Community Newsletter: February 2, 2024

Neighbour --

City budgets are about priorities. Yesterday, Mayor Chow released her 2024 budget for Toronto, which will be considered by City Council on February 14. The Mayor’s budget includes historic investments in public transit, affordable housing, community programs, and capital improvements to get our city back on track.  

For years, Toronto budgets cut services and deferred maintenance in effort to keep property taxes low, often below inflation. This resulted in a $1.8 billion budget hole. We can't afford to ignore our reality any longer. The Mayor’s budget addresses our challenges head-on and invests in the services that Torontonians rely on every day. 

The Mayor’s Budget builds on the commitments in the staff budget around restoring TTC service and freezing transit fares, while announcing funding to create the Scarborough dedicated Busway. It includes a new $100 million investment in the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program, which preserves affordable rental housing in our city, and $3 million in new funding to support renters through the City’s Eviction Prevention Program, the Rent Bank, and the Tenant Support Program. 

The Mayor’s Budget also includes new commitments to support unhoused people in our city, including additional funding for drop-in programs so people have somewhere warm to go and can access supports. There’s more funding for youth programs, including more Youth Hubs, as well as additional money for community grants that focus on violence prevention and neighbourhood support. 

This year we had to face tough choices in the budget process, including addressing our significant capital repair backlog. I’m glad to see that the Mayor’s Budget includes a new $50 million Back on Track Fund, which will prioritize much-needed capital work like fixing roads and potholes, improving parks and green space, and investing in child care facilities. This money is available due to the upload of the Gardiner and DVP highways, through Toronto’s New Deal with the Province of Ontario. 

The Mayor’s Proposed Budget echoes what I’ve heard from Davenport residents in our community budget meetings, as well as through calls, emails, and visits in the community. People have told me they want to fix what’s broken in our city and invest in critical services and supports. This budget includes an updated property tax increase rate of 9.5% (including the City Building Fund). For seniors on fixed incomes and people living with disabilities, the City has property tax deferrals and cancellation programs, as well as waste and solid waste rebate programs. Find out more about these programs and eligibility criteria here. If you need more information or these programs, please call my office at: 416-392-7012

When we invest in our city together, we all benefit. 

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee

In this edition

• Construction Staging and Bike Lane Closure at Bloor & Dufferin for TTC Tunnel Construction
• Silverthorn Cycling Connections
• Vacant Home Tax Drop-In Sessions
• TTC Customer Survey: Policies Related to TTC Special Constables and Fare Inspectors
• New TTC Service Enhancements and Resources
• Shape the future of Toronto's economy and culture sectors
• Shape the future of public health in Toronto
• Registration for Summer CampTO opens February 7
• Novavax & Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available at City Clinics
• Coldest Night of the Year at Oasis Dufferin
• Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is accepting applications!
• Little By Little Mural Project on West Toronto Railpath
• TTC Construction: Overnight Work near Lansdowne Station
• Metrolinx Construction: Bloor-Lansdowne GO Overnight Geo-technical Investigations
• Metrolinx Construction: St. Clair-Old Weston GO Overnight Utility Daylighting
• In the community
• Other updates

Construction Staging and Bike Lane Closure at Bloor & Dufferin for TTC Tunnel Construction

Toronto & East York Community Council adopted TE10.24, which outlines the construction staging area for the upcoming construction of a TTC tunnel and new station entrance from the southwest corner of Bloor St W & Dufferin Ave. The recommendations will go to City Council on February 6, 2024

Protecting bike lanes and providing safe routes across the city, especially along major streets such as Bloor Street West, is a priority for our office. We are disappointed the Bloor bike lane will be closed in this section during this construction. It’s a bikeway I use myself.

The need to build more housing comes into conflict with the need to facilitate safe cycling increasingly across the city. Exploring options that do not transfer or that at least minimize the burden of roadway use for construction onto cyclists is something I have been discussing with Cycle Toronto. 

Our office worked with Cycle Toronto to develop amendments that I moved at Toronto & East York Community Council, and I am especially grateful to have met with Davenport members in this process. We will continue to monitor this situation and any other possible solutions that would reduce impact on cyclists.

Why is a roadway closure needed, and what was done to minimize the extent of the closure? The request to close a lane of roadway for construction was made by the developer so that it can meet a requirement of its community benefits agreement made with the City – to deliver a tunnel that connects to a new publicly accessible station entrance from the southwest corner of the Bloor-Dufferin intersection. The initial request included the southbound right-turn lane on Dufferin, which would have also disrupted the Dufferin bus. City staff worked with the developer to reduce the closure to Bloor St only.

Why is the bike lane closing instead of closing a lane of car traffic? Closing the car traffic lane is not possible because it is needed for the Bloor night bus, and in addition, for any time there is a disruption on the Bloor subway.

What is the closed lane being used for? Why is the closure 10 months? The area is needed first because of the size of equipment needed to dig the tunnel. Smaller equipment, which is available, would have extended the construction period on the tunnel to 24 months from 10 months. This would have created a challenge for delivering on the other associated community benefits, including a new park and road. Second, there will be open excavation (digging a hole at street level) on Bloor, and adequate space is needed for workers to move safely within the site.

What is the benefit of the tunnel to the community? This new entrance and connection will add another accessible path for transit users through the provision of a new elevator designed in accordance with TTC requirements. It will be barrier-free and weather-protected, facilitating more convenient access to Dufferin station, and will contribute to addressing pedestrian crowding safety concerns on the sidewalks. 

What did we do in response to community concerns and feedback? The Davenport team explored alternative work sites and traffic management arrangements. While it was not possible to make the work zone smaller to reinstate the bike lanes, I have directed City staff (you can read the full list of motions here) to implement additional safety measures within the construction staging area for vulnerable road users travelling through the intersection. This includes the addition of a leading dedicated bicycle signal, investigating the deployment of traffic agents, and monitoring the usage of the construction site to ensure that bike lanes can be restored as soon as there is available space.  

Silverthorn Cycling Connections

The City of Toronto is seeking public feedback on the Silverthorn Cycling Connections project, which proposes new cycling connections, non-local traffic reduction measures, and road safety improvements to several streets.

The City of Toronto is proposing changes planned for installation in the summer of 2024 including:

• New cycling connections and measures to reduce non-local traffic on Silverthorn Avenue from Rogers Road to St. Clair Avenue West, on Laughton Avenue and on Hounslow Heath Road
• Road safety improvements at the intersection of Rockwell Avenue and Silverthorn Avenue and at S.A.D.R.A Park where it connects to Silverthorn Avenue

View project information on the website, including project panels and translated materials on the City's website.

You can also complete an online survey or submit comments by email, mail or phone. The submission deadline for comments is Tuesday, February 13, 2024. More details on these options are available at the above link. 

Vacant Home Tax Drop-In Sessions

All residential property owners in Toronto must submit a declaration of their property’s occupancy status every year – even if they reside there. Property owners who would like help submitting their declaration of occupancy status can visit a drop-in session on select dates in February. All sessions take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Inquiry & Payment counters at the following locations: 

• Toronto City Hall – February 5, 7, 28 & 29 
• Scarborough Civic Centre – February 5, 7, 28 & 29 
• Etobicoke Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 28 & 29 
• North York Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 28 & 29 
• York Civic Centre – February 5, 7, 26 & 27 
• East York Civic Centre – February 6, 8, 26 & 27 

The deadline to declare occupancy status for the 2023 calendar year is February 29, 2024. More information is available on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage. 

TTC Customer Survey: Policies Related to TTC Special Constables and Fare Inspectors

The TTC is gathering feedback on Special Constables and Fare Inspectors. The survey is available online until February 14, 2024.

The survey asks about the new proposed policies regarding the Use of Force, Use of Discretion, and the implementation of Body-Worn Camera and In-Car Camera System for Special Constables and Fare Inspectors.

New TTC Service Enhancements and Resources

As of January 7, the TTC increased service on several bus routes and restored others following the completion of major construction projects. The TTC has also reinstated school trips after the winter break, ensuring that students have reliable and convenient transit options.

In response to ridership demand, the TTC will be increasing capacity on seven bus routes during busy travel periods. These routes include the 16 McCowan, 32 Eglinton West, 44 Kipling South, 63 Ossington, 94 Wellesley, 122 Graydon Hall, and 129 McCowan North. For more information, please visit the TTC’s website.

Shape the future of Toronto’s economy and culture sector

The City of Toronto is developing a new Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy and Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector. Both these plans will guide economic development policies, cultural services, programming and decision-making for the next 10 years and be presented to City Council in Q3 2024. 

A new Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy will set a vision for Toronto’s economy and propose actions that the City and its partners can take to maintain and enhance Toronto’s competitiveness, while supporting more inclusive and sustainable opportunities and investments in communities across Toronto. 

The Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector (Culture Plan), being developed in collaboration with the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, will set out an ambitious vision to ensure that residents in all corners of the city have opportunities to engage with the arts and to strengthen Toronto’s cultural sector, including arts, museums, cultural heritage, film and entertainment industries. 

Toronto residents are invited to provide feedback for both plans to help support decision-making and shape priorities for the City’s new strategies. 

• Complete an online survey to inform the development of the Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy. 
• RSVP to attend a virtual town hall on February 15 or 22 to provide input on the Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector. 
• Complete an online survey to inform the development of the Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector. 

Shape the future of public health in Toronto

The Board of Health and Toronto Public Health (TPH) are currently developing the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, which will be the roadmap to guide TPH's work for the next four years. You're invited to help shape the development of the Strategic Plan! Learn more about how to make your voice heard at www.toronto.ca/tphstrategicplan.

Registration for Summer CampTO opens February 7

Summer CampTO is back! This year, the City of Toronto is offering approximately 30 types of day camp programs at more than 140 locations across the city for children aged four to 16. Campers will enjoy indoor and outdoor games, sports, arts and crafts and nature-based programs.

Program descriptions are now online with registration opening on February 7 at 7 a.m. More details, including camp types and how to register, are available on the City’s CampTO webpage.

You can also register in-person at five community centre locations that will be open from 7 a.m. to noon on February 7:

• Centennial Recreation Centre, 1967 Ellesmere Rd. 
• Dennis R. Timbrell Resource Centre, 29 St. Dennis Dr. 
• Driftwood Community Centre, 4401 Jane St. 
• Masaryk Cowan Community Centre, 220 Cowan Ave. 
• Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne St. 

Novavax & Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Now Available at City Clinics

TPH launched new community vaccination clinics to help school-aged children catch up on their routine immunizations and avoid suspension from school. These clinics offer vaccines under the Province of Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)and Student Immunization Program (SIP).

On January 25, TPH started offering the Novavax and pediatric COVID-19 vaccines at its community vaccination clinics. Anyone 12 years of age and older who are unable (due to allergies) or unwilling to get an mRNA vaccine is eligible to receive the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. Children five years of age and under are eligible to receive a pediatric COVID-19 vaccine.

TPH’s community vaccination clinics will operate throughout the school year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. by appointment only. Clinics will operate at Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall), Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Drive), and North York Civic Centre (5100 Yonge Street).

Appointments can be booked at TPHbookings.ca. TPH will expand clinic appointments to include weekends and PA days for increased family access in the coming weeks.

2024 Kraft Hockeyville Contest: McCormick Playground Arena

The 2024 Kraft Hockeyville Contest has started recently, and McCormick Playground Arena is participating! If the arena’s bid is successful, McCormick Playground Arena will get to host a pre-season NHL game and win a $250,000 cash prize that will go towards much-needed capital upgrades at the facility. 

Go online to McCormick Playground Arena’s online rally page to show what the arena means to you and our community.

Coldest Night of the Year at Oasis Dufferin

Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is accepting applications!

Making your home more energy efficient is one of the most substantial actions homeowners can take to reduce the emissions contributing to climate change. The City’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) continues to offer limited-time incentives to Toronto homeowners who qualify for the program to install rooftop solar PV (photovoltaic system) panels, heat pumps and deep retrofit (decarbonization) measures. Find more details and

 apply for HELP on the City’s Home Energy Loan Program webpage.

Little by Little Mural Project on West Toronto Railpath

TTC Construction: Overnight Work near Lansdowne Station

From as early as January 28^th, 2024 until February 12^th, 2024, the TTC is conducting subsurface utility investigations to determine the location and elevation of underground utilities at Lansdowne Avenue. This work is being done to upgrade power to the electrical substation located by Lansdowne Station. The upgrade is a part of the Line 2 Capacity Enhancement Program, to allow for future increased train frequency and service. Overnight work is required for the safety of underground utilities, workers, pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.

What to Expect

• A hydro excavation truck will be used along Lansdowne Avenue. Work will start south of Bloor Street and move north until Wade Avenue (see map). Crews, trucks, and equipment will be on site throughout the work.
• Hours of work will be from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Noise and vibration associated with hydro excavation construction can be expected with this work.

Traffic, pedestrian and cyclist impacts

• Lane reduction on Lansdowne Avenue will affect both north and southbound traffic. A paid duty officer will be present to direct traffic. Traffic will be restored at the end of each shift.
• Wade Avenue will be closed to traffic for a portion of the work. Pedestrian access will be maintained and traffic will be detoured during the closure.
• The location of 6 bus stops along Lansdowne Avenue, serving bus routes 47, 300, and 402, will be affected on a rolling basis as the work area is moved (see map). Signage will be present to re-direct customers to temporary bus stops.

For further information, please contact:

Metrolinx Construction: Bloor-Lansdowne GO Overnight Geo-technical Investigations

In the community

Other updates

• City of Toronto to launch first pothole repair blitz of 2024 – 311 Pothole Service Requests to be resolved
• Toronto Board of Health begins public consultations for Toronto Public Health’s new Strategic Plan
• City of Toronto kicks-off Black History Month with citywide events celebrating Black Canadians through February
• Outstanding response to Budget Committee’s call for public feedback on the City of Toronto’s 2024 Budget
• City of Toronto celebrates the ground-breaking of 172 affordable rental homes at 300-304 The East Mall
• City of Toronto opens 2024 Toronto Community Champion Award nominations
• City of Toronto opens applications and renewals for improved CaféTO curb lane program in 2024