Letter To the Editor: Towncrier - Forest Hill

OXTON AVE “FREEWAY” DRIVES LOCAL RESIDENTS CRAZY WHILE PEDESTRIANS RUN FOR THERE LIVES

Dear Editor:

I would like to bring to your attention neighbourhood efforts return pedestrian safety to the corner of Oxton Avenue and Oriole Pkwy, just north of Upper Canada. Presently, the pedestrian crossing experience at the intersection of is akin to playing murder-ball, but with cars. This corner strikes at the very heart of Toronto’s Pedestrian Charter!

The pedestrian crossing issues dates back to road reconstruction that took place in 2002, creating a free-flowing traffic artery the along Avenue-Oxton-Oriole corridor. Heavy, traffic, speeding vehicles, impatient drivers and constant hooking have gotten out of hand ever since, ruining the quality of near-by residential and pedestrian life.

What caused this situation? The result of the City of Toronto’s desire to appease near-by property owners complaints of excessive traffic on their streets. The removal of Oxton’s Stop and Yield signs has caused a free-flowing traffic conduit designed to draw the offending traffic away from property owner streets. This has left the people living in the buildings on the south side of the Oxton-Oriole corridor facing a high-risk situation every time they cross on their way to the subway. Although a cross walk was installed on Oxton, the route is rarely used as it is not on the natural pedestrian path to the subway and shops of Yonge and Davisville.

In June 2005, I decided enough is enough (after another close call with a car) and met with area Councillor Michael Walker to press for immediate action before the worst case scenario, a pedestrian fatality, occurred. A few weeks later I launched the Oxton-Oriole Pedestrian Safety Petition and received an overwhelming response that was subsequently presented to Councillor Walker. I also meet with local Community Policing Office of 53 Division to request traffic enforcement. In the fall I launched the Oxton @ Oriole Pedestrian Safety web blog (www.oxton.blogspot.com) to present the issues, rally the neighbourhood and demonstrate to elected and city officials residents boarding the Oxton and Oriole corridor have been heavily and adversely affected by the road configuration changes. In January I brought this issue to the Toronto Pedestrian Committee and am awaiting an invitation to meet with the committee.

To date Councillor Walker has requested two traffic studies by Transportation Services (which thus far has steadfastly refused to make any significant changes to meet local concerns), secured approval for the Oxton Avenue speed limit to be reduced to 40km’s (consistent with average speed findings) and had posted a “Quiet Residential Neighbourhood (largely, if not totally ignored). A public meeting was also promised late last year (a Feb-Mar timeframe was mentioned), but as yet no date has been set. As for any substantive changes to address the very real issue of pedestrian safety at this corner, the Toronto and East York Community Council has deferred action on the issue indefinitely.

In light of recent developments I feel the time has now come to increase awareness of the issues pertaining to the intersection of Oxton Avenue at Oriole Parkway in order to prevent a the inevitable serious injury that is sure to happen. I intend to continue to pressure elected city officials until they get the message and take action.

Mark Rees
Toronto
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