A year ago, the BIA stressed to the City that trees were its main priority, agreeing with the stated priorities of the three neighbouring residents' associations (at an RMRA meeting earlier this year, the RMRA stated that its top three priorities were: 1) trees, 2) trees and 3) trees). The BIA considers the bumpouts mainly a TTC prioritiy, but recognizes that with extra public space, there are opportunities for an improved public realm, pedestrian space, patios, merchandise displays, etc.
More importantly, the BIA also recognizes that the entire city is undergoing a reorientation of transportation priorities away from car travel towards pedestrian and transit uses. This is happening not only in Toronto, but everywhere in the world. Roncesvalles is host to the busiest surface transit line in all of North America, so it would be foolish to think that we would be immune to such changes. Elsewhere, the strategy seems to have been to carve up the street (eg: St. Clair, and soon Sheppard and Eglinton), turn the street into a busy thoroughfare (eg: Dundas West, which just lost over 70 parking spots to open up more lanes of traffic) or otherwise impose traffic restrictions that would allow the streetcar to move through more freely (left turn restrictions, banning cars during rush hour, staggering street access for cars). The Roncesvalles bumpout proposal, in contrast, emphasizes the sharing of the street between all users, integrating the streetcars into the fabric of the street, improving access to the streetcar, while speeding up boarding and alighting times (the main source of streetcar delays, according to TTC studies). This is accomplished while preserving 92% of existing parking, improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, and without impeding existing traffic flow or imposing traffic restrictions. Compared to the likely alternatives facing Roncesvalles, I would say this is a very good deal.
As I understand it, money is still being sought for the project, with apparent success. At the Sunnyside Community Association AGM last week, Gord Perks pledged that the new Roncesvalles would have a healthy canopy that includes 120 new trees, all along Roncesvalles, on both sides of the streets and not just at bumpouts.
As for the poor quality of the Sept. 21 meeting, I'm afraid I must agree. However, the BIA has been collecting input from its members independent of any formal City consultation process, and we will make sure these comments get to the right people. Despite the frustrating meeting on Sept. 21, the BIA urges everyone to continue providing information about local conditions and local priorities.