TTC relief line & recreation fees up for debate at city hall meetings
Posted December 4, 2013 1:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City councillors were debating a proposed downtown relief line for the TTC as well as recreational fees in two separate meetings on Wednesday.
The planning and growth management committee will also consider changes to the municipal code that could affect billboards.
Proposed relief line
The relief line initiative – formerly the Downtown Relief Line (DRL) – would connect the Danforth Subway to the Yonge Subway south of Gerrard Street. The city planner recommends that an assessment of the line be conducted along with a Metrolinx relief line and a Yonge relief line.
Funding of $3.028 million for the assessment was already approved and additional funding of $1 million for the second phase of the study will be considered as part of the 2014-2023 TTC Recommended Capital Plan.
Click here to read the agenda item.
Changes to city sign bylaw
The planning and growth management committee deferred a recommendation from the chief building official and executive director of Toronto Building to change the city’s sign bylaws.
If approved, it would reduce the brightness of illuminated signs.
Click here to read the agenda item
Recreation fees
Meanwhile, the community development and recreation committee is considering scrapping or reducing recreation fees.
The committee had recommended the city scrap user fees for all of its recreational programs at a cost to taxpayers of $30.6 million a year. City council referred the motion back to the committee.
The committee has been asked to take a closer look at user fees, including how much of a barrier they pose to access.
The committee is also looking at the financial implications of eliminating leisure swimming fees for children and youth in 2014, among other issues.
It will then go back to city council on Dec. 16.
Click here to read the agenda item.
LGBTQ-focused sports and recreation centre
The 519 Church Street Community Centre is hoping to partner with a “major” donor to build the first-ever LGBTQ-focused sports and recreation centre in Toronto.
The donor would have to work with The 519 as well as Waterfront Toronto, real estate services and city planning to come up with a proposal. It would be built in the West Don Lands community and managed by the city.
Click here to read the agenda item.
TTC fares for low-income riders
TTC riders pay about 80 per cent of the total cost of running the transit system, but a fare box ratio of 68 per cent should be the goal, Coun. Joe Mihevc said.
The community development and recreation committee is considering a proposal from Mihevc to lower transit fares for low-income riders.
Click here to read the agenda item.
