King Street (Streetcar Transit Priority)

[Megaton327]

Joe Cressy's excuse for closing King St for TIFF when I emailed him:

Thank you for taking the time to write about TIFF and the King Street Pilot.

Councillor Cressy has been a strong advocate for the King Street Pilot, which runs through Ward 20, and has been working hard since the Pilot was approved and implemented to ensure that it is a clear and comprehensive success. He believes that planning in advance to close King Street to all traffic during the busiest first few days of TIFF is the best possible option for transit riders.

The major film premieres hosted by the Princess of Wales Theatre on the first two days of TIFF -- Thursday and Friday -- are always accompanied by widely known celebrities, who in turn attract thousands of people who want to catch a glimpse, or get an autograph or selfie with the celebrities. Without careful management, the crowding situation can become dangerous. In past years we have tried, together, to maintain regular streetcar service on King Street during TIFF. Due to the dangerous crowding situation, Toronto Police have had to make the last-minute decision to close King Street to all vehicles including streetcars during the afternoon peak period on Thursday and Friday. The decision is made at the discretion of the officers working in the area at any given time. This does not serve transit users well because it is difficult to communicate and it can take hours for regular service to recover, with additional negative effects on nearby routes due to the unplanned congestion on the street network.

Instead, by anticipating the closure of King Street to vehicles and starting planning for this scenario early in the year, we are able to ensure that it is widely and clearly communicated in advance. This helps transit riders to plan for the route diversion, and it helps to reduce the volume of private motor vehicles in the area so there is less congestion affecting all downtown transit routes. And it means we can take appropriate measures to support the temporary diversion, including parking restrictions on Queen Street and stationing police officers at intersections where streetcars must make turns. Each year we meet with the TTC, TIFF, Toronto Police, and Transportation Services to start working out the details for the temporary closure well in advance of the festival.

TIFF is an asset to Toronto and we are happy that they are part of the local community in the Entertainment District, with their year-round home on King Street at the Lightbox. Since major gala screenings during the festival in the fall are hosted by the Princess of Wales Theatre on King Street and Roy Thomson Hall nearby, it is unavoidable that King Street is the major hub of activity during festival season. We have to be proactive and make realistic plans to maintain transit service around all that activity. Ultimately, planning in advance to temporarily close King Street is better for transit riders than leaving it to the last minute when crowding becomes dangerous.

That's quite pathetic of him.

 

[steveintoronto]

Some retrospect on the TIFF in high places:

Chris Selley: Give Toronto's King Street pilot a fair shot
For the love of God, let's not repeat the humiliating spectacle of shutting down King for TIFF — the act of a profoundly unserious city.
Chris Selley
January 12, 2018
5:51 PM EST
[...]
Transit signal priority for streetcars is available at some intersections. I humbly suggest it be turned on. Get as many streetcars on the line as can possibly be spared. And for the love of God, let’s not repeat the humiliating spectacle of shutting down King Street for TIFF — the act of a profoundly unserious city that Tory says is “unlikely” to be repeated this year.

Some 65,000 people a day ride the King streetcar (that was before the 25 per cent increase). That’s about three-quarters of the Sheppard subway’s and Scarborough RT’s ridership combined. A serious city would have ruthlessly prioritized their needs years ago. Whether this city can bring itself to do so is very much up in the air.

http://nationalpost.com/opinion/chris-selley-give-torontos-king-street-pilot-a-fair-shot

 

[steveintoronto]

No streetcars along King during TIFF is matter of safety right?

You have it exactly backwards. Putting TIFF in the way of the City's third busiest transit route on a street that Cressy *specifically* championed as "Transit Priority" is a concern for safety. And for sanity...

By your reasoning, all major city streets with cycling lanes should ban motorized vehicles 'as a matter of safety'.

Bring it on...

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

You have it exactly backwards. Putting TIFF in the way of the City's third busiest transit route on a street that Cressy *specifically* championed as "Transit Priority" is a concern for safety. And for sanity...

By your reasoning, all major city streets with cycling lanes should ban motorized vehicles 'as a matter of safety'.

Bring it on...

From the picture, where is the space to run streetcars? Seems like the entire road needs to be used to hold this event.

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Perhaps there is a fear that some fool (or fools) will get hit by a streetcar and then successfully sue the City

 

[steveintoronto]

From the picture, where is the space to run streetcars? Seems like the entire road needs to be used to hold this event.

lol...unreal. The space to run the streetcars is right on top of the tracks.

Seems like the entire road needs to be used to hold this event.

Well take a poll, and see what the vast majority want. Let me help you: The commuters use the space above the tracks, and TIFF use the widened sidewalks, and if that isn't enough, get a permit, like everyone else has to, to use the side streets adjacent.

King Street to be closed for TIFF yet again despite pilot project meant to prioritize streetcars

Chris Fox, CP24.com
Published Thursday, May 17, 2018 8:46AM EDT
Last Updated Thursday, May 17, 2018 10:33AM EDT
Part of King Street will again be closed to traffic for the Toronto International Film Festival in September despite an ongoing pilot project intended to prioritize the movement of streetcars along the busy downtown corridor.

King Street has been completely closed to traffic between Peter Street and University Avenue for the first weekend of TIFF since 2014 but there was some suggestion that it would not be shuttered this year due to the King Street pilot.

The city, however, has confirmed that there will be road closures in effect along King for at least part of TIFF.

Though the precise closure has not been determined and a permit has not yet been issued, Transportation Services spokesperson Bruce Hawkins tells CP24 that staff are already in discussions with TTC and TIFF officials about the closure.

In 2017, the TTC objected to closing King Street for the first weekend of the festival but the city went ahead with the closure anyway.

Mayor John Tory did tell CP24 last September that the closure was ‘unlikely’ to be repeated in 2018 but it appears that city staff have had a change of heart.

“With the King Street changes that are coming in terms of trying to move the transit vehicles better, you are unlikely to see this sort of thing next year because King Street will have changed in a way that probably won’t allow this to happen,” Tory said at the time.

A spokesperson for Tory’s office told CP24 on Thursday that it would be premature to comment on any King Street closure given that discussions are still ongoing.

Hawkins said that the city will “remove the dates of the planned TIFF closures from the data collection” for the King Street Pilot.

https://www.cp24.com/news/king-stre...ject-meant-to-prioritize-streetcars-1.3933645

Here's an idea: Commuters en-masse purposely disrupt the Royal Wetting on King Street that's seized the Property of the People. Maybe Juan Lennon could write a protest song? Give Pass a Chance...
"I read the news today, oh boy..."

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Seems like the UT members that are complaining the most are the ones that do not use the King Streetcar on a regular basis!

 

[ShonTron]

Joe Cressy's excuse for closing King St for TIFF when I emailed him:

Thank you for taking the time to write about TIFF and the King Street Pilot.

...

Instead, by anticipating the closure of King Street to vehicles and starting planning for this scenario early in the year, we are able to ensure that it is widely and clearly communicated in advance. This helps transit riders to plan for the route diversion, and it helps to reduce the volume of private motor vehicles in the area so there is less congestion affecting all downtown transit routes. And it means we can take appropriate measures to support the temporary diversion, including parking restrictions on Queen Street and stationing police officers at intersections where streetcars must make turns. Each year we meet with the TTC, TIFF, Toronto Police, and Transportation Services to start working out the details for the temporary closure well in advance of the festival.

TIFF is an asset to Toronto and we are happy that they are part of the local community in the Entertainment District, with their year-round home on King Street at the Lightbox. Since major gala screenings during the festival in the fall are hosted by the Princess of Wales Theatre on King Street and Roy Thomson Hall nearby, it is unavoidable that King Street is the major hub of activity during festival season. We have to be proactive and make realistic plans to maintain transit service around all that activity. Ultimately, planning in advance to temporarily close King Street is better for transit riders than leaving it to the last minute when crowding becomes dangerous.

Better for transit riders? What? Splitting the streetcar service in two, many blocks apart? The only way transit riders can plan for the TIFF-mandated closure is to take their vacations during that time.

Cressy comes across as a tool.

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Better for transit riders? What? Splitting the streetcar service in two, many blocks apart? The only way transit riders can plan for the TIFF-mandated closure is to take their vacations during that time.

Cressy comes across as a tool.

Perhaps Cressy can't do anything. This might be a TTC, City of Toronto Transpiration or another department decision. TIFF is not some dinky event where Cressy holds a lot of power

 

[steveintoronto]

Perhaps Cressy can't do anything.

Well he sure sucks real good. And grovels while doing it.

Well of course....but where to shift the pedestrian traffic?

Well now, concerned about pedestrians are we? You have a point there. TIFF should be served a writ to make enough room so as not to obstruct others on a public thoroughfare. How thoughtful...

This might be a TTC, City of Toronto Transpiration or another department decision.

Mentioned in every news story quoted, the TTC doesn't want this! I struggle to not be snarky about this, it's like dealing with Ford supporters, posting facts and reference is pointless for them.

Here's even more discrete reference:

https://www.blogto.com/film/2017/05/ttc-doesnt-want-tiff-close-king-st-anymore/

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

TTC does not want it but the Revenue Services Department of the City of Toronto does. Guess who wins that battle unfortunately?

 

[steveintoronto]

TTC does not want it but the Revenue Services Department of the City of Toronto does. Guess who wins that battle unfortunately?

It's not a case of the "TTC doesn't want it" and "the City does"...it's a case of having it, but not sacrificing the essential King *Transit Priority* to do it. I continue to struggle in not being snarky to you, you continue to ignore and misrepresent everything posted as fact and reference.

By all means have it, but where street space is needed, use John and other *side* streets. Everyone "wings" in that "battle". It's called "accommodation".

And the City could include a free pass on the King Car (if not the entire system) to all who hold tickets. (At the least, start the two-hour transfer planned for the rest of the Pilot Project anyway) Sheeesh...

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

Good ol' Steve. I don't mind if you are snarky.

Why can't the King Transit Priority pilot take a short break for TIFF? What is wrong with that?

 

[steveintoronto]

Good ol' Steve. I don't mind if you are snarky.

Why can't the King Transit Priority pilot take a short break for TIFF? What is wrong with that?

OK, you want snarky: Because that's not what the Great Unwashed want. If you would read, the point has been made multiple times. What have you got against majority wish, regulations and common sense?

"Take a break"....no problem. On a Weekend! Not spilling over onto work days. Damn, those working poor sure get in the way of spectacles, don't they?

I had no idea Marie Antoinette was a follower of yours...speaking of Glass Onions...

 

[Juan_Lennon416]

What is considered "majority wish" is not always the right thing.