The Works Committee, at its meeting on November 9th, recommended that the Transportation Services cycling infrastructure budget be increased to $3.0 million in 2006, up from $2.3 in 2005. Transportation Services presented a three year plan to the Works Committee in September to accelerate the development of the Bikeway Network, including a proposed list of projects totaling $3.0 million in 2006 and $6.0 million per year for the following two years. The increased capital funding for cycling projects will include funding to increase the number of staff to carry out design and public consultation for the new bikeway projects. Transportation staff will continue to work with the Cycling Committee to determine project priorities and to establish a more streamlined public consultation process.
Capital and operating budgets will be debated by Council committees on the dates listed below. Please contact the appropriate administrator if you wish to make a deputation, or to send a letter.
Capital budget:
Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at 2:00 p.m.
Joint meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee and the Budget Advisory Committee
Capital Budget Review and Deputations
December 8 and 9, 2005
City Council - Capital Budget
Operating Budget:
Monday, January 9, 2006
Planning and Transportation Committee - Operating Budget Review and Deputations
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Works Committee - Operating Budget Review and Deputations
Monday, January 16, 2006
Economic Development and Parks Committee - Operating Budget Review and Deputations
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Joint meeting of the Policy and Finance Committee and the Budget Advisory Committee
Public Deputations
March 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2006
City Council - Operating Budget
Contact information for the Standing Committees:
Budget Advisory Committee
Merle MacDonald, Acting Administrator, 416 392 7340, e mail: mmacdona@toronto.ca
Policy and Finance Committee
Patsy Morris, Administrator, 416 392 9151, e mail: pmorris@toronto.ca
Works Committee
Ros Dyers, Administrator, 416 392 8018, e mail: rdyers@toronto.ca
Economic Development and Parks Committee
Merle MacDonald, Acting Administrator, 416 392 7340, e mail: mmacdona@toronto.ca
Planning and Transportation Committee
Patsy Morris, Administrator, 416 392 9151, e mail: pmorris@toronto.ca
The Canadian Cycling Association will receive $65,000 to increase cycling in all parts Canada by building the capacity for communities to offer CAN-BIKE courses. The funding will increase the number of instructors, tailor the curriculum to meet local needs, help develop electronic communication tools and support course delivery through increased marketing and branding.
The Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program is an innovative Transport Canada funding program that provides financial support to help organizations conduct projects that will produce the kinds of education, awareness and analytical tools necessary to make sustainable transportation a reality.
The program seeks to stimulate the development of innovative methods for decreasing the impact of transportation on the environment, achieve quantifiable results and provide Canadians with practical information and tools to apply sustainable transportation thinking to their daily lives. For more information, go to www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/most/menu.htm
The Governing Toronto Advisory Panel, appointed by Toronto City Council, is preparing recommendations for changes to the City's governance system in anticipation of broader powers under a new City of Toronto Act.
The Advisory Panel has been hearing from Torontonians since it was appointed in July. You are invited to bring your ideas to a final public session before the Advisory Panel prepares its advice for Council.
In small roundtable discussions, participants will have the opportunity to share their ideas and suggestions on governance issues such as public engagement, balancing neighbourhood and city-wide decisions and the roles and responsibilities of Council, the Mayor, Community Councils, etc.
Coming next spring? The City of Toronto, in partnership with the TTC, GO, and others, will be installing bicycle lockers at several locations across the city! This is part of a Bike Locker Pilot Project that will provide secure bike parking for individual cyclists. These lockers help provide protection for bicycles from weather conditions and the possibility of damage or theft.
Bicycle lockers will be available to rent for 4 month terms at $10.00 a month plus a small security deposit.
Several TTC and GO Transit locations.
TTC Transit stations that are being considered for possible bike locker locations include Finch, Victoria Park, and Woodbine stations. Long Branch and Rouge Hill GO stations are also possible locations.?If you are interested in renting a locker, please let us know! Contact David Tomlinson by e-mail, at dtomlin@toronto.ca and let us know of a location that would be the best for you.
6)
Official Launch of the Bicycle Friendly Campuses Project (BFCP)
Please join us in the Members' Lounge at City Hall on November 17, 2005 at 9:00am to launch the Bicycle Friendly Campuses Project.
This is an exciting project run by the Toronto Cycling Committee and sponsored through EcoAction, a project of Environment Canada's. The goal of the BFCP is to implement programs and build infrastructure to increase the amount of cycling trips made on four major campuses by ten percent. Partners of the project include the City of Toronto, the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and York University.
Learn all about it and meet the partners at the launch!
For more information please contact Stacy Douglas, Community Cycling Organiser at 416-338-5076, or sdougla@toronto.ca.
7)
Send Us Your Suggestions for the 2006 Bike Map
A new bike map is set to launch in early 2006, and the City of Toronto wants your help! If you have any suggestions for improving (or correcting) the current map please send your thoughts by the end of the year to David Tomlinson by email at dtomlin@toronto.ca
8)
Don't Forget! Bicycle Racks on TTC Buses
Winter is just around the corner but we still have some good cycling days left. Have you ever left your bike at home because you've been worried about the weather? The Toronto Transit Commission's Bike Rack on Buses project may be the answer for you! If the weather takes a turn, put your bike on a bus and ride home warm and dry! There are bike racks on 7 TTC bus routes: 7 Bathurst (excluding 7A), 29 Dufferin, 47 Landsdowne, 98 Willowdale-Senlac, 161 Rogers Road, and two all-night routes: 310 Bathurst and 329 Dufferin. These racks are available to cyclists at no additional cost and they carry two bicycles per bus. They are very easy to use and it takes only a few seconds to safely secure a bicycle.
9)
Forum Series on Public Transit in the GTA: Wednesday November 16, 2005
Beyond Gridlock: The Search for Region-wide Public Transit Solutions.
The Board of Trade Integrated Rail-Transit Plan for the GTA Five Years Later
Wednesday November 16, 2005
Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Toronto
4.30 - 6:30 pm, Room 314
Panel of presenters: David Gurin, report author; Ed Levy, technical advisor
Douglas Thwaites, report author. Discussants: Prof. James Mays, Ryerson University; Bill Fisch, CEO & Chair, York Region.
With the Province about to create a region-wide transit authority, the ground-breaking Board of Trade report offers a timely analysis of the importance of an integrated rail-based transit network that increases mobility options as well as bringing economic, health, and environmental benefits. The public is invited.
10)
Bicycle Friendly Business Awards
The 2005 Bicycle Friendly Business Awards were presented to the winners at a special ceremony that took place on Thursday, October 6, 2005, in the Main Rotunda of Toronto City Hall.?The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are presented annually to businesses, organizations and associations in Toronto that demonstrate leadership in encouraging cycling by employees and clients. This year's winners were:
Best Overall Award Winner: Top Drawer Creative
Best Bike Parking Award Winner: Exhibition Place
Bicycle Commute Award Winner: South Riverdale Community Health Centre
Bicycle-Friendliest Suburban Business Award Winner: Smart Commute North Toronto Vaughan
Best Small Business Award Winner: Intelliware Development Inc.
Best Large Business Award Winner: Mountain Equipment Co-op
Best Skills Development Award Winner: Community Bicycle Network
The Bicycle Friendly Business Awards are sponsored by: Ticketmaster, Live Metal Works, and Dufflet Pastries. More info at www.toronto.ca/cycling/bfba
11)
Bicycle Friendly Recognition Program
The Bicycle Friendly Recognition Program is?a new program being implemented in addition to the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards. It is not a competition like the Bicycle Friendly Business Awards, but is open to everyone wanting to be recognized for supporting cycling. By becoming part of this program, you are leading by example to actively demonstrate a commitment to cycling as a sustainable form of transportation.
In order to participate in this program, businesses and organisations take a pledge to become more bicycle friendly within the next three years. As a symbol of this commitment, businesses and organisations will receive a formal letter from the Mayor, as well as a Bicycle Friendly Recognition Program sticker to be placed in a visible area in their workplace.
If you have any questions about this program and how to participate, please call 416-392-7592, or email bikeweek@toronto.ca.
12)
Bicycle User Group Network has new Coordinator
We would like to announce that Pauline Craig has taken over as the Bicycle User Group Network Co-ordinator.? As her first duty of business she would like to remind the public that as a registered Bicycle User Group (BUG) you gain access to free seminars, literature and staff support, as well as opportunities to connect with other cyclists all around the city.
Winter is fast approaching and the BUG Network would like to help keep you on the road in your usual safe and enthusiastic fashion.? Register as a BUG and take advantage of our free seminars on Cold Weather Cycling that will review all the necessary gear, precautions, and tips you need to cycle all winter long!? To book a seminar please contact Pauline at the BUG Network and she will gladly arrange a date. Visit www.toronto.ca/bug for more information on registering as a BUG!
13)
Martin Goodman Trail Public Meeting - Wednesday November 23, 2005
TWRC is in the process of making improvements and additions to the very popular Martin Goodman Trail from Marilyn Bell Park in the west to Leslie Street in the east. These improvements are part of TWRC?s commitment to build a continuous waterfront promenade across the central waterfront.
The first phase of the work is underway, and includes trail improvements from Marilyn Bell Park to Coronation Park in the west around Leslie Street in the east. This phase of the work will be complete by the end of 2007. An introductory public Open House was held in July 2005 to outline the type of trail improvements that are being proposed including repairing particularly bad sections of the trail and filling in missing gaps in the trail system. This meeting also provided an opportunity to solicit and encourage valuable public input into the planning and design of this important waterfront connection.
As part of an ongoing public consultation program associated with the trail improvement initiative, we would like to invite you to the next Waterfront Trail Public Forum. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an update on the overall strategy, the progress that is being made on Leslie Street and the detailed plans for the Marilyn Bell Park waterfront promenade scheduled for construction in the spring of 2006 and to be complete for the International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships that is being held there in August 2006. The Waterfront Public Forum is scheduled for:
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2005
6:00 9:00 p.m.
Salon 103, National Trade Centre
Exhibition Place, 100 Princes' Blvd
This meeting will be split into two parts, starting with an open house from 6:00 7:00 p.m., followed by a presentation and facilitated discussion from 7:009:00 p.m. For more information please visit www.towaterfront.ca or contact: Kristy Findlay
Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation at 4162141344 ext. 248 or kfindlay@towaterfront.ca
14)
2006 Calendar: Women & Cycling
The Community Bicycle Network?s fabulous Poster Project finalists are now available as Wall Calendars! The first ever CBN Calendar is a one-of-a-kind art calendar which features Toronto bike related dates and events. It was produced by Warren's Waterless Printing on recycled paper through their patented waterless process. You can purchase your 2006 Calendar from Mountain Equipment Co-op, Urbane Cyclist, Grassroots, Cycle Therapy, Toronto Women's Bookstore and of course, at Intersection (CBN's HQ)at 101-761 Queen Street West. For only $15, this calendar is a steal! All proceeds raised from the sale of the calendars will go towards helping fund CBN. A great way to support the CBN while you give yourself (and friends and family... or even complete strangers!) the gift of art!
15)
Ahead in the Bike Lane
Toronto Cycling Committee
Monday, November 21, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, City Hall
Promotions Subcommittee
Wednesday, November 23, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, City Hall
Education and Safety Subcommittee
Monday, November 28, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 3, City Hall
Bikeway Network Subcommittee
Wednesday, November 30, 7:00 p.m., Committee Room 2, City Hall
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