[Editor: Today I'd like to introduce Fred. Fred works for the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation and he is our first guest blogger! He will post occasional announcements from TCAT (and perhaps we can convince him to give some more opinion or insider pieces as well.]
[Posted on behalf of the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation]
1. TCAT Supporters – Help spread the word!
The Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (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.
So we are asking our current supporters to please help spread the word. Please send this post to any groups or individuals you think would be interested in learning more about TCAT, and possibly receiving our weekly e-Bulletin. We are especially hoping to broaden the geographic scope of our supporter list – so if you know of any walkers, cyclists or community groups in the suburbs, let them know about TCAT.
To subscribe to TCAT News, go to http://lists.torontocat.ca/listinfo.cgi/tcatnews-torontocat.ca
To learn more about TCAT, visit our web site at www.torontocat.ca
2. Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA) – Putting walking and cycling at the top
Last Friday, July 27, the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (GTTA) held its board meeting at Metro Hall. Though the majority of the meeting was taken up by local transportation plan presentations by member municipalities and agencies, there was a bright spot for walking and cycling.
In their work plan for developing the Integrated Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), GTTA staff suggested that Walking and Cycling be put at the top of the transportation hierarchy. Though we will have to wait and see how this plays out, TCAT feels this was a very positive early statement, especially in a room filled with high-level politicians, commissioners and city managers.
In keeping with one of its mandates of including “Extensive citizen, community and stakeholder engagement,” the GTTA will be forming Technical Advisory Groups to help draft a series of ‘Green Papers’ on the major RTP components. The Walking and Cycling component is slated for completion near the end of November 2007. The Green Papers will form the basis of the RTP document.
TCAT will continue to monitor this important process to see how we can be involved, and will continue to keep our supporters updated.
3. South Kingsway/Queensway Interchange – Not dead yet: Opportunity for Action
As reported in last week’s TCAT e-Bulletin, the South Kingsway/Queensway interchange meeting was not much of a meeting, as Councillor Saundercook immediately announced that he no longer supported the City’s design and that the EA was officially “dead". This will mean that this 1950s highway style interchange will not become more cycle/pedestrian friendly.
There is still hope.
Although staff has now been told to simply resurface the existing 1950s-style cloverleaf in early 2008, a group of citizens has come together to enlist local support and get the re-configuration options back on the table by September. As part of the strategy, the group is seeking local and city-wide support to hold an inclusive design charette. They hope that the best possible design for all users can be agreed to and then built next year.
The group will be meeting to discuss next strategy steps shortly after August 17th. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact marty.collier_at_sympatico.ca. They are especially seeking groups and individuals who live and/or work in Ward 5, 6, 13 and 14 (For a ward map, visit http://app.toronto.ca/wards/jsp/wards.jsp)
4. ‘We Need Help!’ – Outdoor play about the end of oil: runs until August 6
‘We Need Help!’, a greasy black comedy about the end of oil. Giant puppets and live jazz animate this outdoor performance about what happens when the road less traveled becomes the highway to hell. A honeymooning couple is stranded in Northern Ontario when the world’s gas tank runs dry.
DUFFERIN GROVE PARK, Dufferin south of Bloor
July 18-22 @ 7:30 PM
July 25-29 @ 7:30 PM
August 1-6 @ 7:30 PM
Admission: $10/PWYC
INFO: (416) 537-9105
Recent comments