Traffic Update - Feb. 18 letter from Councillor Mihevc

From: councillor_mihevc@toronto.ca Dear all, You are receiving this message because you contacted our office regarding traffic congestion and pedestrian safety issues at Eglinton and Allen. Please see the below update from Councillor Mihevc. Dear Neighbours, Attached, please find a letter from Metrolinx Director of Community Relations Jamie Robinson regarding the current traffic situation in the area of Eglinton and Allen. The letter is being delivered via Canada Post in the immediate vicinity of Allen and Eglinton. I have requested City Transportation staff and Metrolinx to report back as soon as possible regarding long-term improvements to the traffic situation in this area. For the next several years of Crosstown construction, we know that congestion will be quite bad. We need a plan from Metrolinx and Transportation to manage the situation in the best way possible under very difficult circumstances. In the mean time, a Paid Duty Officer will continue to be posted at the intersection of Allen and Eglinton at the northbound on-ramp/pedestrian crossing. Several measures have already been put in place: 1.) Lifting turn and no entry restrictions on a number of side streets between Bathurst and Winona; 2.) Making several streets two-way to improve traffic flow'. 3.) Eliminating the left turn from Eglinton Ave onto Oakwood Ave; I have requested that Solid Waste Management re-schedule its pickup routes to avoid residential streets in this area during the morning rush hour. I have made a similar request of Urban Forestry. Metrolinx is also in the process of implementing signage on feeder routes that provides real time updates on delays entering/exiting the Allen at Eglinton (e.g. Expect 20 minute delay) and announcements on television and radio traffic reports advising of traffic delays at this location and encouraging motorists to use other routes (Metro Morning, 680 News, CP24, etc); I understand the deep frustration of residents regarding traffic backups in this area. I am committed to continuing to work with you and with Metrolinx to manage the pain as well as possible. We must also brace ourselves for continued disruption in this neighbourhood for the next several years. Work on the LRT will have major impacts and cause significant traffic disruption over the next several years. Eglinton and Allen Road is the epicentre of this work, as it is the site of both launch and extraction shafts for two of the tunnelling machines being used on this project. In addition, the work at this site is complicated by the existing subway crossing at Eglinton West station, and remnants of the Eglinton Subway which was cancelled and filled in 1995. You can get regular updates about the Eglinton Crosstown on the Metrolinx website a www.thecrosstown.ca. You can also sign up to receive email alerts about construction progress. Joe Mihevc

(or via this link: http://www.thecrosstown.ca/news-media/whats-new/open-letter-to-the-residents-of-eglinton-avenue-and-allen-road-area )