East Mall Bus 111 Route Public Consultation - by Councillor Stephen Holyday, seconded by Councillor Vincent Crisanti

After repeated inquires to the Toronto Transit Commission, on June 13th, I was advised that the southbound direction of Toronto Transit Commission route 111 East Mall is to be permanently re-routed off the main street and into the residential neighbourhood because the three adjacent existing bus stops on The East Mall did not meet new accessibility standards. This bus route has served the community for nearly 45 years with few complaints. The neighbourhood residents are shocked by this change and have brought forward many very good questions, and safety and operational concerns. The new bus route winds down narrow streets and through the pick-up and drop-off area of Josyf Cardinal Slipyj elementary school. Neither the local community or the school have been consulted or even received general communications from the Toronto Transit Commission about the change. In just four days, a resident petition with over 300 signatures has been created to demand a pause to this work and community consultation. Regrettably, the hasty project commencement and the information vacuum has caused this to occur. Residents have asked for answers to their questions, and an opportunity to suggest improvements to the plan. This is more than reasonable, considering that it is they themselves that use the three stops in question. Moreover, this is a broader issue that affects the school, and all transit riders on the route since the bus diversion causes a longer travel time for passengers headed to the subway station terminus. The purpose of this motion is to require that the local residents and the school have the opportunity to be consulted on the proposed changes to the bus route and their stops, and to provide their input and local knowledge before advancing the construction. Some good ideas have already come forward, including some that could save time and cost. Additionally, coordinated work with the City through Transportation Services may ultimately deliver a superior solution that improves transit in the area, and improves existing conditions on The East Mall for pedestrians and vehicles. The timing of this motion is urgent since construction work is planned to start soon.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to prioritize a coordinated review of the intersection of The East Mall and West Deane Park Drive to assess the opportunity to install pedestrian crossing protection and safety features, a crosswalk or signal, and to better accommodate a larger bus stop pad, and to seek necessary approvals, including through a report to Council.