September 28, 1998

To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

From:City Clerk

Subject:Support for the Dundas E.A.S.T. (Everybody's Access To Safe Travel) Project.

Recommendation:

WHEREAS the City of Toronto is committed to a plan to reduce smog and air pollution; and

WHEREAS past Metro Transportation Policies have given priority to the private automobile sector often resulting in much narrower sidewalks, high vehicular traffic speeds that are incompatible with densely populated urban neighbourhoods, depressed property values with consequent lower property tax revenues, air quality deterioration, including particulate matter, especially below PM 10 microns in diameter, with associated respiratory/cardiovascular illnesses/fatalities; and

WHEREAS the private automobile is the leading cause of fatality in young children; and

WHEREAS public transit has had to compete for ever more scarce public monies while the private automobile has enjoyed a continued public subsidy reported to be nearly eleven (11) cents per passenger-kilometre versus three (3) cents for public transit (Source: A Strategy for Sustainable Transportation in Ontario, November, 1995); and

WHEREAS climate change brought about by increases in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, ever increasing levels of pollutants, including known carcinogens, such as benzene, and an octane enhancing gasoline additive, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), reportedly much more toxic than tetra-ethyl lead, into our atmosphere that can be traced to the private automobile represent immediate threats to public health; and

WHEREAS transportation alternatives have received minimal attention and, when proposed, are subject to the test that private automobile traffic patterns must not be disrupted; and

WHEREAS the average private automobile emits 5.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and, as a transportation class, is responsible for nearly one-third of provincial nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions which lead to ground-level ozone formation; and

WHEREAS a recent coroner's report recommended more bicycle lanes in the City of Toronto;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Toronto Pedestrian Committee:

(a)fully support initiatives such as proposed by DUNDAS E.A.S.T. which calls for wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes, treed boulevards, and a general "greening" of the street; and recommends to Toronto Council that it implement this project as a model for similar "greening" of future projects (as called for in the Official Plan); and

(b)that appropriate staff be requested to report on this project, including the entire right-of-way; and

(c)that appropriate staff be requested to prepare a brief report by February 1999 on how this greening can occur throughout the new City as a means of: increasing sustainable transportation (walking, cycling, transit); reducing costs, air pollution, smog, and paved surfaces; and the beautification of Toronto as property values are increased.

Background:

At its meeting on September 17, 1998, the Pedestrian Committee had before it a motion for consideration regarding support of the Dundas E.A.S.T. project; that appropriate staff report on this project; and also report on how greening can occur throughout the new city. A history of "Riverdale and the Dundas EAST area, Its Past, Its Present, Its Future" was provided for the Committee's information.

City Clerk.

Betty Gattoni

Attachment.

Betty Gattoni,

Committee Secretary.