If you remember the BikingToronto post from a couple weeks ago about a Metrolinx plan for a Strachan Avenue "Super-Bridge" and are concerned about it, you may want to check out the "email blast" webpage of the Stop Metrolinx Super Bridge on Strachan Avenue (SMSBSA) group.It emails Rob MacIsaac (chair of Metrolinx) , Premier McGuinty, all local, provincial and federal politicians for the affected area, as well as some media outlets.
The City of Toronto is against the Super Bridge plan (details in this PDF) and cyclists should be too.
The polite yet effective text is as follows:
I am writing to you today out of concern regarding the proposed change to Strachan Avenue to facilitate the Union-Pearson rail link. I understand that contrary to the recommendations of the City of Toronto and others, Metrolinx has decided to lower the rail line by some small amount and raise Strachan Avenue by way of a bridge over the rail line, and not by way of a tunnel or underpass, or the method by which Strachan Avenue would pass over the rail lines at grade.
There doesn’t seem to be any explanation as to why this decision was made other than it was the cheaper of the two alternatives for the grade separation of Strachan Avenue and the rail line.
Amongst other problems the bridge will cause, it will dramatically and negatively impact the community, the businesses and the residents living in the Niagara Neighbourhood, Liberty Village, King and Queen Street West, Fort York, Exhibition Place and the Waterfront by effectively cutting the areas into two parts and will significantly reduce the property values of the homes.
If you recall Metrolinx’s own Mission Statement “To champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system for our region that enhances prosperity, sustainability and quality of life.” How does the erection of a super-bridge fit your mission statement in our historic neighbourhoods?
The community requests that Metrolinx immediately reconsider their decision and adopt the recommendation of the City of Toronto, the lowering of the rail corridor to allow Strachan Avenue to pass over the railway lines at grade.
See the SMSBSA Email Blast page for more.
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