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Forget Tearing Down The Gardiner...
Thank you David Miller.
Thank you for your leadership.
Thank you for your wisdom.
Thank you for hanging that broom over your desk, even if it never actually did anything.
Thank you for working to get guns out of the hands of those dangerous duck-hunters and target shooters.
Thank you for costing our cash-strapped city millions of dollars in penalties by cancelling the bridge to the Island airport.
Thank you for forcing a streetcar right-of-way on St. Clair Ave.
About that last part - I would like to ask that in the future, you ask your people to do thier fucking homework before locking us into another money-sucking infastructure boondoggle. Please.
SOURCE
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St. Clair Streetcar Right Of Way In Jeopardy
Wednesday June 18, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
The debates raged before it was even installed. Businesses complained it would cut foot traffic and construction would tie up their storefronts; while commuters wanted a faster way downtown.
Now that it's up and running, the St Clair Streetcar is facing another problem: is it safe?
Toronto Fire Services raised the alarm on the dedicated right of way that stretches from Yonge to Bathurst, and will eventually extend to Gunns Road. In a letter to Councillor Cesar Palacio, they said the route hampered their work.
"Concerns of public safety, where thousands and thousands of people along St. Clair, inside their community, could be at risk," Palacio described.
Fire officials claim the road is unsafe and could cause critical delays in response times and even problems fighting fires.
"You think the city would have considered that before they did all this. And they didn't," joked one area resident.
The fire chief claims he did share his concerns with the TTC before construction began.
In a detailed letter, officials say part of the problem is that this road would be too narrow. They also say that there's a chance pedestrians waiting for streetcars here could be hit by an emergency vehicle.
Toronto Fire Chief William Stewart claims that the raised streetcar lines add crucial minutes to his department's response time.
"The issue for us is, if we have to use the right-of-way...for emergency response...if we have to get up on that raised right-of-way, we have to maneuver. We have very little minimal space to operate that truck on. And protect you coming off the truck," explains Stewart.
Another concern is at the curb, which is nine inches high in spots. Instead of quickly zipping in and out of traffic, as it would on a regular road, the fire truck has to climb over it.
"There were all sorts of issues around sidewalk width, road width," agrees TTC spokesperson Brad Ross.
"The safety concerns of Toronto Fire were absolutely considered, and my understanding with Toronto Fire is that they understand that they can use the right-of-way for short periods. It's not designed to be driven on permanently. It's not a fire route as I say. It's designed to be used in emergency situations," Ross argues.
"Well that would be a fair statement - if you had a street that wasn't totally blocked," countered Stewart.
It's the poles that distinguish this route from similar right of way lines on Queen's Quay and Spadina. Emergency vehicles don't have the same problems on those streets.
According to Palacio, the right of way will not be complete until 2011. Plenty of time, he says, to redraw the plans.
"It's our responsibility to create a safe environment for residents, especially when their safety is going to be compromised because of this project," he vowed.
On CityOnline, Palacio pointed to the existence of dedicated lanes on Spadina and Queen's Quay, but said the TTC has not been forthcoming with its reports from the area.
"We've asked for that information for over four years from...the TTC. We've said, okay, you have this experience on Queen's Quay and Spadina with the right-of-way. So what's happened? Has response time been affected? And you know they can't find that data to give it to us."
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___________________
If you can't be good, be careful.
"Hey look, I can make a heart-shape with my hands!!!" So Fucking what? Stop it. You're a douche.
When life gives you lemons, squirt the juice in the eyes of your enemies.
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