Transit, Politics blog on Transit, Politics talks about the Junction and Go Transit

outtake...

GO was so preoccupied with opposition in Weston that it failed to take account of the quickly growing population around the rail corridor south of West Toronto Junction.  Aside from the question of daily train movements, GO further alienated residents with a proposal for the Strachan Avenue grade separation that would have created a major barrier within the new King West / Liberty Village community.  This matter was not resolved until intervention by Metrolinx and a compromise solution acceptable to the City of Toronto was adopted.

GO runs popular services, and as a provincial agency it is used to getting more or less what it wants.  Public participation and accommodation have not been GO’s strong suits.

Full article

Go Transit - Electrification Study Update Meeting – Georgetown Corridor

[caption id="attachment_6777" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Train passing over an area of the diamond project where the overpass will be."][/caption]

The update meeting will be held Thursday, May 27^th 2010 from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. at the Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor Street West. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an update on the Electrification Study progress to date.  The meeting format will consist of a presentation by the Electrification Study Team, followed by an opportunity for participants to ask questions and offer feedback on the work completed to date.



[caption id="attachment_6778" align="alignright" width="500" caption="The construction and the train"][/caption]

Metrolinx drops West Diamond appeal

The Toronto Star is reporting....

In a major victory for Toronto’s Junction community, Metrolinx has agreed to drop its appeal of a decision that limits the amount of noise it can make in the west-end neighborhood.

In December, the CTA ordered GO to limit work hours and use quieter methods at the rail crossing. GO had already implemented quieter technology and shrouds over the pile drivers to try to reduce the noise.

About 85 per cent of the 2,400 piles required have been completed, Thomas said. But the project, which was to have been finished last year, now won’t be done until the end of this year.

link to full story at TS

Thanks to blog reader Helen for bringing to the blogs attention

Destruction Junction

[caption id="attachment_6200" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="More and more destruction"][/caption]



These two photos highlight the changes taking place in the north Junction/ upper Junction. (the author cannot not figure out want the area wants to be called- although I sincerely believe it's simply part of the Junction)

The removal of the Nina Ricci plant that once stood on the open lot pictured above and the almost complete removal of the old Carlton Village Public school as the site in converted into a new police station.

Federal court denies GO/Metrolinx the ability to bypass a federal CTA decision

Toronto Star article

Court upholds order for GO to halt heavy hammer use - thestar.com Court upholds order for GO to halt heavy hammer use: Ruling is a victory for residents of the West Toronto Diamond..

February 4, 2010

DiNovo Congratulates Local Residents over Pile-driving Victory

Parkdale-High Park—NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo is sending her heartfelt congratulations to the citizens of the West Toronto Diamond in Toronto’s historic Junction neighborhood.

Last night, the federal court denied GO/Metrolinx the ability to bypass a federal CTA decision stating that Metrolinx’s pile-driving project was causing undue harm to residents of the West Toronto Diamond.

“This is a clear victory for the West Diamond citizens,” said DiNovo.

“The federal court has stated clearly that Metrolinx must listen to the legitimate demands of citizens. Metrolinx has lost their game of using tax dollars to go after tax payers," added DiNovo.

DiNovo is now calling on GO/Metrolinx and Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne to stop the noise up the line and to settle damage claims without wasting more tax dollars.

– 30 –

Media Inquiries: Charles Smith (647) 405-1425

Toronto West Diamond grade separation enters onto changing industrial streets

Monarch Road at Junction Rd as it is now, ripped up and fading from view the roadpath of Weston Rd to the road had been closed for years yet the sidewalk was there so you legally walk along it to the Monarch Rd.  Now with the sidewalk ripped up and the pile driving crew  working right up to side of old flour mill offices the change is permanent and drastic.

Bill Davenhall: Your health depends on where you live

Today we have a post sent in by a blog reader (Patrick), I watched the video, it is quite interesting.

Heres the text he sent along with the link

As a Junction resident (Mulock Avenue), I'm obviously VERY concerned about the pile-driving and destructive plans for the rails.  Today I happened to watch a fantastic presentation on "geo-medicine", which makes the case for attention to where you live, being as important as your genes, your diet, your exercise, etc.



Not especially damning for the project, but definitely useful in explaining the situation:

http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_davenhall_your_health_depends_on_where_you_live.html

1st Roncesvalles Ave now Weston Road in Mount Dennis, what about the Junction?

Revitalization of Weston Road in Mount Dennis before the council

Etobicoke-York Community Council:

1.         Directed the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District, in consultation with the General Manager of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, to report to its February 9, 2010 meeting on the feasibility of establishing a Community Improvement Plan for Weston Road in Mount Dennis.

2.         Referred the following motion to the Planning and Growth Management Committee:

"That the Planning and Growth Management Committee request the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to ensure that the Avenue Study planned for Weston Road between Ray Avenue and Humber Boulevard (and including Eglinton Avenue West to Black Creek Drive and Black Creek Drive from Eglinton Avenue West to Trethewey Drive), is scheduled for study in 2010.”

Background Information

January 12, 2010 motion (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-26331.pdf)

Toronto West Diamond grade separation class action lawsuit meeting

MPP Cheri DiNovo's  class action lawsuit  at her office at 3136 Dundas Street West 7pm  tonight

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Now

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

395 Weston Rd fire repairs (corrected post)

The automotive repair business at  393 Old Weston Rd was heavy damaged by fire in summer 2009, now extensive repairs have started.

Junction related articles in other media today

1)

Toronto Star article by Joe Fiorito

Fiorito: Metrolinx diesels are dirty,

ugly and NOISY

 full story link

2)

Residents have say on day nurseries

Toronto City Council enacted the bylaw in May of this year, which will remain

in effect until May 2010. During this time, city staff is conducting a study

 of the area bound by Glenlake Avenue to the south, Dundas Street West to the

 north, the rear lot lines of properties fronting the west side of High Park Avenue

 to the west and the rear lot lines of properties fronting the east side of High Park Avenue to the east. The study's purpose is to evaluate appropriate standards and regulations for transforming residential homes into day nurseries.

The purpose of Monday night's meeting at Annette Recreation Centre,

 said Senior Planner Philip Carvalino, was to get feedback from community members 

"so we have a better understanding of the impacts felt or perceived."

full story link

Currently zoned industrial land owner seeks change to retail use

DATE: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
TIME: 7:30 pm
PLACE: Etobicoke Civic Centre, Council Chamber
399 The West Mall, Toronto M9C 2Y2

Read the offical notice over at the

MULOCK AVENUE RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION site link

Canadian Holiday Train comes to the Junction for the second year in a row.

Councillor Bill Saundercook hosted the CPR Railroad and local police in his office today making preparations for the evening  the train visits the Junction. Mr Saundercook spearheaded getting trains here last year moving it here from its downtown stopping place, which took him a number of years. The blog knows he does it for the community but we also think he like the people who attended last year that the  entertainment is great and that the trains are neat too.

about the train...

At each event, the Holiday Train provides a box car stage, a line up of great musical talent and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. The community, in turn, is encouraged to donate food and funds, all of which stays in the community.

This is the 11th year that the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has been raising food, money and awareness for food banks in communities across Canada and the U.S. To date, we've helped raise $4 million and 2 million pounds of food with our Holiday Train program.

From the initial partnership with the National Food sharing program this was a new idea formed in 1999.That December, CP began running a freight train decorated with thousands of Christmas lights across Canada, to raise awareness of the issue of hunger prevalent in all communities. In 2001, CP launched a second Holiday Train in the United States.

The Canadian Holiday Train will be in the Junction as part of it's US and | Canadian tour Toronto – December 1st - 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., 87 Ethel Avenue, adjacent to RONA



Entertainers on the Canadian train include the Odds, an alternative rock bank, bringing their energy and full voiced harmonies to the Holiday Train stage for the first time. They will be joined by Shaun Verrault of the Canadian blues-rock trio Wide Mouth Mason.

CPR Holiday Train Photo Essay of last years visit (opens in new tab)

Canadian Transportation Agency finds GO Transit to be rude

From the Bulletin GO Transit has 14 days to respond

GO Transit is in breach of its obligation under section 95.1 of the Canada Transportation Act to cause only such noise and vibration as is reasonable, in relation to GO Transit's pile-driving activities at the West Toronto Diamond. The Agency found that, in the circumstances, the prolonged exposure of the local citizens to the noise and vibration generated at that location is unreasonable.

The Agency's proposed measures are:

1. Vibratory hammer:

Use a vibratory hammer to completely install the piles by modifying the hammer's frequency settings and, where this is not possible, drive the piles to the maximum depth possible considering soil conditions and then finish the pile-driving with an impact hammer.

1. Giken hammer:

Extend the use of the Giken hammer in conjunction with vibratory hammer use, as discussed in the Decision, for the entire length of pile-driving activities and not just until the scheduled 250 piles are installed, especially in the more sensitive areas.

1. Impact hammer and related mitigative measures:

a) Use an impact-vibration hammer which switches automatically from one mode to another depending on soil resistance. Alternatively, use the impact hammer on the project only in conjunction with a vibratory or Giken hammer and only where it has been demonstrated that no other method is technically or commercially feasible;

b) De-power the impact hammer and decrease the hammer energy wherever possible and use shrouds, skirts and rubberized chasers. Any opening in the shroud should always be positioned down the tracks and not toward any residential area;

c) Employ moveable noise barriers to deflect noise away from nearby residential areas by moving them to current pile-driving locations and by setting them up around the shrouds to deflect noise from the fourth, open side of the shroud.

1. Limited hours for pile-driving activities:

a) Restrict the hours of work for installing piles to 40 hours per week from between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays;

b) Negotiate an agreement with the City of Toronto to allow for road closures during the weekday hours to complete the required work at that location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays;

c) Negotiate agreements with other railway companies to allow for train blocks during the weekday hours to complete the required work at that location between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Information on the Agency's process for dealing with rail noise and vibration complaints is contained in its Guidelines for the Resolution of Complaints Concerning Railway Noise and Vibration.

full text file hosted at this blog download here

3500 Eglinton Avenue West - old Kodak site - City staff report out

Report outlines and informational highlights below full report here at city and here hosted on this site.

This report outlines the existing planning policy context for retail permissions on the former Kodak Lands.

The communication from Councillor Nunziata broadly seeks an interpretation of retail use for the subject lands. ~ the proposed development is for a mix of office, retail and service commercial uses having a total gross floor area of approximately 75,100 square metres. The office component would have an approximate floor area of 17,500 square metres, the retail component would have an approximate floor area of 55,575 square metres, and the service commercial component would have an approximate floor area of 2,025 square
metres. A variety of retail unit sizes is anticipated, ranging from 325 square metres to 10,350 square metres.

The applicant is proposing to construct a four-storey office building fronting on Eglinton Avenue West, which will replace a portion of the retaining wall (ouch) and provide pedestrian and vehicular access from Eglinton Avenue West to the shopping complex. The shopping complex would consist of a variety of large and small stores fronting on a series of covered pedestrian streets, with common gathering and plaza areas. Additional office and retail uses will be provided along Ray Avenue, with service commercial uses along Industry Street.

While the site has frontage on Eglinton Avenue West and will have direct access via a proposed a connection from Eglinton Avenue West to the interior of the site, the current site plan situates all of the retail and service commercial uses behind the office building fronting Eglinton Avenue West, extending towards the rear of the site and onto Industry Street. Because the current proposal provides for major retail activities to extend northerly to Industry Street, which is not a Major Street on Map 3 and does not form the boundary of the Employment Area, major retail activity on this street would not meet the locational criteria of Policy 4.6.3. To meet the intent of the Official Plan’s Employment Areas policies, substantial nonretail employment uses would need to be provided along the entire frontage of Industry Street for a significant depth of the site. The lack of an extensive non-retail employment along Industry Street would offend the intent of the Official Plan.

Blog reader Kevin sent in this post.

 

 

Railpath 30-Minute Clean-up –

A group of volunteers is meeting on Wednesday evening (Sept. 23) at 6:45 p.m. at the foot of the Wallace Street bridge to clean-up the garbage on the West Toronto Railpath.

If you would like to join us, just bring a pair of work gloves and we will provide the bags. It’s a great opportunity to do something nice for the hood, meet a few neighbours, get a little exercise and make the place look better for the hundreds of people who are using the trail everyday.

Only Three More Days to Raise Your Concerns About Diesel Trains

This post was taken from Cheri DiNovo  Newsletter of July 27, 2009

Only Three More Days to Raise Your Concerns About Diesel Trains!

The deadline to submit your concerns to Metrolinx about their West Toronto Diamond Rail Project and its Dirty Diesel plan is July 30th. Please submit all your concerns to info@metrolinx.com, and don't forget to send a copy to Premier Dalton McGuinty! More information on the Dirty Diesel project and its consequences can be found at www.cleantrain.ca .

6 Days For Your Voice To Be Heard for Clean Trains!

Blog reader Scott sent in this link

Link to the South Junction Triangle Residents Association post on the issue.

Information can also be had at more information www.cleantrain.ca

CANADIAN TRANSPORTATION AGENCY FINDS UNION-PEARSON RAIL LINK NOT UNDER FEDERAL JURISDICTION

In the ruling which is outlined below one of the key facts in the decision seems to be  that the project is not Owned, controlled, leased or operated by a person operating a federal railway

from their site

The Canadian Transportation Agency has ruled that the proposed construction and operation of a passenger rail service between Toronto's Union Station and Lester B. Pearson International Airport does not fall under federal jurisdiction. As a result, the project's proponent, Union-Pearson AirLink Group (UPAG), will not be required to obtain an Agency-issued certificate of fitness, nor will it have to seek federal approvals under the Canada Transportation Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act for the proposed railway line.

In making its decision, the Agency found that the new passenger rail service would not be functionally integrated with the operations of the federally-regulated Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), which operates Pearson airport. It also noted that the proposed facilities would not be an essential or integral part of the GTAA's activities.

The Agency's decision of the jurisdictional status of UPAG's project is based on evidence provided by the applicant, and could be revisited should the project not be developed as presented.

link to full report

City works staging equipment on Black Creek Drive

Equipment that appears to be from the transportation and works department has started to be placed at the location of the currently planned community centre at Black Creek Drive and Eglington Ave West.  When asked,  it was stated it was staged there because of the strike.