhood design, accessibility and mobility. In this regard, the report might not tell us a lot active transportation supporters don’t already believe – but it provides science and data to back it up.
Areas with high rates of diabetes tend to be found outside of Toronto’s downtown core, in suburban areas, where there is reduced access to healthy resources such as fruit and vegetable stores and where “activity friendliness” is lower (e.g. fewer amenities within walking distance, poorer access to public transit, greater car dependency).
Among the many recommendations made in the report, the researchers suggest the City
Change planning, development and zoning practices to reduce urban sprawl, increase residential density and promote mixed land use.
To read the news release click here
To read the full report click here
5. Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA) – TCAT comments on early projects
Recently, TCAT wrote to the GTTA to express our opinion regarding the authority’s ‘early wins’. These are the projects the GTTA thinks it can implement easily, fast, and which will provide returns on the investment early on. To see a list of these projects, see the GTTA’s report by clicking here
The major intent of TCAT’s letter was to highlight the importance of the relationship between transportation and land use. The GTTA should invest in areas that will be able to support transit use – neighbourhoods where you can walk or cycle to transit without relying on the car for certain trips.
TCAT applauds the GTTA and the Province of Ontario in pursuing early actions that will invest in Ontario’s transit network, prior to full development of the GTTA’s Regional Transportation Plan. As an organization that works to promote walking and cycling, we consider transit an important piece of the sustainable transportation equation. Walking to and from a transit stop or station is always a component of a transit trip and cycling is a component of an increasing number of transit trips. However, the ability to walk or cycle to transit is highly reliant on supportive land use and urban design policies and practice. Sidewalks, safe crosswalks and bike routes are necessary for commuters to choose active transportation instead of cars to access transit.
The Province now looks to the GTTA for expertise and guidance for where best to invest in public transit. In choosing ‘early win’ projects, the GTTA should ensure that the areas it invests in also consider the needs of cyclists and pedestrians, in addition to those of transit users and drivers, so that the full sustainable multi-modal vision can be realized. This priority is stated clearly in the Province’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Rather than focusing its early investments on projects located in greenfield areas where land-use decisions regarding density may not be determined, and where transit ridership levels are likely to be low for the immediate and short term, TCAT would prefer to see the GTTA invest in transit projects that could serve existing urban areas, where traffic congestion is creating smog detrimental to all. To choose greenfield areas as ‘early win’ recipients is to fail to recognize the vital link between urban form and high modal shares for walking, biking and transit.
To see the entire letter, please e-mail info@torontocat.ca
6. World Town Planning Day – TCAT participates in South Riverdale tour
This past Saturday The Ontario Professional Planners Institute, along with the South Riverdale Community Health Centre hosted a walking tour and discussion focused on healthy communities, in celebration of World Town Planning Day, which is this Thursday, November 8th.
The walking tour of the South Riverdale Community was led by the local city planner, and described recent and planned developments. The tour was followed by an overview and discussion by planning professionals from different disciplines on what was learned. An architect and urban designer commented on some of the aesthetic and livability aspects of the recent developments, and a health planner covered the social and health aspects of the neighbourhood, as well as the role of the community health centre. TCAT’s project coordinator, Fred Sztabinski, participated on the panel, commenting on the needs and accommodation of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Of note was how bike- and pedestrian-friendly this particular area is compared to many other areas in the city.
TCAT looks forward to more opportunities to engage with the planning profession, as well as members of the public, in communities across the city at events such as this one.
7. Province-Wide Bicycle Advocacy – TCAT attends Kitchener-Waterloo conference
Last week, TCAT was part of a conference hosted by Cycle Chatham-Kent, the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada (BTAC) and the Region of Waterloo. This was an opportunity for bicycle advocates from across the province – cycling committee members, municipal staff, and non-profits – to meet, share experiences, and strategize.
The result of the day’s discussion and debate was the formation of an informal working group to explore the possibility of a province-wide coalition that will address provincial issues and priorities that would improve conditions for cyclists. A follow-up meeting is tentatively planned for the spring, and TCAT will continue to track the progress of this group and participate in their work.
8. Greenwood bike lanes installed! Pond Road getting close
As reported on BikeToronto and BikingToronto last week, the bicycle lane on Greenwood Avenue between Queen and Danforth has been painted. This is about the fourth bike lane to be installed in Ward 30 this year.
There are also initial reports that the bike lane planned for Pond Road near Shorham Drive on the York University campus has also been painted.
To see the BikeToronto post click here
To see the BikingToronto post click here
9. Welcome A Stroll in the Park, Bloor Improvement Group, Green Here and Walk Here – New groups join TCAT’s growing list of Supporters
It helps to be able to say how many individuals and groups support the work we do when we speak with City Councillors, City staff, and the media, or put out a publication. As part of our effort to grow the collective voice of TCAT, three new groups have joined our list of supporters. They are:
The TCAT Steering Committee welcomes these groups to TCAT.
Labels: advocacy
