SCRIPT - St Clair Right-of-way Initiative for Public Transit

It has come to our attention that the St. Clair Avenue West Transit Improvement Environmental Assessment process is at risk of unnecessary postponement and delay. St. Clair Right-of-Way Initiative for Public Transit (SCRIPT) recognizes that the environmental assessment is proceeding as per the Environmental Assessment Act, with ample opportunity for public participation and input. We urge you to continue with this valuable process in order to determine the preferred alternative for transit improvements on St. Clair Avenue.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) Study Team has worked with the public through Phase One of the process in order to determine the draft Problem Statement. SCRIPT supports the draft Problem Statement, and believes that the statement has been altered based on the community input gathered during the Phase One EA meetings. The EA Study Team is listening and working hard to collect public input and modify the study accordingly. The EA process has been extended for 1.5 months already, and several invaluable workshops that were not scheduled at the beginning have been added.

SCRIPT is pleased to participate in the Phase Two EA workshops, and Phase Two and Phase Three public meetings. We understand that the EA Study Team is also committed to meeting with small groups throughout the EA process, and we will request a meeting with them soon. To date, the majority of these meetings have been used by groups who are not in favour of a right-of-way. There are many residents, commuters, and business owners who support a right-of-way, and these opinions should also be heard. SCRIPT is attempting to bring those voices in favour of a right-of-way together by urging our neighbours and throughout the city to sign on to our Position Statement.

The EA for St. Clair should not be postponed. Our neighbourhood, and the City of Toronto, need to act now to improve transit. We hope that a dedicated right-of-way will be the preferred option for improved transit along St. Clair Avenue and that you will support its construction from Yonge Street to Gunns Road in 2005. The TTC and the City should proceed with a separate EA to explore the feasibility of a right-of-way for a streetcar that would extend west of Keele in support of future residential and commercial development in that area.

A representative from SCRIPT will be contacting you shortly to arrange a meeting at your convenience to discuss our concerns in person.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter,

Sincerely,

Deanna Chorney for
St. Clair Right-of-Way Initiative for Public Transit

cc: Paul J. Bedford, Chief Planner and Executive Director
Richard Ducharme, Toronto Transit Commission
Jim Gough, MMM
David Kaufman, General Manager, Transportation Services
Rod McPhail City of Toronto, UDS
Joanna Musters, City of Toronto, Planning Department
James Yacoumidis, City of Toronto, Public Consultation Coordinator
Mitch Stambler, Toronto Transit Commission
Rob Wanless, MMM

For more information, contact Deanna Chorney
Phone: 416-535-1617
E-mail: info@script2004.ca