Port Union Road utility relocation will start this year
In May, Toronto hit an important milestone – a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered to 50 percent of adults. The City of Toronto continues to operate clinics, including two in Scarborough: at Malvern Community Centre and Scarborough Town Centre. To book an appointment at these clinics, visit ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-833-943-3900.
The Scarborough Health Network is also operating mass vaccination and pop-up clinics in Scarborough. For the latest information, visit scarbvaccine.ca or call 1-888-385-1910.
Thank you for doing your part and getting vaccinated. It provides me with hope that we will be together again soon. Consider posting your vaccine selfie with the hashtag #mycovidvax to spread some cheer and help combat vaccine hesitancy.
Port Union Road Widening
Last month, a Public Information Session was held for the Port Union Road widening. The session provided information about the final design, along with construction timelines. The design includes the addition of a second northbound lane, as well as wider sidewalks and bike lanes, consistent with City of Toronto guidelines.
This project has been in various planning stages for 20 years. When a road is
widened and the number of lanes changes, an Environmental Assessment (EA) is
required. An EA for this project was first approved in 2004 and an updated EA,
to include wider bike lanes and reduce impacts to property owners, was approved
in 2015.
Over the last three years, city staff have acquired property easements, conducted utility locates, completed an arborist report and prepared the project for contract tender. This year, Enbridge will undertake their gas main relocations and Toronto Hydro’s pole relocation will commence. Road construction is anticipated to begin in April 2022. To learn more about it, visit toronto.ca/portunion.
WHOA! Slow Down
The city is working to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, especially children and youth as they travel to and from school. Vision Zero is a 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. Our office is distributing “WHOA! SLOW DOWN” signs. If you would like one, please call or email us and we will drop one off.
Cleaning Up Our Ravines
In 2018, I was tasked with advancing the City of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy by Mayor John Tory. Since that time, I have been actively advocating for funding, which includes enhanced litter and invasive species removal, erosional control in key areas, as well as the creation of new trails. In Scarborough, this includes the completion of the Meadoway, which is transforming a hydro corridor into a 16-kilometre stretch of urban greenspace.
In the federal budget, I was delighted to hear that Minister McKenna is creating a new Natural Infrastructure Fund, with a proposed $200M to be allocated across Canada over the next three years. Our Ravine Strategy was listed as a prime example of the type of work that could be funded by this program. I would like to thank our MP Gary Anandasangaree for adding his voice to the call for funding.
On Earth Day, I announced with the mayor that the city is investing $82M across Toronto for the Ravine Strategy. The investment includes $12M in operating funding, which will increase litter and invasive species removal and create a youth internship program.
Litter collection work will continue to focus on known hotspots that have been identified through complaints to 311. If you are aware of any litter hotspots, please submit them to toronto.ca/home/311.
We’re Here to Work for You
For local updates, sign up for my weekly e-newsletter at www.jennifermckelvie.ca. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter via @McKelvieWard25 or email me at councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca.