Welcome back from your summer, whether or not you were away. Autumn approaches. It always feels as if September (not January) is really the start of a new year, with schools reopening, activities starting up, and life in general becoming more organized. This year promises to be particularly busy as we anticipate the November 4th Ward 15 by-election for city councillor, in addition to numerous continuing development and traffic-related matters.
The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) has been busy throughout the summer, dealing with (and deputing at) hearings and meetings. We continue to be in contact with other Don Valley West residents’ groups regarding a by-election candidates’ debate, which is likely to take place in October in the period before advance polls are held. Stay tuned for more details!
And while you’re staying tuned, start thinking up questions you’d like to ask the candidates. Where do they stand on the issues that matter to you? The municipal level of government affects everything from local traffic problems to development pressures on infrastructure, transit planning, community services, and our property tax system. Already some candidates are wandering the streets of Leaside and distributing campaign literature. Read their brochures. Be an informed voter.
Is it really opening?
It’s several years late, but we are finally beginning to hear noises that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT may actually be getting close to starting service. Many Leasiders will react with relief (if not disbelief). But we should not convince ourselves that the new subway will solve all of our transit needs or congestion problems. In fact, it might create new problems.
There are two big questions. What if the LRT is already overcrowded by the time it reaches the Bayview or Laird stations, limiting the number of Leaside would-be riders who can get aboard? This could certainly occur, especially during the morning and evening rush hours, not to mention increased ridership pressures from residents of the new residential high rises being built along the LRT’s route.
The other question relates to the number of TTC surface bus routes along Eglinton Avenue. Once the LRT is in service, will bus routes be removed or reduced in quantity (under the theory that passengers now riding buses between Bayview and Laird can walk the lengthy distance between those stations instead)? We need a commitment from both the City and the TTC to protect the surface transit needs of Leasiders. Otherwise, we will actually have less accessibility to transit than we have now. North Leasiders would be particularly affected, as there is no alternative north/south TTC bus route east of Bayview.
The LRA will be asking all of the candidates where they stand on these questions at the upcoming council by-election debate.
The LRA board of directors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, just south of Leaside Library. You are welcome to join us there. Our next meeting is on September 4th. For more details and updates between now and then, or to become an LRA member, find us at leasideresidents.ca and press the Contact Us button, or at leasideresidents.ca/contact-us.
