[MisterF]

For one, the pressure to do something won't be as much if the Tories don't get re-elected.

Secondly, the latest polling only gatv Ford a (strong) minority. And historically when you call an election after only 3 years, the electorate further penalizes you. Let alone after closer to 2.5 years.

I have no idea why they are calling an election that may well not give them a majority, rather than waiting until June 2026.

I hope you're right. There have been signs in the last couple days that Conservative support might be softening. How things play out in the next month or so is anybody's guess. This is why I always vote - no matter how strong or weak a government's support is, that can change in a hurry during an election campaign.

 

[rbt]

The Ontario gov't as one of its final pre-election acts has hired an engineering firm to do the design work on cycle track removal on Bloor, University and Yonge.

Irritating though this is, and a gross misuse of public funds.......it also means the Cycle Tracks will be safe well into spring, and perhaps beyond as the design work will take awhile, then tendering of construction would follow that.

Provincial news release of the above:

Ontario Newsroom

news.ontario.ca

 

[Towered]

In a perfect world, the PC's lose next month's election (or are downgraded to a minority) and this whole issue goes away...

 

[TheGrimSweeper]

I feel like best case is they get a minority... but I'm expecting the worst outcome.

Infuriating - out of all the issues in the world and facing Canada right now how spending money on this makes any sense.....

 

[Mihairokov]

In a perfect world, the PC's lose next month's election (or are downgraded to a minority) and this whole issue goes away...

I feel like best case is they get a minority... but I'm expecting the worst outcome.

I'm confident a PC minority cannot happen. No party supports them and the other parties can form a coalition minority in the event the PCs only end up with a plurality. It's either PC Majority or no PC government at all, IMO.

 

[ChesterCopperpot]

The Ontario gov't as one of its final pre-election acts has hired an engineering firm to do the design work on cycle track removal on Bloor, University and Yonge.

Stantec

 

[txlseries4]

Cycle Toronto has put together an email/quasi-petition people can fill out condemning Stantec, here.

On Bluesky, a Sr Engineer on the city's Cycling and Pedestrian Projects team had this to say about Stantec's involvement:

Myself, and a few others will be writing letters to the PEO.
Licensed engineers' prime directive is to protect the public.
There is absolutely no evidence that this does.
The penalty for not doing so is suspension or loss of one's license.
You typically can't practice while under investigation.

 

[evandyk]

I love how the two projects "a global leader in sustainable design and engineering" has in Toronto are tearing out bike lanes and rebuilding the Gardiner.

 

[Northern Light]

The Rosedale Valley Road multi-use trail upgrade project is coming back to life. Whether we see construction this year, TBD.

From the agenda of the next meeting of TRCA's Executive Ctte:

https://pub-trca.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=18291

From the above:

 

[UntitledCyclist]

The Rosedale Valley Road multi-use trail upgrade project is coming back to life. Whether we see construction this year, TBD.

From the agenda of the next meeting of TRCA's Executive Ctte:

https://pub-trca.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=18291

From the above:

View attachment 629536

View attachment 629537

I missed that it had been stopped. Sheesh, glad to hear it's back on the table.

These are exactly the kinds of projects we should be focusing on if we can't interfere with any traffic lanes.

That trail is crucial, but also sketchy as hell, though much of that is due to the never-ending pedestrian bridge project and other construction that leaves muddy, slippery stretches.

 

[Northern Light]

I missed that it had been stopped. Sheesh, glad to hear it's back on the table.

These are exactly the kinds of projects we should be focusing on if we can't interfere with any traffic lanes.

That trail is crucial, but also sketchy as hell, though much of that is due to the never-ending pedestrian bridge project and other construction that leaves muddy, slippery stretches.

The bridge project has been badly delayed and pushed the trail project back.

There were also extensive discussions with cemetery, in part, because there was a desire to include an access path through their lands at one point. Not sure if that's in/out now.

 

[UntitledCyclist]

I was annoyed and disappointed by this Post City magazines article this week. It's. basically a vehicle for the reporter/editor and Councillor Josh Matlow to wax about the terrible congestion on Eglinton at the Allen Rd, and subtly blame it on bike lanes (which are mostly not yet installed). In doing so they muddy the issues around what currently exists – Metrolinx built bike lane nubs at the Allen Intersection – and the city's plans for EglintonTOday which include connecting those lanes east and west.

They already delayed the bike lane installation last year, thanks to Coun. Colle's meddling (the other one in this area) and it seems like Matlow feels simlarly, albeit with a different spin.

Matlow is one of these councillors who seems to be an ally to cyclists, but is also keenly aware that his wealthiest constituents in areas like Forest Hill generally feel being inconvenienced in their luxury SUVs for a few moments a day outweighs the benefits of bike lanes. Post City papers are geared to people in those areas (I happen to live in such an area, but I ain't that guy!)

His idea to build a pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the Allen is lovely but pie in the sky. I'd be all for it, but not if it means further delaying the city's Eglinton complete streets. We can't cut off our noses to spite our face, and I feel that's what this murky article is aimed to do.

 

[Northern Light]

His idea to build a pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the Allen is lovely but pie in the sky. I'd be all for it, but not if it means further delaying the city's Eglinton complete streets. We can't cut off our noses to spite our face, and I feel that's what this murky article is aimed to do.

The correct long term solution here is to remove The Allen south of Yorkdale entirely.

That said, we're not going to do that right now.

So here's what we can do instead.

Remove the Lawrence Avenue access to SB Allen, and remove the NB exit to Lawrence. These two connections only serve local traffic between Eglinton and Lawrence and are not justifiable.
Marlee serves the same purpose just to the west.

I haven't reviewed the actual data, but intuitively, this would be the smallest portion of the demand on The Allen with most traffic being 401 to Yorkdale and 401 to Eglinton and vice versa.
But it would still shave the traffic count at two key chokepoints on both Eglinton and Lawrence.

To satisfy the Chicken Littles, this can be done as a pilot with jersey barriers at next to no cost.

Survey existing conditions, survey again after the Crosstown opens.

Make the changes I just noted affective Labour Day Weekend (I'm optimistically imagining the Crosstown might open by then, LOL) .

Survey again in January, then June.

***

I suspect there are some other tweaks I can suggest, but I want to see the final layout as currently proposed in action first.

 

[mrgrieves]

I was annoyed and disappointed by this Post City magazines article this week. It's. basically a vehicle for the reporter/editor and Councillor Josh Matlow to wax about the terrible congestion on Eglinton at the Allen Rd, and subtly blame it on bike lanes (which are mostly not yet installed). In doing so they muddy the issues around what currently exists – Metrolinx built bike lane nubs at the Allen Intersection – and the city's plans for EglintonTOday which include connecting those lanes east and west.

They already delayed the bike lane installation last year, thanks to Coun. Colle's meddling (the other one in this area) and it seems like Matlow feels simlarly, albeit with a different spin.

Matlow is one of these councillors who seems to be an ally to cyclists, but is also keenly aware that his wealthiest constituents in areas like Forest Hill generally feel being inconvenienced in their luxury SUVs for a few moments a day outweighs the benefits of bike lanes. Post City papers are geared to people in those areas (I happen to live in such an area, but I ain't that guy!)

His idea to build a pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the Allen is lovely but pie in the sky. I'd be all for it, but not if it means further delaying the city's Eglinton complete streets. We can't cut off our noses to spite our face, and I feel that's what this murky article is aimed to do.

Agree that the bridge is a bit of a fantasy, but its an idea nonetheless. The Allen is a key part of the city's road network and even though that stretch of Eglinton is in Forest Hill, drivers from all over the city use it to access the Allen or to get the 401 or other areas.

I think they should have built a road tunnel for car to access the Allen. Too late for that obviously.

 

[Voltz]

Agree that the bridge is a bit of a fantasy, but its an idea nonetheless. The Allen is a key part of the city's road network and even though that stretch of Eglinton is in Forest Hill, drivers from all over the city use it to access the Allen or to get the 401 or other areas.

I think they should have built a road tunnel for car to access the Allen. Too late for that obviously.

There will be a pedestrian passageway under the Allen ramps through the Crosstown station once it opens.