Redway Road extension still under review: councillor

The Redway Road extension came into focus during a mayoral debate at the Roxborough United Church on Oct. 20.

Candidates John Tory, David Miller and Tom Jakobek admitted they needed more information on the issue, but all said they would not support a plan that saw construction through Toronto’s green space.

But re-elected councillor Jane Pitfield (Ward 26) Don Valley West said the candidates were looking at the wrong information during the meeting, and that in fact green space would not destroyed if the study proves positive.

The extension is part of the larger Don Valley Corridor study that includes the extension of Redway to help ease traffic and transit problems. Covering the areas between Bayview Ave. and Victoria Park and from Steeles Ave. to the lake, the city hopes the $250,000 study will help identify and develop additional public transit routes.

"That was an old proposal they were referring to," said Pitfield. "We have to see if Redwood Rd. will be recommended, and if it will have a public transit benefit. Also, if it’s built, we’ve made a commitment that it will not go down into any green space or environmentally sensitive areas . . . it would be up on the bank where the train tracks are currently."

Pitfield said there are 52,000 people living in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park and most of them tell her it takes too long to get downtown on public transit. The TTC has identified the area as a potential ridership growth route, and may consider buses using it.

"We don’t know at this point what will be recommended, but we’ve had an outside consultant working with transportation staff, and there were also community consultations to hear from everyone where they think the problems are with traffic," said the councillor. "We’re hoping the study will be presented in either spring or summer of next year."

In the meantime, Pitfield said the proposal to extend Leslie Street has been rejected by council because it was considered too expensive and environmentally dangerous to the Don River because the extension would have come too close to the water. They kept Redway because they believe it will make sense one day for public transit.