Building safe communities
I hope you were able to find ways to stay connected this summer with family and friends while physically distancing. Like you, I was sad that the Port Union Waterfront festival had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 this year, but I have been so impressed with how our community has come together to support each other during this difficult time. I would like to thank all the residents in Centennial for participating in car parades, volunteering and donating to our local agencies.
Back to School – Vision Zero
The city is working to ensure the safety of all pedestrians under Vision Zero, especially children and youth as they travel to and from school.
Vision Zero is a comprehensive five-year (2017-2021) action plan focused on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Toronto’s streets. Some of the safety elements include lowering speed limits, installing more “watch your speed” driver feedback signs and automated speed enforcement. In school zones, this also includes flashing beacons on school zone signs and school zone stencils on pavement.
In Centennial, an automated speed enforcement camera has been installed on Charlottetown Blvd. This system uses a camera and a speed measurement device to detect and capture images of vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit. Each image is reviewed by a provincial offence officer prior to issuing an offence to the owner of the vehicle. Upon conviction, the only penalty is a fine – no demerit points will be issued and there will be no impact to the registered owner’s driving record. The intention is to slow drivers down.
Our office is also distributing “WHOA! SLOW DOWN” signs. If you would like one, please call or email our office to request a delivery.
Port Union Road Update
I am pleased to update you on the continued progress related to the Port Union Rd. expansion project. To date, the pre-engineering, subsurface utility investigation, arborist report and exploratory digging to confirm the location of Enbridge infrastructure have been completed. In August, the province began the required work on the Port Union Rd. bridge over the 401. This includes bridge rehabilitation and steps necessary to accommodate the city’s road widening.
Related stakeholders have also started their work. Rogers is planning to commence utility relocation by the end of August, expected to take approximately three months. Enbridge will use the findings of their exploratory digging to determine where the gas main needs to be relocated to satisfy the road widening alignments. Toronto Hydro is working with the city on a plan to relocate their infrastructure.
My office continues to follow this project closely. City staff are completing the detailed design and are finalizing the alignment of the road to the west, which eliminates the need for property acquisition, and implementing wider sidewalks and bike lanes along the entirety of the corridor, consistent with new design guidelines.
We will continue to keep you informed about this project, and will host a virtual information session once a detailed design is completed later this year.
Keeping in Touch
We continue to work for you during COVID-19. We can be reached at 416-338-3771 or councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca. We can also meet with residents at our constituency office by appointment. To keep up to date with local news, please sign up for our e-newsletter at www.jennifermckelvie.ca and follow me on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter at @McKelvieWard25.