Concerned residents discuss future streetcar plans with TTC.
photo by mike nelson
Biz/Tech Reporter
The proposed waterfront streetcar expansion that would improve access to Lakeshore Campus has angered area residents.
The waterfront west line now runs to Dufferin Street. With the expansion, the streetcar will run past the Lakeshore campus to Browns Line and Lakeshore Blvd.
Residents of Parkdale and other communities affected by the expansion voiced their concerns at a community meeting last week.
“The concerns are noise and the safety of their community,” said Chris Bishop, a senior project engineer with the TTC. “They also believe that they are cut off from the waterfront beach area and they don’t want another piece of transportation structure that will further cut them off from the waterfront.”
With the construction of the waterfront west line, students using the Lakeshore line should expect quicker and more reliable service, said Bishop.
“In order for students to use transit, it has to reach every part of the city so you can get from your home to the city or to your job as well,” said Toronto city councillor and TTC chairman Adam Giambrone. “It’s not just about one line; it’s about how all the lines interconnect with each other.”
The TTC is still conducting research to find the best route that will satisfy concerns of the community, said Giambrone.
Part of a larger transit city plan, the waterfront west line should be completed by 2021.
“The Waterfront West line has been in the books for a number of years. There was an environmental assessment in 1992 that extended the line from Spadina Avenue through to Dufferin Street.” said Bishop.
Residents of Parkdale who attended the town meeting voiced their unease with the expansion.
“I’m concerned about the destruction of the waterfront. We should be conserving it, why are we putting streetcar tracks where people could walk?” said Parkdale resident Yvan Mascarenas.
The provincial government has already verbally committed funds to the project, said Bishop.
“The plan is considered to be pre-approved, but you have to go through the process of involving the public and involving all the agencies that might be affected before coming up with a solution that minimizes the effect of the environment.”
The transit city plan will eventually benefit all Humber students by improving access to North Campus.
“In the longer term it will help them commute between campuses,” said Giambrone.