Streetcar update

An update on the new streetcar yard in the riding from Councillor Paula Fletcher:

Community Update

New Street Cars

In June, City Council approved the Ashbridges Bay site for the new streetcars and Leslie Street as the connecting track to Queen. The new streetcars are fully accessible for passengers using strollers, wheelchairs and walkers. They have larger capacity, will be air conditioned in summer, have more entrances/exits and a proof-of-payment system to get people on and off quickly.  Better transit will mean cleaner air for our neighbourhoods.

Community Meeting on Wednesday July 28th

As part of the Transit Project Assessment Process, a community meeting on the site development, safe removal of the soil and other mitigation measures will be held on Wed. July 28, 2010 at 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the 895 Eastern Avenue -Toronto EMS Centre

Additional Council Motions

A number of measures were also agreed upon to ensure the site would not be an eyesore and that the connecting route would have the least possible impact on residents and businesses on Leslie Street. Overall beautification of Leslie, including from Lakeshore to Eastern were part of the decision. Ongoing community involvement was secured. Mitigation meetings with residents and business owners with the TTC were assured as well as a construction liaison committee.

Design Competition for Leslie and Lakeshore

Three well known design firms – Brown + Story, Fleisher Ridout and gh3 – were engaged to design the Lakeshore and Leslie edge for the LRV site and to ensure a good fit with Leslie greening and the entrance way to the Leslie Street Spit. The exciting designs from each of the three competing firms are now available on the project website at:

http://toronto.ca/involved/projects/lrv

Visit the site, view each of the submissions and click on the email link to share your views. Big panels of each of the entries will also be displayed at various sites throughout the community. Comments will be accepted until August 23. Your suggestions and observations will be taken into consideration by the Jury Panel, led by the City’s Urban Design team.

The public can meet the designers and view the panels in a larger format:

1. Sunday, August 8, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Leslie and Lakeshore
2. Tuesday, August 10, 2010 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Coxwell and Lakeshore

Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP)

The Notice of Commencement for the site and track project was issued on June 24. As part of the process, an Environmental Project Report is being prepared. The Ministry of the Environment guidelines allows four months to complete the report after which a Notice of Completion will be publicly issued. The report will then be available for public review and comment on the TTC’s website and at neighbourhood locations – community centres; libraries etc. Following this 30 day public review period the Ministry of the Environment will review the document for 35 days and determine if the project can proceed. For information on the assessment process and opportunities for public comment contact the MOE at:

Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto, Ontario M4V 1L5 Canada
Telephone: 416-314-8001
Toll Free: 1-800-461-6290
Fax: 416-314-8452

Looking Ahead – Key Time Frames

2010	Information Sessions on Mitigation Process with Leslie Street residents and business owners Design Selection Process and Public Review Period Notice of Completion – Sept/Oct (TPAP) Public Review Period – 30 days following issuance of Notice of Completion Ministry of Environment Assessment – 35 days following Public Review Period
2011	Present finalized streetscape improvements to community Develop construction management plans and share with local community Conduct Pre-Construction surveys
2012	Prototype street car measurements for noise and vibration Commence connection track construction on Leslie Assessment of Noise and Vibration levels on Leslie Street Finalize agreements with affected property owners for mitigation measures
2013	Complete connection track construction Post Construction surveys First 36 New Streetcars Arrive

For further information on the Ashbridges Bay Project you can contact TTC Community Liaison Officer Lito Romano at 416-397-8699 or lito.romano@ttc.ca

Working for you!

Paula Fletcher
City Councillor – Ward 30
100 Queen Street  West
Ph:  416-392-4060
Fax: 416-397-5200
councillor_fletcher@toronto.ca