Give King pilot time to work
Re King Street business owner appeals to public to shut down streetcar
pilot project, Jan. 22 After arriving at the Yonge and King intersection a few days ago, I was greeted with a grotesque ice sculpture protesting the King St. streetcar pilot project. This reaction is disrespectful and rude to citizens and tourists alike. Is this how businesses now react to public policy and civility?
The 72,000 daily passengers of the King streetcar think otherwise, and likely will not be customers of these businesses. Better transit is what we need and we are not going back to the pre-pilot dysfunctional King St. It is not perfect by any means, but this middle finger to the city will lead to the further demise of these establishments.
These businesses also have short memories. During TIFF, these restaurants had a decent increase in revenue. No cars. No parking. No transit. Just pedestrians. So the whole argument of business decline due to the lack of parking and cars is bogus.
Next summer, I think we will all be pleasantly surprised how active the street will be, as people explore the better, safer and more comfortable public realm of the new King St. Tero Konttinen, Toronto
Streetcars need priority or sole use of the track lane (probably all the way from the Dundas St. W. to Broadview stations to be really useful). But I am not convinced that the curb-lane restrictions are required.
Eliminating curb-lane traffic to create the dream of a quaint village feel or a pedestrian-only street is a completely different goal from solving the streetcar issue, and should require its own examination, approval, pilot and implementation. (It has actually been examined over the years for various other streets around the city and so far has been rejected.)
If the fear is that cars would go in the track lane and/or wait to turn left and hamper streetcars, then that is a prevention issue or an enforcement issue that needs to be handled independently.
Have you seen King St. lately? It is currently a ghost town. No wonder local businesses are upset.
I live in the core and walk, bike, transit and drive, roughly in that order, so I feel I am approaching this aware of the feelings of each side. Street-level businesses depend on the visibility and awareness generated when people walk, bike, transit and drive through the area. They might not buy during this trip, but maybe on the next trip. Mike Jensen, Toronto
As a resident of King St. W. for more than 34 years I can only say, “Finally, we have a functional streetcar.” Don’t let all the noise from business owners hijack a long-overdue transportation solution that benefits tens of thousands of residents every day. Greg McPhee, Toronto So the TTC timed-transfer plan that seems to have council’s support can’t start until August. Why not start immediately for the King St. pilot area? Give all those 70,000-plus passengers the opportunity to get off for an hour or so for lunch, dinner, a drink or a shopping excursion. Then they can hop back on the 504 or 514 and get on to their ultimate destination.
Seems like an easy win-win for everyone, especially in cold spells when people are less likely to stroll along the sidewalks. Innovative restaurateurs could even develop a special timedtransfer menu — maybe a two-course prix fixe of appetizer/ main or main/dessert. It seems to work in Paris.
Let’s try to melt that icy middle finger before winter’s gone. Sheila Vandenberk, Toronto
“Don’t let all the noise from business owners hijack a long-overdue transportation solution that benefits tens of thousands of residents every day.” GREG MCPHEE TORONTO