SIGN  THE  PETITION  
​SAVE  HIGHLAND CREEK FROM YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION AND DESTRUCTION
​​STOP   
METROLINX  BUS  RAPID  TRANSIT  PLAN  FOR  ELLESMERE RD
Metrolinx: find a better way, one that does not destroy our community 

Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit - A New Spring Campaign
 

A pin map of residents who have signed the petition. The purple line indicates Metrolinx's proposed route for the BRT, while the red line indicates the HCCA's counter-proposal

 In April, we plan to start a new campaign with lawn signs and banners. If you still have a lawn sign in your garage from last summer, join us and place it on your lawn. Send us an email at myhighlandcreekcommunity@gmail.com if your lawn sign bracket is broken and we will work to replace it.

The HCCA – DSBRT Committee submitted a report recently to the Minister of the Environment in response to the Metrolinx – Transit Project Assessment Process report.

The full Metrolinx report is available online on our website at www.myhighlandcreek.org. A copy of the report can also be viewed at the Highland Creek branch of the Toronto Public Library.

The following are abbreviated excerpts from the Highland Creek Community Association’s report submitted on February 22nd, to the Minister of the Environment for review. It emphasizes the HCCA’s and the community’s opposition to the DSBRT along Ellesmere Road. Excerpts from the Arborist Report are also included.

We highlighted that Highland Creek is strictly a residential area. Homes are purchased for the idyllic feel, its safe and clean environment and the mature tree-lined streets. The trees are home to a large variety of birds, and in the conservation area on Ellesmere Road there are several species of wildlife. Our residents expressed concerns over the impact that the proposed DSBRT will have on their community, and in particular on Ellesmere Road. Over 300 hundred lawn signs were displayed that promoted the “Stop the Durham/Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit”.

The DSBRT-proposed centre median transit lanes on Ellesmere Road in Highland Creek will:

•  divide the community,
•  result in residents being unable to make left-hand turns into or out of their driveways,
•  side roads will have the same turning restrictions and suffer an increase in traffic,
•  provides little, if any, improvement to the transit needs of Highland Creek residents
•  duplicates existing TTC services that will have to be retained,
•  may only save one minute of travel time between Kingston Road and Military Trail / UTSC, and,
•  have buses (Pulse and TTC) passing every minute or two in each direction thereby creating unsafe situations for pedestrians crossing Ellesmere Road.

Reviewing the submission by Metrolinx, the HCCA considers the two most important issues related to be climate change and the removal of trees, many of which are on private property.

Climate Change —The Impact of Tree Removal
The DSBRT route is 36 km long:

•  Trees to be removed — 3,278, plus 618 impacted or injured by construction
•  Total — 3,896 or 108 trees/km
•  In Highland Creek on Ellesmere Road (2.8 km), 271 trees will be removed, plus 49 impacted or injured
•  TOTAL — 320 in Highland Creek, or 106 trees/km

The loss of these trees will have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of all residents along the DSBRT route. The City of Toronto Council, in 2012, adopted a goal of 40% tree canopy. Toronto's urban forest provides $55 million in environmental benefits every year including improved air quality through pollution removal.

Through shade and transpiration, increasing urban tree cover can mitigate exposure to extreme heat events. A higher density of trees in a neighbourhood has been shown to significantly improve physical and mental health, such as reducing blood pressure and stress levels and promoting physical activity. Trees also make urban environments aesthetically more pleasing which raises property values.

​Impact of Air Quality Noise on Residents of Highland Creek.

• The proposed DSBRT has 49 stop locations, of which 14 are in the City of Toronto.
  
• In Highland Creek from Port Union to Meadowvale Road = 7 stops (50% of the City of Toronto).
  
• The DSBRT bus fleet would be diesel-fueled until 2041.
  
• Durham Region Transit have recently purchased a new diesel-powered 90 passenger swing bus fleet with an expected service life of 20 plus years.
  
• Emissions from idling buses were not taken into consideration when picking up passengers at stops or traffic lights.
  
• Durham Region Transit has not made any mention of an Electric Bus introduction to-date. 
  
• The TTC goal is to have an electric bus fleet by 2040.​
  

The following are residents who will be directly affected by CO2 emissions plus unburned carbon gases (black smoke) from diesel buses:

• 220 homes with a driveway on to Ellesmere Road.
  
• 137 homes on the south side and 135 on the north side close to Ellesmere affected with no left turns.
  
• A multi-storey UofT Scarborough Campus first year student residence building.
  
• UofT Scarborough Campus Administration Building.
  
• Two plazas with entrances directly onto Ellesmere Road.
  
• Highland Creek Library entrance directly onto Ellesmere Road.
  
• Highland Creek Community Park entrance directly onto Ellesmere Road.
  
• Architect’s Building, 6534 Kingston Road entrance directly onto Ellesmere Road.
  

The Highland Creek residents have clearly stated they are against the DSBRT on Ellesmere Road, and the median centre lanes for buses.
When asked, Metrolinx could not cite another express transit system passing through a residential area in Canada. The health and well-being from the diesel emissions, noise, and vibration from the buses, could seriously compromise Highland Creek residents’ health.  
During a meeting with Metrolinx, on February 16, 2022, and the HCCA – DSBRT Committee at MPP Vijay’s office, the following items were discussed.

• Metrolinx was asked again if they have looked at alternative routes around Highland Creek, such as Sheppard and the Hwy. 401 using designated lanes?
  
• Metrolinx replied that current Pulse buses are not suitable for Highway 401. HCCA pointed out that the 92 GO transit bus from Durham is a duplicate service of the Pulse buses and Sheppard is already a transit route.  
  
• HCCA pointed out to Metrolinx that Sheppard Avenue is a particularly suitable alternative, it meets all their requirements and is the most cost-effective. Plus, the pollution from the diesel buses will not have the same impact on the route as on Ellesmere.  
  
• Metrolinx stated that they will not look at any alternatives.  The plan is still to have diesel buses along Ellesmere every two minutes east and west during rush hour. 
  
• Metrolinx was asked how the DSBRT is going to help climate change with the plan to cut down 1,250 trees in Toronto and the use of diesel buses until 2041? Between Oshawa Centre and Scarborough Town Centre there are 49 stops and numerous traffic lights. The idling at all these stops will add significantly to air pollution – this is not mentioned in the Environmental Report. 
  
• Metrolinx said they were not aware of this omission in the Environmental Report. 
  

If you have questions concerns regarding tree removal and/or air quality, contact:
MPP Vijay Thanigasalam, Scarborough – Rouge Park :416-283-8448 vijay.thanigasalam@pc.ola.org or info@vijaythani.ca
Gary Anandasangaree MP, Scarborough – Rouge Park 416-283-1414
Jennifer McKelvie – City Councillor – Ward 25: Scarborough – Rouge Park 416-338-3771
The HCCA-DSBRT Committee:  myhighlandcreekcommunity@gmail.com

Highland Creek Residents are strongly opposed to the proposed plans Metrolinx has for Ellesmere Road. Running through our neighbourhood, wrecking premanent havoc and tearing out old growth trees.

Learn More ABOUT THE PLANS  Here  

Over the past year 'The Villager' has reported on the Durham Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Plans, find the articles here     
Go to Bottom of Page for Article on BRT from 'The Villager' SUMMER 2020 

click the photo SIGN THE PETITION STOP METROLINX FROM DESTROYING OUR COMMUNITY

​​Metrolinx' plan to build bus only lanes in the middle of Ellesmere will have a huge negative impact on our community.  

• No left turns on Ellesmere Rd. Period... FOREVER.

• Left turns and U turns only allowed at Conlins, Morrish, and Meadowvale.  You will have to go past your street/your driveway and circle back to get home at night.  
• NO left turns into or out of 213 homes with driveways on Ellesmere Rd. 
• NO left turns for 58 homes on Spall and Mirrow... FOREVER. 
• NO left turns into or out of our library and the Highland Creek Community Park...FOREVER.
• They will cut down 300 of our beautiful trees along Ellesmere.
• They will expropriate part of your properties to widen Ellesmere for their bus lanes.
• WE GET NOTHING BACK. The TTC bus will still run in the curb lane
• You will have to pay two fares to ride the Durham Bus in the bus lanes to the future subway in Scarborough Centre.
• All this is so students living in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa can 'save' maybe 1.5 minutes on their commute to the UTSC​

---

Community Voices Shared in Letters and comments on petition:         ​

"Destructive changes which negatively impact  our community are not welcome; we're a residential community. The DSBRT proposal would not benefit our community, it only increases pollution both noise and air, results in disruption and traffic chaos, and unwelcome land expropriation of people's property. Currently people are not constrained from back and forth travel across Ellesmere (library), which would not be the case if DSBRT is allowed to create a barrier. We're expecting our elected representatives to look after the best interests and wishes of the Highland Creek community as a whole, not specifically the U of T."

Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit (DSBRT) –  What’s in it for us?
As a lifelong Scarborough resident and 25-year resident of Highland Creek, please allow me to preface my comments to follow. I have no particular bent for, or against, public transit. The extent of my use of public transit is currently limited to taking the GO train to work downtown (sans COVID) and I do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Additionally, I recognize that the various levels of government have dithered for over 30 years on meaningful transit solutions in the Scarborough area.
Through previous editions of The Villager, I expect that most of you are already aware of the main impacts to our community based on Metrolinx’s technically preferred solution for the DSBRT, namely:
· Ellesmere Road widened to accommodate bus lanes in the center of the roadway, separated from other vehicular traffic by raised curbs
· No left turns anywhere on Ellesmere (between Kingston Road and Military Trail) except at signalized intersections (Meadowvale, Morrish, Conlins roads)
 · Increased DSBRT bus traffic –    every 2-5 minutes, depending on the time of day
 From the resident’s perspective, the DSBRT will destroy the Highland Creek community, as Metrolinx is effectively proposing a wall be built down Ellesmere Road. Having attended 2 information sessions at UTSC in late 2019 and a virtual meeting in June 2020, I can glean extraordinarily little benefit, if any, to this community – certainly no benefits sufficient enough to offset the lasting negative impacts.
As proposed, there are only 3 stops in our area benefitting few, and therefore it would seem most transit riders will still be reliant on the TTC service. Additionally, Metrolinx has stated the existing TTC service will be reduced with the DSBRT implementation, thereby negatively impacting those people who currently use transit. It would seem unlikely that users will walk the increased distance, especially in extreme weather, to the closest DSBRT stop. For example, transit riders today that board TTC buses in the Muirbank/Ellesmere area would have to walk to Meadowvale to board the DSBRT. Or first board the TTC and then transfer at Meadowvale.
The widening of Ellesmere to 6 lanes (and 4 lanes east of Meadowvale) – with additional space needed for stations and cycling lanes – is unacceptable. This stretch of Ellesmere is effectively a 100% single-family residential neighbourhood. The resulting traffic on side streets and U-turns as residents try to navigate around the dedicated lanes will further negatively impact this community. The infrastructure that must be moved to accommodate the widening – hydro, fire hydrants, traffic signals, sewers, catch-basins and curbs, not to mention the cutting down of hundreds of mature trees, is completely inappropriate and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
An alignment to Sheppard Avenue would seem more appropriate:
· The existing Port Union/Sheppard stretch of road is wider
 · Metrolinx’s contention that workers going from Durham to Scarborough would use this service would be better served as those jobs are more likely in the northern end of Scarborough (light industrial north of Sheppard, e.g. Amazon) and would be closer to their job location
 · The service would intersect with the proposed future EELRT along Morningside Road
 · The western terminus of the DSBRT would meet the northern terminus of the future Scarborough Subway extension
 · The western terminus would also meet up with a future extension of the Sheppard Subway or LRT, if undertaken
 · This would avoid the already highly congested Scarborough Town Centre (STC) area at McCowan, Ellesmere, Progress and Grangeway
 · It would also better serve the Malvern community, which has been significantly underserved by transit for many years
 As Metrolinx has previously stated, the primary reason that this service is being aligned to Ellesmere is to service the University of Toronto, Scarborough campus. While the UTSC is part of the Highland Creek community, it is NOT the entire community. The multiple and material negative impacts on this community, if the technically preferred solution is built on Ellesmere, does not justify what benefit might be gleaned by the University. 
Moreover, to the west of the Highland Creek community, one must question the amount of benefit users of the service between Morningside and STC will achieve. While the DSBRT may be in dedicated lanes, the proposed stops are all stops currently serviced by the TTC, except two:
· Mornelle Court – a short walk to Morningside Avenue
· Scarborough Golf Club Road – strange, as this is a signalized intersection
How does this make any sense? How much time will those residents actually save on their commute?
Perhaps what is most telling to me, is Metrolinx’s response to my comment during the June 2020 meeting:
Comment: “The technically preferred option is the best option for transit, but it lacks a balance for residents that live on Ellesmere Road and have driveways fronting the street.” 
Response: “The technically preferred option was selected because it provides the highest degree of priority for transit while maintaining existing traffic capacity. As part of this project, active transportation facilities will be added or upgraded to accommodate all road users.”
Little, if any, thought or consideration has been given to impacts on the residents in Highland Creek and broader Scarborough communities. An alternative curbside bus lane approach might cost riders 1 or 2 minutes through the Highland Creek stretch of Ellesmere, at least that would work to mitigate the impact on residents.
At the end of the day, if this is a project that must be built – wherever that might be – then it must be done in such a way to strike a balance between those that will ride it and those that will have to live with it."
 "This is a small HERITAGE VILLAGE community in east Scarborough that METROLINX will destroy with this plan not to mention the expropriation of homeowners front lawns to accomplish this GIGANTIC MISTAKE- —- NOT IN HIGHLAND CREEK."
"Find a route that doesn't harm current residents, trees, life. Find a route that doesn't hurt business along the entire route. Find a better way than creating permanent havoc and pollution for some to benefits others"
"Durham Region buses should go AROUND the Highland Creek Community. Use 401 and Morningside to provide service to U of T AND to the Pan Am centre."
"BRT will tear Highland Creek apart."
"Sheppard East is a much h better option. Or a service road along the 401 McCowan to Ellesmere for transit only"
"Look at the mess they have made of Morningside Ave and Kingston Rd. now Ellesmere?!!!!! Where does this mess STOP!"
"Enough is enough - go fix Kennedy and Eglinton! Focus on the RT extension to Malvern Mall ...so many unfinished jobs , we do not need this!"
"Ellesmere has adequate space for buses to travel on it freely, with the two lanes of traffic each way, without impeding access for residents!"
"As a founding member of the Highland Creek Assn. and holding the position of Convener for planning and development please note a number of traffic related issues and the usage of ellesmere as a main artery have been proposed previously and all were rejected. The most ludicrous (until this latest) proposal was a to connect ellesmere to the 401 to allow durham residents to got to the scarb. town centre! Necessitating many stops at intersections and traffic signals, wasting gas, polluting the air, taking longer to make the journey etc. when the direct quick route was naturally the 401. The proposal was canned. If this is to get Durham residents to the UofT as suggested then sheppard ave or 401 to morningside south or Conlins rd are far more efficient and at Virtually NO COST and certainly no cost or INCONVENIENCE to Highland Creek residents"
"Ellesmere Rd. is approximately 1km away from the 401. Common sense would route the out-of-town bus traffic on the highway. Shame on the corrupt individual(s) at Metrolinx and/or the local government who take personal kickbacks to sponsor wasteful projects like this.
I am in full agreement with Highland Creek Association when I read this (quote)"
"Residents will have to deal with the construction to widen Ellesmere, move services (hydro, sewers and catch basins, fire hydrants). Not to mention the cutting down of hundreds of mature trees."
"With the plan for NO LEFT TURNS and the need for U-turns and RE-ROUTING I would be very upset to see my EMS vehicle delayed: as we all know TIME IS PRECIOUS !! A definite NO to this plan."
"Because this doesn't benefit anyone living in the area. Has TTC not been using the same road for YEARS already? Why fix something thats not broke. Seems like a waste of money and it will only add traffic which is another problem. More collisions. We definitely don't need that with all the kids in the area going to school."
"This is absurd. This type of infrastructure is needed for dense, high traffic areas - has anyone done their due diligence here? There is NO traffic or congestion here that would warrant this type of design. The introduction of this plan would actually CAUSE traffic and massive bottlenecks! I hope the community rallies together to stop this pointless construction. It’ll have nothing but adverse effects on the community and it’s not welcomed nor warranted here."
"A stupid idea where traffic congestion will be created where none existed before & where pedestrians will be discharged in the middle of the street which is unsafe. Intersections will be crowded by drivers making u turns to get into their driveway increasing engine running & air pollution."
"There is a massive, mature elm tree on the boulevard in front of our house that is one of the few surviving elm trees in the city of Toronto. It would need to be destroyed if Ellesmere needs to be widened. How is this bus route benefiting the residence of Toronto?
I say No to this plan. The bus traffic is not currently busy of Highland Creek. There are no benefit for the local residents . They should plan
401/Morningside area or Markham Road area. It will totally destroy the full Highland Creek communities and natures . Construction takes forever .......... !"
"I have been a Highland Creek resident for 27 years (M1C 4Z8) and do not understand how this plan benefits our community. Isn’t the building of infrastructure and public transit supposed to help communities and ease congestion? This does neither so the obvious answer is to go back to the drawing board and find another way. I commute to work using Kingston Road and what they have done with the dedicated bus lane is a crime. One doesn’t need to look far at what greed and lack of vision can to to a community…. Has anyone seen what has happened to our Village?!!"
"This will not motivate the majority of us who live in this and the surrounding neighborhoods to take transit. WE often work far away and rely on our  vehicles, transit is simply not an option. The noise pollution will increase significantly and it will result in further vehicle congestion and added stress. There will be no significant benefit to the environment and none whatsoever to the economy.
To The Politicians:  If you support this plan WE will Not support you."
"I’m signing because I do not want Ellesmere to be restricted to only two lanes and left turns on Ellesmere to be curtailed. Leave well enough alone. There’s hardly anyone on those buses to begin with. Why in the world do they need express services? I’m absolutely against this!!!!!!!!"
"This will push traffic to side streets and residential areas, which will make it less safe for the kids and families who walk, bike to school, walk pets etc. This does not serve anyone in the local community or those who live in Scarborough, only Durham residents who go to U of T. This portion of Ellesmere is not busy enough to need a dedicated lane for busses. Not to mention that our city TTC busses will not be using this lane much because they have to make all the same local stops. Did anyone even consult Scarborough residents when making this plan??"
"No purpose. They do not need express lanes. Not that busy. It will force everyone to use side streets and endangers our kids and school zones. Forcing everyone to reroute for unneeded express bus lanes. Danger to community, kids, schools and side streets"
​Its not fair for us to be inconvenienced in our community by Metrolinx
Total disruption of a vibrant community. Traffic patterns - disrupting and time consuming - (no left hand turns). 
This project will be  a disadvantage to residents and would be more dangerous for drivers.
This is a "NO BRAINS" project. A disaster on Ellesmere!! Will adversely affect the peace & tranquility in this neighborhood.  BRT will not benefit us but take away our fundamental rights to free mobility.
Traffic on Ellesmere is very light. Are they planning on doing this on Kingston Road where the traffic is heavier?
Traffic is light and it would only create chaos. This new plan is not necessary at all . I oppose it.
Not necessary, make work, kill trees is a waste of money and not fair to our community. NO!
This part is not a busy road. Don't know why this is needed at all.
My family and I are against the Metrolinx BRT plan as it will severely impact our quality of life.  We do not stand for the gentrification and destruction of our community.
This plan was poorly devised and will only result in traffic congestion and dangerous driving from motorists being forced to reroute via small neighborhood roads.
Please DO NOT destroy the nice community. Metrolinx has NO need to spend money to do the useless work.  Thanks.
Ellesmere is just fine at it is.  Don't destroy Ellesmere as you have done on Conlins Road. Stop this project now!
Our family is absolutely against this development.  We've lived here for almost 40 years.  We like the quiet neighborhood and the current transit system. We do not need this UPHEAVAL.
It would be much harder to access the main Road (Ellesmere) from side streets due to traffic build up.
We use Ellesmere Road to turn left on Calverly Trail to get to Fishery Road. The Metrolinx Plan will delay our trip to and from our house. Traffic will become heavier as well on Ellesmere Road.
We use Calverley Trail to get to Fishery Road from Ellesmere. The No Left Turn rule will be a tremendous traffic headache and will also will cause delays to get home . Pollution will be a problem as well.
As it is now, the noise vibration levels are already very bad.
Morningside Avenue has been devastated by lane challenges. It's now a two lane road with no passing allowed. This idea on Ellesmere will tie up traffic and cause difficulties in accessing our homes.
I can't believe they are even thinking about spending this money. Totally irresponsible . Our money can be better spent.
Thank you (HCCA) for putting this together for us to collectively fight this (Metrolinx).
We agree that this Plan is bad for our community.
It is really good that we (the Community) are doing this.
There is definitely NO benefit with this Plan.
Note: one anonymous YES vote with address of plaza t Conlins-Ellesmere.
This new "No Left Hand Turn Rule" in its entirety is the most invasive means to disrupt a community. The results of this action dishonours its intent. NO please reconsider. Transit and local traffic must co-exist without the implementation of barriers.
Not on Ellesmere Road - go through Kingston Road to Meadowvale Road.
Ellesmere Road between Kingston Road and Military Trail is a residential area, with no businesses or apartment buildings along the way. Very few people in this area require the BRT, so there is no need to bring it through here - let alone any need to widen the road.
Not good idea to change roads on Ellesmere.
No benefit to Highland Creek residents with this Plan. Buses are usually empty most of the time. Complete waste of money.
Every time the bus passes my house there is only two or three people inside the bus.
Traffic chaos benefits?
For the short distance that this would cover it seems a waste of money. Disruptions to Highland Creek residents and people would still be likely to use their cars instead of the new rapid transit.
Should not be allowed in a residential area. Pulse bus already runs along Ellesmere - often empty - a complete waste of money.
This proposed BRT Plan would divide our residential Highland Creek Community in several ways. One is that increased traffic and cutting down mature trees will increase carbon pollution.
This plan will result in a great increase in traffic on side streets, as drivers will have to go blocks out of their way to get to Ellesmere.
The Metrolinx BRT Plan will destroy our suburban community. The result will be increased traffic congestion, mor engine running and more air pollution. A stupid idea.
Don't emphasize only the damage to our community (avoid NIMBY charges) taxpayers everywhere should oppose this gigantic waste of money.
I believe that installing the bus rapid transit lane on Ellesmere will cause quite a bit of disruption for residents in our community, especially considering that Ellesmere Road is limited in its width.
Terrible idea with no consideration for Highland Creek. Who would benefit - nothing from this. Pickering gains at our expense.
Rapid Transit can be routed through Hwy. 401 before entering Ellesmere Road.
I think this rapid transit plan is not an environmental friendly one. This is a residential area and plans like this will make life hard for the residents. 
The Plan is of no use to the local residents. It actually creates inconveniences.
I never heard anyone saying this a good idea. Just another example of public sector make work, ask for funding - where`s common sense gone What`s next - street cars, homeless shelters!
We are very opposed to this plan! This will destroy our community. No one uses transit to this extent in this area to warrant this plan. It will increase traffic on Euclid more than we are already dealing with.
Strongly oppose this plan.
This stretch of Ellesmere does not have sufficient traffic volume to warrant this proposed change. There are currently so many more aspects of today's society that could absolutely benefit from the money budgeted for Metrolinx , i.e.  food banks, housing, healthcare, etc. etc.
The Metrolinx Plan will not be beneficial to the local residents, nor will it improve the convenience of the existing transit system. Lose-Lose for all recipients.
The traffic is already affected by the TTC. Bus lanes on Morningside and Kingston Road - Ellesmere will also become a traffic nightmare. Enough already. Stop destroying communities.  The TTC shouldn`t always get what they want.
It`s not necessary at this pandemic period. No urgency to spend money in political way!
Absolutely NO for this Plan. I think it is enough with those outrageous ideas (plans) when it comes to Ontario Provincial Leaders having detrimental affect on our economy and TAX PAYERS!!!
Total disaster for our neighbourhood. This will cost us time and money.
Turning our neighbourhood into high traffic, noise and expropriation of ho0using land. We moved here not to have these issues. NO RAPID TRANSIT.
This is a costly and disastrous project - using our tax dollars to boot! Who really benefits from this!
No reason to destroy our Community when there is already bus service to Oshawa.
DON'T DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY!
Hell No. It is already congested in the winter months, what`s next? Use Kingston Road or the 401 is there. Not our Ellesmere.
There is adequate room already for the many buses that travel on Ellesmere. The proposal would be a major obstruction leading to serious auto traffic congestion and chaos.
I strongly oppose Metrolinx BRT Plan. Please do not destroy Ellesmere Road. Please do not make Ellesmere Road ugly. It also impacts on my daily life. Thanks.
We are very concerned by the level of traffic this will create! Metrolinx should dedicate a line on the 401 to Morningside to access U of T and Centennial. NOT RESIDENTIAL STREETS.
Too many left turns rerouting etc. Why?    It will destroy the neighbourhood.
What lunacy will they try next - if anything - build an LRT like most good cities in the world!!
Strongly oppose.  The added restrictions to residents living in the area would not be acceptable. The lane restrictions alone would cause long delays in commuting.
This Plan must be STOPPED. Massive costs with no benefit.
U of T has expropriated in the past. None nothing with land - 3 different bus routes traverse Ellesmere at this point - buses not full. Sheppard Avenue needs and Toronto Zoo needs and qualifies better. Sheppard would cost taxpayers less and no expropriation! Environmentally against present laws and detrimental to nature on a whole!
There are many more sensible routes that Durham can use to get to U of T . Example: Sheppard to Morningside, Kingston Road to Morningside. Even diamond lanes would be better.
I suggest Hwy. 2A as a less disruptive route to U of T Scarborough Campus.
Road does not have enough traffic to warrant this major waste of money and inconvenience to the residents.
This totally unnecessary project will result in no benefit to our residents or community that will offset the permanent impact it will create. The loss of mature trees, along with emergency response restrictions, cannot be justified. This whole project is unconscionable and must be stopped.
This will destroy our neighbourhood and cause traffic congestion and confusion.
Should be built on Sheppard. Ellesmere is too narrow for a rapid transit line where you do nowhere.
This transit plan will not benefit this area at all and will be a total disaster safety wise (traffic) to the whole area - side streets which are already a speed zone.
STOP.
I drive in the area most of the day, don't want the headaches. NOT IN A QUIET RESIDENTIAL AREA!
We are happy as it is.
I'm in total opposition of this plan of the Metrolinx BRT along Ellesmere. This will certainly cause a lot of inconveniences in the neighbourhood. 
Lots of traffic on Conlins now. We don't want any more. Also the trees on Ellesmere give us shade to walk. We love our Village. Don't destroy.
There are commuters in this home and the buses in this area have few people on them. This will not benefit commuters or our community in any way. People will not be able to turn or off their street without being inconvenienced in a major way.
This will result in a lot of congestion on the side streets and could cause a safety problem, especially for the children. We as adults need to look out for them and not put up barriers.
As a local resident for 30 years I can see the pedestrian (more or less of students of UofT) increased year by year, but the BRT plan is definitely not needed. The current double lane is sufficient and save money and all the disturbance during construction.
This is a dangerous plan. More work needs to be done with the logistics of this plan to be successful. So far it's a dangerous move for pedestrians and drivers. Thanks.
We are 100% opposed to the plan. The BRT plan does not make any sense at all. We do not want unnecessary changes that will result in more pollution, destruction of mature trees and changing the Village of Highland Creek.
I strongly oppose the Metrolinx BRT plan. They can use the Kingston Road and Morningside to route the traffic. This is so obvious, why do they have to spoil a calm neighbourhood?
Too much noise and too much traffic. Not safe.
The purpose of this construction is to enhance accessibility to the UofT Scarborough Campus. Long after these students have left this community we, those who live here, will have to endure the traffic mess, the extra buses, noise. This community should serve the people who call it home - NOT those who drop in for a 4 year degree.
PLEASE don't fix something that is not broken.
This Metrolinx plan is not required in a low residential density area. The current bus service is fine.
 

Photo: Metrolinx Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Mulock Dr. & Yonge St. Newmarket, through a commercial area. No project of this kind has been constructed in Canada through a residential area.

TAKE ACTION:  DO NOT LET METROLINX DESTROY OUR COMMUNITY
METROLINX BUS RAPID TRANSIT PLAN -  ELLESMERE CORRIDOR UPDATE 
( Article from Summer 2020 Villager News )
By Douglas Phillips
Since our last article on the Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Project in the June/July 2020 edition of The Villager, there appears to have been little progress on this project, except Metrolinx’s affirmation that the project is proceeding, as stated in their July 2020 Metrolinx Newsletter. They state that due to COVID-19, meetings have been delayed and will be virtual events in the Fall. The Highland Creek Community Association has again requested a public meeting when safe to do so, but again Metrolinx has refused; they will only host online conferences.      
Technical Studies Underway
According to the Metrolinx newsletter, technical studies underway include: Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Fluvial Geomorphology, Natural Environment, Noise and Vibration, Traffic and Active Transportation, Socio-Economic and Land Use, and Stormwater and Hydraulics. Are Ontario taxpayers getting value for their money, and why are promised studies still not complete?
Metrolinx Bus Shelter and Bus Route
For the Highland Creek community to better understand Metrolinx’s plans for the Ellesmere Corridor, we recently visited their project in Newmarket. This express route is 2.4 kilometres in length and runs from Davis Drive south down Yonge Street. It then converges into regular four-lane traffic to Aurora. After many years of construction, this project has just been completed.
This is similar to what we can expect in our community. The bus shelter is a standard Metrolinx design, and has been used on other Metrolinx projects. The transit system is operated by the York Regional Transit System called VIVA and operates in a commercial area. No Metrolinx bus lanes were constructed through the residential part of the Town of Aurora. It should be noted that no other Metrolinx project is on a residential route – the Ellesmere Corridor is the only planned one in Canada. The Ellesmere corridor from Kingston Road to Military Trail spans 2.85 Kilometres.
Air Quality
We noted that the VIVA diesel buseswere very noisy, the same as the PULSE buses running in our community. This brings us to the subject of air quality. “Air quality has significant impacts on public health, the environment and economy. Air pollution contributes to illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, lung disease, and lung cancer … Exposure to air pollution in Ontario results in increased hospitalizations, as well as 6,700 premature deaths, every year” (Per The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario — An Overview of Environmental Issues — 2019 Report).   
Apart from the TTC buses, Metrolinx will still run their regular buses but also plan to run buses every 5 minutes during the rush hours, 6:30 to 9:30a.m., and 3:00 to 7:30p.m., then up to every 2 minutes based on demand. The air quality and pollution should be of grave concern to all the residents of Highland Creek, and especially those residing along the Ellesmere corridor, as well as those with preexisting health conditions.
Hazards
It is essential that there be NO physical barriers to impede the fire engines and ambulances along the Ellesmere corridor. Minutes saved could mean the difference between life and death.
“Pinch Point”
Metrolinx has not given any update on how they will deal with the Kingston Road onto Ellesmere “pinch point”.
Boulevards
Metrolinx has already made it quite clear that they own all the Ellesmere corridor boulevards, including where all our mature trees grow. They will take away all the residents’ extra parking spaces. Will people have to find alternative accommodation? This could be a real hardship for many, and residents need to know a timeline for this project. They cannot be left hanging for years, such as was the case in Hamilton. Studies need to be completed and decisions made.
Take action!  Call or write to your Government Representatives. Do not let Metrolinx destroy our community.
 

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