Donlea disaster?
Residents in the Donlea and Eglinton area are up in arms about ongoing and growing traffic issues, owing in great part to continuing Metrolinx construction. Members of the FB group Leaside Community Forum are burning up the site with tales of extreme frustration. New Ward 15 Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, replying to FB members, has taken note: “Dear Leasiders, and particularly to those who live on Donlea, who have been so profoundly affected by the horrendous traffic situation on the street: Please know that my office and I are actively working with City staff from multiple departments to resolve the traffic issues along Eglinton and along Donlea. This includes looking at intersection configuration and signal timing, among other things, and involves a number of City of Toronto departments as well as Metrolinx. …Please know that everyone is taking this very seriously and staff are treating this as a priority. We know the traffic has been getting worse and has been ongoing for far too long, but I ask for everyone’s continued patience as we work to properly fix the situation.” In the meantime, tempers are flaring, with one FB poster summing up nicely: “Metrolinx=Voldemort.”
And on that note….
Will 2025 be the year the Eglinton Crosstown opens?
The Eglinton Crosstown construction chaos has long plagued the residents and businesses along Eglinton and beyond. Now years behind schedule, there is still no firm timeline for an opening.
The chair of the TTC said recently that the long-delayed and over-budget Eglinton Crosstown will not open for service before mid-2025. Councillor Jamaal Myers said the TTC is “working internally with the date of June 1” as the earliest possible day the 19-km light rail line could be up and running.
Locally, the lights seem to be on at the new neighbourhood stops at Leaside (Bayview & Eglinton) and Laird (Brentcliffe & Eglinton) but there continues to be no one at home, or at least it appears that way.
As reported by Global News reporter Isaac Callan, “(now departed) Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster said physical construction is ‘significantly completed’ as teams continue to build the light rail line in Toronto.” The head of Ontario’s provincial transit agency says construction teams are making “really good progress” on the years-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT, but that there are still “wrinkles” to be sorted out.
Wrinkles? Over 10 years and over 10 billion dollars, the Idler thinks the public deserves more details than “we have some wrinkles to sort out.” When the first trains do take to the tracks, the Idler hopes Metrolinx will do the right thing and offer a helluva lot of free rides to all the residents near the construction chaos.
Our very own Leaside Litterati gets fan mail
Cheryl’s vigilance may be paying off. Fellow Leasider Rick Price, responding to her December column (“The sorry state of Georgia Walsh playground continues”) took matters in his own hands and contacted City Hall officials with a comprehensive list of observations and complaints.Among his comments:
“I think that Cheryl is on the right track insofar as if the litter does not bother park users and/or Toronto staff, then Cheryl will also have to be in her words ‘unbothered.’ What a sad state of affairs when Cheryl, who has been trying to help keep Toronto beautiful in Leaside and even cleaning up litter herself, now appears to be giving up as Toronto staff cannot return a phone call or an email even though Cheryl was offering to assist.”
We think there are many more Leasiders upset by the litter in our parks. Let’s hope, like Rick Price, they let City officials know.
Toy Drive Success!
The Leaside Toy Drive committee reported that they met their fundraising goal and were able to provide toys for about 6,000 children in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. They want to extend their deep appreciation and thank everyone who supported the children this year. They couldn’t do it without you!
Ring in the new year
Join MPP Stephanie Bowman and MP Rob Oliphant at their New Year’s Levee on Jan. 12, 1-3 p.m., at the Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave. E. Always a good time and a jolly way to welcome 2025.