Speed cameras and electric Zambonis make for a busy October

By Dianne Saxe

The top three things you should know about in University-Rosedale this month: 

Harbord/Hoskin reconstruction is wrapping up after sustained pressure from our office. We’ll have an official opening to celebrate, but it was allowed to drag on far too long and to cause far too much neighbourhood disruption due to lax contracting practices. I have submitted an administrative enquiry and will seek a formal investigation. I’m trying to get benches installed on some of those puzzling concrete pads. 

The large Rowanwood water main project will begin again this fall. A few months ago, the excavation had to be paused when a sheet steel obstruction was discovered deep underground. While it is essential to replace the old, undersized water main, the excavations will be disruptive to residents in the Rowanwood area, and they have already cost many well-loved trees. Engineering services has promised not to repeat the mistakes it made on Harbord. We’ll be keeping a close watch. 

Doug Ford’s latest—promising to ban speed cameras that help save lives in our school and community safety zones. This again drives home why Toronto needs more financial and legal autonomy. To get it, we’re going to need overwhelming public support before the next provincial election. 

In other news: 

I’ve cut some more red tape. During the 2024 budget, staff admitted that the bid award panel caused unnecessary cost and delay to city construction projects without any offsetting benefit. I pushed to get rid of the BAP; as of October 1, it’s gone. 

After two years of my motions and pestering, we have finally had an education and enforcement blitz aimed at those who ride motorized micromobility vehicles (bikes, scooters, mopeds, etc.). Although overdue, this was a good start, and I am pushing staff to build on it. The infrastructure and environment committee passed my further motions to improve rider education, to try to compel vendors of these devices to give buyers information about rules and risks, and to look at licensing all motorized micromobility devices that operate on our streets. 

Navigation apps are causing heavy cut-through traffic and speeding across Ward 11, including in the Castle Frank, Barton, Roxborough, Elm and Euclid areas. We cannot legally prevent non-residents from driving through residential neighbourhoods. Wherever possible, and as requested by communities, we are fighting dangerous speeding with speed cameras, bump outs, planters, crosswalks, and humps. I am open to adding turn restrictions and one-way mazes when communities agree that they want them, although these measures have knock-on effects and local opinion is often divided. In the Euclid area, the city is collecting more data; two rounds of traffic monitoring are scheduled in the next few months. And we will be asking residents if they want a one-way maze. 

The parks and recreation department has informed me that the Ramsden Park skating rink should open by January 1, and the basketball court will be restored by spring. The Bill Bolton Arena roof is almost finished, and the dressing room heating system will be replaced in February. 

The Markham Street reopening (Lennox to Bloor) has been delayed again, but it might happen in November (hurry up, Westbank!). Do you think it will beat the Eglinton Crosstown? 

The Toronto preservation board has refused a Heritage Act application for the large wall that was illegally built on public property at Glen Road and Whitney. Council has already directed that the wall be removed. 

We are working with municipal licensing & standards to fine-tune bylaw enforcement for minor breaches by small businesses so that we don’t keep losing well-intentioned small businesses such as the much-loved By the Way Café. 

The city is buying 53 electric Zambonis to keep our skating rinks in good order with less noise and pollution. I’m lobbying to get some for Ward 11. 

North of Bloor, parking changes this fall will make the Bathurst bus faster and more reliable. In the spring, RapidTO Bathurst streetcar lanes will be installed from Dundas to Bloor.

Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.

READ MORE BY DIANNE SAXE:

• FORUM: A busy August in Ward 11 (Sept. 2025)
• FORUM: Celebrating greenspaces, easing congestion (Aug. 2025)
• FORUM: Council still at work (July 2025)
• FORUM: Easing congestion into summer (May/June 2025)
• FORUM: Exciting spring initiatives (Apr. 2025)
• FORUM: Tariffs and election dominate (Mar. 2025)
• FORUM: Budget is the news of the month (Feb. 2025)
• FORUM: A busy beginning to 2025 (Jan. 2025)
• FORUM: A busy legislative agenda ahead (Oct./Nov. 2024)
• FORUM: Saxe and the City (Summer 2024)
• FORUM: Tackling road congestion, noise, and safety (June 2024)
• FORUM: Undoing vacant home tax debacle (May 2024)
• FORUM: A busy agenda at city council (Apr. 2024)
• FORUM: University-Rosedale update from the councillor’s chair (Mar. 2024)
• FORUM: Eventful new year at city council (Feb. 2024)
• FORUM: A hectic first year in University-Rosedale (Dec. 2023)
• FORUM: Keeping it green and safe in University-Rosedale (Fall 2023)
• FORUM: Fighting on five fronts (Summer 2023)
• FORUM: Addressing a housing shortage (May/June 2023)
• FORUM: Leveraging a green agenda (April 2023)
• FORUM: Budget passes in a consensus vote (Mar. 2023)
• FORUM: Bike lanes made permanent, more warming centres open (Feb. 2023)
• FORUM: Turbulent time to take a seat (Jan. 2023)