Tony At 10: MAKE TORONTO GREAT AGAIN; BLOG # 2100; SEPT 1, 2017

THE MESSAGE:

Are any of these possible? Are they merely dumb ideas or too impractical as solutions?

ONE WAY STREETS

The concept of one-way streets is looked on as a plague by modern urban planners.

They are seen as a danger to pedestrians. One-way streets may cause problems in North American suburbs; however, in high-density, urban locations, there’s no better way of configuring streets.

One-way streets carry traffic more efficiently, and allow cities to squeeze more benefits out of their urban reality. They help the city environment by reducing the mass idling of grid-locked autos. San Francisco, Portland, Montreal and New York are renowned as some of the most walkable, pedestrian-friendly cities in North America. They have introduced one way streets successfully. Toronto is indeed a world class city. Let's make it better by getting rid of the dreaded gridlock!

THE BLURB:

I PRESENT THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO FOR DOWNTOWN TORONTO

EAST/WEST ONE WAY STREETS

↑

NORTH

There should be designated bike lanes on all of these streets.

EGLINTON AVE, BLOOR AND DUNDAS STREETS WOULD RETAIN THEIR TWO WAY ACCESS.

NORTH/SOUTH ONE WAY STREETS

↑

There should be designated bike lanes on all of these streets.

UNIVERSITY / AVENUE ROAD AND BATHURST STREET WOULD RETAIN TWO WAY ACCESS.

YONGE STREET

1. PEDESTRIANS, DELIVERIES, TAXIS, AND BICYCLES ONLY ON THIS STREET.

2. NO PRIVATE CARS WOULD BE ALLOWED ON THIS STREET.

PARKING GARAGES WITH AERIAL TRANSIT

GET THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP WITH FINANCING!

Build Parking Towers, like those in Chicago, to accommodate commuters near the 404 highway at Parliament street between Adelaide and Richmond. Build similar structures between the two streets at Church, Yonge, University and Bathurst. Link the five parking towers with a two way Elevated Rail System.

Use the concept of 'Eminent Domain' to acquire the necessary land and easements. It could be an option to sell or lease parking spaces to businesses or individuals in order to offset the cost of building.

Cabs should be marshalled on the bottom floors of the parking towers and dispatched through radio system for pickups. Create several pickup and drop off areas that would not interfere with traffic. They should not be allowed to sit at roadside to collect or dispatch passengers

THE FLASHING HAND FOR PEDESTRIANS

BETTER!

BAD!

Many in the city of Toronto either don't know the rules for crossing an intersection or choose to ignore them. The result is a traffic hold up because of cars attempting to turn right or left off a thoroughfare. Simple solutions could involve one or more of the following. Busy intersection patrolling, change the flashing orange to a red, educating people in our schools and on TV News Shows and summons presentation when blatant.

At the same time as changing the flashing hand, it would be a great idea to co-ordinate the traffic lights on ALL streets

TORONTO DOWNTOWN AIRPORT

Expand the Island airport to accommodate new whisper jets. This would allow for more competition in air travel and more convenience for travellers. Who in his right mind would find an argument to prevent this city from having such a needed facility? My wife and I live very close to Billy Bishop Airport. Many planes fly in and out of downtown Toronto daily with absolutely no inconvenience to the neighbourhood. Open up the possibility for citizens in the downtown core of Toronto to access new destinations at lower costs.

The expansion would mean $250-million a year in economic activity for Toronto, and 2,000 new jobs. Porter Airlines, which flies out of the island airport, signed a $2-billion deal with Bombardier for up to 30 of its C Series "whisper jets." Porter could also fly to Vancouver and the Caribbean if the expansion, which would require the runway to be expanded by half a kilometre, were allowed. The federal government is ignoring the economic case and playing politics by listening to downtown Toronto MP Adam Vaughan's criticism of the airport expansion.

HWY 404 FIX

THE QUESTION:

Does the bus lane on the 404 Hwy make sense or should it be converted as: part of new HOV lanes running from the Gardner expressway to Hwy 407?

THE LEMON:

Awarded to Adam Vaughan for leading the opposition to the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport. Find an issue that will be popular among the local voters, while ignoring the economic benefits to the city.