Community Newsletter: March 17th 2023

Neighbour --

My team and I have been preparing for next week's Committee meetings at City Hall, which will cover a number of items that are of interest to many Davenport residents.

At Monday's Infrastructure and Environment Committee meeting, I'm bringing forward a motion along with Councillor Dianne Saxe to ask City staff to develop a plan to extend the College Street bike lanes westward, between Manning Avenue and Lansdowne Avenue. This proposal would create a complete cycling route on College Street up to Bay Street, providing protection for vulnerable road users and helping the City meet our goals of increasing active, climate-friendly modes of transportation.

The Committee will also be considering a call for the City to conduct a review of snow clearing services, and to report back on recommendations so that snow and ice aren't moved onto sidewalks or bike lanes. Snow clearing shouldn't create additional hazards for pedestrians and cyclists, and I strongly support calls for a review of the current system. The Committee will also consider a new fee structure for Bike Share Toronto. While I am enthusiastic about the popularity of our Bike Share program and efforts to expand the service, I am concerned that increasing fees could mean that the program is no longer accessible and affordable for everyone in our city, and doesn't encourage use.

Toronto's Housing Action Plan 2022-2026 will be considered next week at Executive Committee. This plan aims to increase our city's housing supply through Official Plan and zoning bylaw changes, as well as increasing the number of units in affordable housing programs and leveraging public land to build housing. Lack of affordable rental housing is one the most critical issues facing our city, and I am committed to making sure the Housing Action Plan prioritizes investments in deeply affordable community and non-profit housing that will serve families of all income levels.

In addition, Executive Committee will also consider an item on making electronic participation a permanent option. This will ensure that public participation in Council and Committee meetings, and on local boards, can be done virtually on a permanent basis—making participation more accessible for those who can't make it to an in-person meeting. 

My team and I welcome any thoughts you have on the above items, or any other feedback for our office.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this edition

• Drop-In Events: Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections
• Metrolinx Davenport Diamond Guideway: Overnight Work this Weekend
• Outdoor Skating Season ends this weekend
• Reminder: MPOX Vaccination

Drop-In Events: Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections

The City of Toronto is hosting two upcoming drop-in events to hear community feedback and help you learn more about the Bartlett-Havelock-Gladstone Cycling Connections project. 

Thursday, March 23

This event will focus on the section of Havelock St, between Bloor St W and College St. 

• Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023
• Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm  
• Location: St. Wenceslaus Church, 496 Gladstone Avenue

Monday, April 3

This event will focus on the section of Gladstone Ave, between College St and Peel Ave, as well as a new traffic signal on Dufferin Street north of Queen Street West.

• Date: Monday, April 3, 2023
• Time: 5:30 – 7:30 pm  
• Location: Alexander Muir Public School, 108 Gladstone Avenue

Metrolinx Davenport Diamond Guideway: Overnight Work next Weekend

From March 24 at 11pm to March 27 at 4am, Metrolinx will be doing around-the-clock work to finish the Davenport Diamond Guideway project. During this time, a major track closure will occur and trains will be transferred to run on the new guideway. There will be disruptions to service, with GO buses replacing train service while this work is completed. 

Starting on Monday, GO Trains will begin to run on the new elevated guideway. 

Outdoor skating season ends this weekend

With the start of spring and the weather warming up, the City’s 2022/2023 outdoor skating season will end on Sunday, March 19.

Supported by hundreds of recreation and parks staff, the City’s outdoor artificial ice rinks provided hundreds of thousands of people with family favourites, including free public leisure skating, shinny, leisure figure skating, instructional learn to skate and beginner instructional hockey programs, as well as a ringette and women’s shiny opportunities.

Before you hang up your skates, take one last lap at your local outdoor ice rink.

Reminder: MPOX vaccination

MPOX – formerly known as monkeypox – continues to circulate in Toronto. Appointments for eligible residents to receive the MPOX vaccine can be made at any City immunization clinic using www.TPHBookings.ca or community partner clinics listed at toronto.ca/MPOX. Getting two doses of the MPOX vaccine will provide the best protection.

All City immunization clinics offer the MPOX vaccine to eligible residents through appointments at TPHBookings.ca. Walk-ins are available based on clinic capacity. Select community clinics are offering the MPOX vaccine by appointment only.