Protests fail to detour bus route
A new route for the Graydon Hall bus was approved by city council last month, despite a massive protest from residents and the local councillor.
Hundreds of people signed petitions, sent letters and faxes, and made phone calls to Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong protesting the extension of the bus route.
Nonetheless, the Toronto Transit Commission said it was too late to retract a proposal made by the councillor asking to extend the122 Graydon Hall bus route along side streets — Lynedock Cres., Roywood Dr. and Fenside Dr.
Council approved the proposal at its July meeting, despite hearing the councillor’s objections, viewing the petitions and listening to public deputations.
The extended bus route will begin on the first day of school, Sept. 7, for a trial period of six months, running Monday to Friday. During that time local residents will be prohibited from parking their cars along the curb of the residential streets. The TTC will also be studying ridership to determine if it will sustain the new route.
City staff are preparing the neighbourhood for the revised bus route by putting up bus stops, no-parking signs, and trash cans along the streets, which may create more public backlash, according to Minnan-Wong’s office.
The Graydon Hall bus runs between York Mills and Victoria Park transit stations.