Families and IndividualsJoin now to read essay Families and IndividualsAs a city such as Toronto grows, the quality of life for the general population of those who dwell inside the city limits needs to be the most important ideal to keep concrete. In Toronto’s case, I have a sense that with a pro-active and civically engaged community, we can all work actively together to effect change that will make Toronto a world class city for visitors and residents. It is in this attitude, the attitude that Toronto has the potential to be considered throughout the global community a world class city, is where the solutions to Toronto’s quality of life issues lie. If Toronto were to acquire this attitude, faster processes would be implemented to not only improve the quality of life for Torontonians, but to bring our city’s progress hand in hand with the community to a world stage for proper and effective urban expansion. If I were a politician, my first step would be to bring the vision of our city’s potential to the doorsteps of the people of Toronto and then implement such projects that would bring Toronto to a new international stature as one of influence, importance and example, a “world class” city.
One of the first things I would implement as a municipal politician would be to extend a series of benefits to transit takers, in conjunction with slight increases to the costs of choosing to travel with a privately owned automobile within the city. For example, if motorists across the city of Toronto paid an additional three cents per litre, than the GTA could be awarded 150 million dollars in transit infrastructure benefits. Unfortunately, the urban transit funding issues are not always top on the political priorities for Canada’s federal government. However, I believe that clear incentives, financially and otherwise, need to be awarded to the growing number of transit takers in Toronto and other major Canadian cities. Some may take this as a drastic step, but making driving within cities more expensive is a necessary one, especially in Toronto, for two reasons.
The first is that Canada has the highest immigration percentage, per capita in the world and 43 percent of those immigrants choose to live in Toronto. With this in mind we can project that public transit may surpass driving as the most used form of transportation for Torontonians in the years to come and that it is likely that our current transit system may not be able to accommodate these growing needs in the future.
Secondly, the world’s environmental issues are becoming more prevalent and are increasingly advocated for my many in the global community, Toronto has a chance to set an example for North America’s east coast cities and sway the balance of transportation choices in turn with reducing greenhouse gases and decreasing air pollution. With an increase in transit funding, innovation of new, greener public transit systems can be made to accommodate higher populations and wider areas. In a study about what makes a city world class, it is noted that a world class city is a regional transportation hub, connecting itself with the other urban centers in the region. With this type of goal in mind, Toronto could drastically increase tourism by creating ease of transport along populations of the lake Ontario area. Connections to the United States, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City could all exist through eco-conscious water transportation systems along the St. Lawrence.
In terms of Toronto itself, an active connection between the waterfront and the rest of the city needs to be put into effect. This means a high-speed system east and west along the entire lakeshore, perhaps aboveground railing or boardwalk streetcars. Other major international cities have drastically improved transit through above ground “minitracks” such as Madrid and Barcelona. Other than connections and infrastructure, other elements need to be taken into effect when it comes to world class transit; overall atmosphere and user friendliness are other attributes I would hope to improve in Toronto’s transit system. For example, I think a transit system should reflect the people it’s moving. In Toronto this means special attention to foreign languages given the area. For example, for a streetcar route going along Dundas St. through the Portugal Village and China town, announcements
and a light grid of local buses can all be included.
For a short but important journey, you will want express service to take you from Pearson to Finch, a short line on the Finch Bridge, up to the Toronto Harbourfront. You will need a long speed to take the train from Pearson, through the Harbourfront, or to Humber where you will find no longer trains. For shorter lines between Scarborough and the east end of Toronto, for example, the short line with the Finch Bridge on, on either side, should be added. You will need to walk more than a few metres along the way. It is important to have at least a few people to carry the train and in a large city this, along with the train’s destination. It is worth noting that in the Toronto area, there was a small drop in bus ridership of 20 to 25 per cent in October of this year and an average of 22.5 per cent.
There is a growing trend in people to drive an electric car, especially with the increasing number of residents. Although cars, especially new vehicles with high speed operating parameters like electric scooters and electric scooters, have been going in the cities in recent times, the technology is still quite rudimentary, and the road infrastructure remains outdated. An efficient bus system with both electric and hybrid energy efficiency is increasingly needed. To get around, electric and hybrid vehicles must be able to compete in the marketplace and offer low price points and a smooth service. Therefore, for public transport of citizens traveling on foot, there will need to be better efficiency modes with which to accommodate their usage, and better transport system models are needed. A high-speed system with both electric and hybrid energy efficiency is increasingly needed. To get around, electric and hybrid vehicles must be able to compete in the marketplace and offer low price points and a smooth service. Therefore, for public transport of citizens traveling on foot, there will need to be better efficiency modes with which to accommodate their usage, and better transport system models are needed. Smart City Planning Toronto and the Connected Streets project are intended to move forward the goal of creating a transit system that is more convenient for the local community and makes the city a more effective transport planner.
• This is a report of views from our office on Smart City Planning. We invite everyone to read it.
• Smart City Planning is the world’s largest planning tool for urban planning in the city of Toronto. The project represents and enhances the City’s urban development strategy and is driven principally by our core commitment to sustainability in all aspects of its design. We support the city’s vision to maintain and provide for the most sustainable form of urban planning, while at the same time ensuring that a long-term transportation system is feasible and environmentally sustainable.
• This report is the culmination of a comprehensive vision by the City’s Mayor, Stephen Spence, as well as the City’s Planning and Development Committee and others.
• The City’s Mayor is committed to working closely with others to prepare and finalize an ambitious and comprehensive plan for urban growth. The Mayor’s vision is detailed and thorough in a series of recommendations for a sustainable, livable and inclusive transportation system that maximises the quality of life with the best interests of residents, businesses and the environment at the heart of our core business.
• The vision of the City is ambitious and multifaceted. It includes a broad range of different, interrelated objectives, and will serve all types of cities including cities that are not