Edward Spence, senior policy adviser to 91ÑÇÉ« President and Vice-Chancellor Lorna R. Marsden, yesterday issued the following statement on behalf of the University.
91ÑÇÉ« has championed the concept of a subway to 91ÑÇÉ«'s campus and into 91ÑÇÉ« region as well as a new rapid bus transit route to the campus, as an interim solution to serious transportation challenges on behalf of the entire northwest quadrant of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Currently the University has a difference of opinion with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) officials regarding the appropriate route for the dedicated bus lane running from the Downsview subway station to 91ÑÇÉ«. We have questioned TTC proposals that would run a bus-only express route through the south part of the academic core of the campus because they are too close to classrooms and libraries and would disrupt studies, or would run through one of the University's protected woodlots.
Above: Map showing alternative routes for a dedicated bus lane to 91ÑÇÉ«'s Keele campus
For the sake of our students, 91ÑÇÉ« will not allow the proper academic functioning of the University to be disrupted due to an avoidable transportation arrangement. 91ÑÇÉ« has undertaken studies which have been shared with the TTC documenting the University's concerns and environmental issues related to proposed TTC routes.
We have put forward alternative designs for an express route on Keele Street that would direct buses onto 91ÑÇÉ«'s campus via 91ÑÇÉ« Boulevard. We have indicated our willingness to give buses priority on 91ÑÇÉ« Boulevard, the main entrance to the campus.
We want to avoid turning 91ÑÇÉ«'s inner campus into a major traffic route with all the attendant noise, pollution and pedestrian safety issues. In addition to TTC buses, the express bus route will also be used by Go Transit and 91ÑÇÉ« Region Transit and may even be used by private operators like Greyhound and Casino Rama.
No one can say that 91ÑÇÉ« has not done its share for transit on behalf of our students. We are already providing the necessary space and support for one of the largest transit hubs in the city, with 1,100 buses a day from all parts of the GTA serving the campus. In recent years 91ÑÇÉ« has developed a bus-only area in the centre of the campus and we have established 23 bus bays. The University is committed to further expansion of the bus-only precinct to better separate buses, pedestrians and cars. 91ÑÇÉ« has worked actively on these issues for more than a decade.
On behalf of the over 60,000 91ÑÇÉ« community members, we are committed to working constructively with all transit providers to realize our goal of a subway extension to 91ÑÇÉ« and interim transit improvements to rapid bus transit that are compatible with the interests of our students. We look forward to having the TTC's full analysis of 91ÑÇÉ«'s compromise proposal at the Commission's upcoming meeting on Oct. 20.