[getsmart-l] FW: [[TCAT News] e-bulletin] October 25

[Janet May]

  _____  

From: Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation
[mailto:info at torontocat.ca] 
Sent: October 25, 2007 8:24 AM
To: janet at smartgrowth.on.ca
Subject: [[TCAT News] e-bulletin] October 25

 


October 25


Recent TCAT activities and news items:

1.	Sustainable Transportation Initiatives - City report endorsed by
City Council
2.	New Taxes Approved - Portion of Personal Vehicle Ownership Tax for
cycling & pedestrian improvements
3.	Strachan Bike Lane gets blue treatment
4.	Reminder: TCAT Supporter Survey - TCAT calls on its supporters to
complete a short on-line survey
5.	2008 Capital Budget Process - Consultation schedule released,
October 29th public introduction
6.	Centennial Park Masterplan - Public Meeting November 1st

1. Sustainable Transportation Initiatives - City report endorsed by City
Council

Earlier this month, a joint report from Transportation Servicesand
Transportation Planning was released, and was approved the Public Works and
Infrastructure Committee. You can read the report at
<http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-7193.pdf>
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/pw/bgrd/backgroundfile-7193.pdf.

The initiatives are 'quick wins' for improving walking, cycling and transit
over the next two years or so. Some of the projects relate to existing
plans, such as the Bike Plan, forthcoming Walking Strategy, and Transit City
Plan. However, many are completely new proposals from the City, such as an
East-West bike route along Bloor and Danforth.

The report went to City Council for approval on October 23rd. Though TCAT is
not currently aware of the exact amendments council made to the
recommendations in the report, it was approved. On CBC's Metro Morning
today, Director of Transportation Planning, Rod McPhail, noted that Council
added two more intersections to the 'pedestrian scramble' pilot projects. In
addition to Yonge & Bay and Yonge & Bloor, the City will also test this
concept at Yonge & Dundas and Bay & Dundas. You can hear the interview with
McPhail at  <http://cbc.ca/metromorning/media/20071024PDSOCT24.ram>
http://cbc.ca/metromorning/media/20071024PDSOCT24.ram

In advance of Council's debate yesterday, TCAT submitted a letter to Council
supporting the initiatives, while commenting on some omissions that would
improve the report. If you would like to see a copy of this letter, please
e-mail info at torontocat.ca. 

2. New Taxes Approved - Portion of Personal Vehicle Ownership Tax for
cycling & pedestrian improvements

At its meeting on October 22nd, City Council approved two new revenue tools
- the Land Transfer Tax and the Personal Vehicle Ownership Tax. While these
new funds will flow to a variety of City budget items and help to make up
the current budget shortfall, last week biketoronto.ca alerted TCAT to the
fact that a portion of the vehicle tax is supposed to go to active
transportation. From the Mayor's Fair Tax Plan web site:

"A Personal Vehicle Registration Fee would cost car drivers an additional
$60 a year and motorcycle riders $30 a year. It would raise about $60
million a year, to be directed to road repairs, public transit, cycling and
pedestrian improvements and othertransportation projects."

Though the specific allocation for cycling and pedestrian improvements is
not stated, TCAT will monitor the upcoming 2008 capital budget process and
hold the Mayor and Council to this commitment.

3. Strachan Bike Lane gets blue treatment

Toronto cycling blogs (bike lane diary, BikingToronto,and ibikeTO) are
reporting a new type of treatment being tested in Toronto. The Strachan
Avenue bike lane north of Lakeshore Boulevard has been painted blue. To see
photos, go to:

 <http://bikelanediary.blogspot.com/2007/10/blue-bike-lane.html>
http://bikelanediary.blogspot.com/2007/10/blue-bike-lane.html
 
<http://www.bikingtoronto.com/2007/10/torontos-first-coloured-bike-lane.html
>
http://www.bikingtoronto.com/2007/10/torontos-first-coloured-bike-lane.h...
 <http://www.ibiketo.ca/node/1697#comments>
http://www.ibiketo.ca/node/1697#comments

This is a roadway treatment (though sometimes green or red instead of blue)
in use in many bike-friendly cities around the world - Paris, New York,
Berlin, to name a few - to make the space reserved for cyclists more visible
to motorists, especially in areas where bike lanes merge with or cross
particularly busy traffic lanes.

4. Reminder: TCAT Supporter Survey - TCAT calls on its supporters to
complete a short on-line survey

Over the next couple of months and into the New Year, TCAT will be examining
its priorities, strategy, funding and governance. As a prelude to this work,
TCAT wants to connect with our supporters - both organizations and
individuals - to get an understanding of what our supporters expect and also
what they can contribute. We also want to know where are supporters are
within Toronto, so that we can track the geographic scope of our supporter
base.

The survey should take no more than five minutes, and is available on-line
at  <http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=I_2fUE10KVzYKULeMYOAYUXg_3d_3d>
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=I_2fUE10KVzYKULeMYOAYUXg_3d_3d

If you would prefer to complete the survey on paper or through e-mail,
please contact info at torontocat.ca to receive a Word version.

5. 2008 Capital Budget Process - Consultation schedule released, October
29th public introduction

The City's Budget Committee has released its meeting schedule for the 2008
Capital and Operating Budgets. The schedule is available at
<http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-7440.pdf>
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2007/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-7440.pdf

The 2008 Capital Budget will be released next Monday, October 29th at the
committee's meeting from 12:30 - 1:30 pm in Committee Room

2. Since this is the first time members of the public will be able to see
the submissions various City departments made to the Budget Committee, this
is an important day for TCAT and those who are working for a greater
investment in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. The public will have
approximately two weeks to review the capital budget, and the committee will
hear comments from councillors and the public on Tuesday, November 13th.

TCAT will be preparing a submission to the Budget Committee and will share
our recommendations with our supporters in the coming weeks.

6. Centennial Park Masterplan - Public Meeting, November 1st, 6:00 pm

Parks, Forestry and Recreation will be holding a public meeting for
interested citizens regarding the new Masterplan for Centennial Park (see
attached flyer). The Master Plan will include a concept plan and detailed
multi-year implementation strategy for the revitalization of the entire
525-acre site as a public community recreation facility.

TCAT has learned that the plans do not currently incorporate the needs of
cyclists - a proposed loop for bike races was opposed by staff and there is
little to no bike parking. Also, the trail link across Etobicoke Creek into
Mississauga is opposed by staff.

Date: Thursday, November 1st

Time: 6:00pm. 

Location: Centennial Park Olympium, 2nd floor, 590 Rathburn Road, just West
of Renforth Road

Agenda:

*	Open House at 6:00 PM
*	Presentation at 6:30 PM
*	Workshop to follow presentation
*	Wrap-up at 8:00.

For more information on the master plan and consultation process, visit
<http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/centennial.htm>
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/centennial.htm

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  <http://www.torontocat.ca>
www.torontocat.ca

To subscribe to TCAT News, go to  <http://torontocat.ca/main/?q=join>
http://torontocat.ca/main/?q=join

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