[getsmart-l] FW: [TCAT News] e-bulletin: October 9

[Janet May]

  _____  

From: TCAT [mailto:info at torontocat.ca] 
Sent: October 9, 2007 3:01 PM
To: janet at smartgrowth.on.ca
Subject: [TCAT News] e-bulletin: October 9

 

Recent TCAT activities and news items:

 

1.	City releases Walking Strategy report
2.	Matador expropriation - Update: Councillor Adam Giambrone open to
alternatives
3.	To go green, live closer to work, report says - the relationship
between transportation & land use

 

 

1.   City releases Walking Strategy report

 

As part of the Walk21 conference in Toronto last week, the City 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. This report will be the basis for public consultation over
the next few months as the City continues to develop the Toronto Walking
Strategy. TCAT will keep our supporters informed of the next public
consultation session. In the meantime, the City encourages you to read the
report and send your comments to pedplan at toronto.ca.

 

To read the report, go to:
http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/pedestrian/walking_strategy/pdf/walkabl
e_city.pdf

 

 

2.   Matador expropriation - Update: Councillor Adam Giambrone open to
alternatives

 

As reported in TCAT News last week, the City has before it a proposal to
demolish the Matador and replace it with a surface parking lot. This is an
important issue for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, because this
would demonstrate the City's priority to accommodate cars, rather than
consider the many other community benefits this piece of property could
provide - either as the existing building or as another use on the lot.

 

According to information in a letter shared on Spacing Toronto, Councillor
Adam Giambrone is now more open to the idea of an alternate use for the
site. However, his statement does not suggest an alternate public use - just
the opportunity for a party other than the Toronto Parking Authority to
purchase the property.

 

"To date, I am not aware of any parties other than the TPA that have an
expressed an interest in acquiring the Matador. If members of the community
know of any organizations or individuals who might be interested in
purchasing the property for a use that will be of greater community benefit
than the TPA's proposed parking lot, please encourage them to contact my
office, or the owners of the Matador directly, as soon as possible."

 

You can read more about this on Spacing Toronto at:
http://spacing.ca/wire/?p=2357

 

 

3.   To go green, live closer to work, report says - the relationship
between transportation & land use, from the LA Times 

 

New study says planning compact, mixed-use communities instead of suburbs
would help save the planet.

By Margot Roosevelt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

 

September 21, 2007

 

Don't want to fork out for a Prius? Can't see tanking up with ethanol? Can't
afford solar panels for your roof?

 

Not to worry, you can still do something to fight global warming: Live
closer to work.

 

That's one conclusion of a major national report published Thursday by the
nonprofit Urban Land Institute.

 

Forty percent of the planet-heating gases that Californians emit come from
transportation, according to the report's authors, and with its booming
population and sprawling suburbs, the state's greenhouse emissions will
continue to soar unless it dramatically changes the way it builds cities and
suburbs.

 

The report, "Growing Cooler: Evidence on Urban Development and Climate
Change," analyzed scores of academic studies and concluded that compact
development -- mixing housing and businesses in denser patterns, with
walkable neighborhoods -- could do as much to lower emissions as many of the
climate policies now promoted by state and national politicians.

 

Up to now, climate policy has primarily focused on such things as higher
fuel economy for cars and trucks, cleaner fuels, greener building standards,
lower power plant emissions, and international treaties. But a growing
consensus of experts is also homing in on the everyday zoning decisions of
local officials and county planners.

 

* * * * *

To read the full article, go to
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate21sep21,1,6431767.story?ctrac
k=1&cset=true

 

 

TCAT News - Help spread the word!

 

TCAT is continually looking to increase its list of supporters. It helps to
be able to say how many people and organizations support the work we do when
we speak with City Councillors, City staff, and the media, or put out a
publication. Please send this message to any groups or individuals you think
would be interested in learning more about TCAT, receiving our weekly
e-Bulletin, or volunteering with TCAT.

 

To learn more about TCAT, visit our web site at www.torontocat.ca

 

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