With friends like this who needs enemies!
I wonder if Mayor Miller couldn't find anyone better to be the co-chair of the Pedestrian Committee than Councillor Bill Saundercook. Saundercook has announced that he will no longer support the redesign of the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange because a number of local residents support the "Do Nothing" option.
The Globe and Mail's report.
And from the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation we have this update:
Last Tuesday, the Swansea Area Ratepayers Association (SARA) hosted a public meeting on the proposed changes to the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange. SARA has been lobbying hard to ensure that the City does not make any changes that would make this '50s highway style interchange more cycle/pedestrian friendly. Although the $1 million design that the City is proposing may not be ideal for pedestrians and cyclists, anything would be better than what currently exists.
Apparently the meeting did not turn into as big a debate and opportunity to voice public opinion as expected. The local councilor, Bill Saundercook (Pedestrian Committee co-chair), announced that he no longer supported the City’s design and would oppose the plan at City Council. According to the City’s public consultation staff, “Councillor Saundercook has requested that the Environmental Assessment be halted due to community support for the "Do Nothing" Option. Therefore, at this time there is no scheduled staff report to Public Works and Infrastructure Committee or to City Council.” This represents a blow to pedestrian and cyclist safety in this part of the City, as this hazardous interchange will receive no improvements in the near future.
Comments
Darwin O'Connor (not verified)
Queensway
Tue, 07/24/2007 - 09:30At the previous city sponsored meeting, it seems clear to me that he was only opposing it because that is what his constituents wanted him to, because immediately afterwards he gave a impassioned speech about how the city is going to have to change to reduce car usage and encourage transit and walking.
There is a group trying to bring back the link road and is asking people to email Saundercook, the Mayor and the members of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee in support of the changes.
anthony
South Kingsway/Queensway = 'nothing'
Tue, 07/24/2007 - 10:10As I mentioned here SARA really took control of the meeting and bullied participants by having the petition right at the front door; the 'greeters' were no better. The arguments presented, although empassioned, were without basis in fact.
So they wanted 'nothing' and I hope that for now, that is all that they get. I'll continue to choose other routes. Perhaps the attidute will have changed in about a decade from now, and we'll get the improvements then.
Our next oppertunity and challenge will be 'Six Points', where Kipling, Bloor and Dundas meet. This is another awful place for pedestrians, cyclists, and even motorists. High speed merge lanes do not belong on city streets.
vic
Six Points
Tue, 07/24/2007 - 11:34Six Points will likely get flattened.
I was at the last community meeting for that, and the City (including local councillor Peter Milczyn) are in favour of getting rid of the highway style interchange, replacing it with at-grade intersections.
I posted a bunch of notes and photos from that meeting here:
http://vic.gedris.org/SixPointsPublicMeeting2
Overall, the residents at that meeting seemed to favour the "leave it as-is" solution too, but there were some people that saw the progressive light on this one too.
I'd really love to see this clusterfuck flattened. It's a HUGE expanse of land that is currently dedicated entirely to moving automobiles. It could be so much better....
Ben
This is a nasty place
Tue, 07/24/2007 - 12:20Late last year on a Take The Tooker group ride (that I was the only person to go on
). I had a close call here. A sedan passed me in the same lane and he must have been doing over 80 km/h at the time (in the rain).
I am still pissed about it today to be honest. You are left feeling very powerless in a situation like that. I am happy to hear that they may change the road here, even if things aren't looking up right now.
Marty Collier (not verified)
South Kingsway/Queensway: Get Involved!
Wed, 07/25/2007 - 19:19As mentioned in The Villager (www.insidetoronto.com/news/villager/article/29441?thePub=villager), The Globe (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070721.BATTLE21/TPSto...) and right here on the I Bike TO website, the Swansea Ratepayer's meeting about the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange turned out to be not much of a meeting at all. Saundercook immediately told the biased (and mainly over 65 audience) that the EA was "officially dead".
But then again, maybe not. Although staff has now been told to simply resurface the existing 1950s-style cloverleaf in early 2008, a group of us has come together to enlist local support and get the re-configuration options back on the table by September. As part of the strategy (and mentioned in my letter to the editor below), we are seeking local and city-wide support to hold an inclusive design charette. We hope that the best possible design for all users can be agreed to and then built next year.
There is a lot more to this story, so please contact me if you'd like to get involved. We especially need groups and individuals who live, work and/or commute through this area -- specifically Ward 5, 6, 13 and 14.
Thanks,
Marty
Marty Collier
Healthy Transport Consulting
Letter to The Villager
July 25, 2007
Re: Controversial road plan a no go (July 20). Could Councillor Bill Saundercook and the Swansea Ratepayers Association please remind me if this is 2007 or 1957?
If it is 1957, I agree with them that we maintain the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange in its present configuration. This way we can remain ignorant about the impacts of catering to the car above all other travel modes – increasing gridlock, high speed, crashes, noise, smog,
climate change, noise, obesity, asthma and access barriers to name a few.
But if it is 2007 (and if we have learned anything about sustainable transportation in the last 50 years), we will re-consider the options to urbanize this interchange so that it is accessible for all users – pedestrians, cyclists, transit users AND car drivers. This is in keeping
with the City’s progressive official plan, bike plan, transit plan, pedestrian charter and just approved clean air and climate change plan – all of which would have been unheard of 50 years ago.
Although Saundercook has claimed that the $1 million project is “dead”, we must bring it back to life. However, since staff has been directed to simply resurface the existing interchange, time is of the essence. I suggest that Saundercook and city staff hold a public design charette in early September. This would allow area ratepayer groups and residents to re-visit the South Kingsway options and perhaps come up with a design that we can all be proud of.
Across Canada and around the world, 1950s-style roads like the South Kingsway/Queensway are being dismantled and redeveloped so that economic, environmental and social goals are met. We have an unprecedented opportunity to bring Toronto into the 21st century by radically improving this unsightly area of our city – a decision that will affect us, our children and grandchildren for the next 50 years or longer. Where will you be in 2057?
Marty Collier
Healthy Transport Consulting
anthony
The nerve!
Wed, 07/25/2007 - 22:45Huh!?
The last paragraph reads:
I am at a loss at how SARA can on the one hand deny the need to change from an interchange to an intersection, and then ask for cycling and pedestrian improvements in the area, especially when very little can be done to an interchange.
It would be tossing good money into a toilet bowl and flushing. The good money was offered which would have accomplished those changes already. They said a loud 'no thanks'.
How they can say "no way" on the one hand to a good plan, but put out their other hand out for the same thing is beyond me.
I say they asked for nothing, give it to them. Save the money for other areas which will be only too happy to see that kind of investment. Don't bother repaving or re surfacing, let it rot. The area is a cesspool, let's treat it that way.
But that's just my bitter feelings talking after having been at the public house meeting and having my common sense assaulted by the arguments that they presented. I might get better one day.
Regardless, I'm not joining them.
As for Saundercook: he obviously did a poor sales job; but then he acts like a spineless worm. I guess that the hope of re-election means more to him than this city does. Perhaps there's a silent majority who will punish him at the next election. I don't know. It's still so long away...
I think you hit the nail on the head, though Herb, with the comment:
which applies to both the councillor and to SARA.
Marty, how would we contact you? Your post didn't include your e-mail, web address, phone number, etc...