Junction Triangle

I stumbled upon this scene yesterday while crossing the Wallace Ave. footbridge. A railway crane car was moving along the tracks picking up pieces of rail with an electromagnet and dropping them on the flatbed.

The video is seven and a half minutes of adrenaline soaked non-stop action, with plenty of drama and suspense too. OK, maybe not, but it's a snapshot of life along our changing railway tracks.

Clean Train Coalition rally, Friday February 18, 8:30am, in front of Metrolinx headquarters at 20 Bay St.

We are at an important juncture in the fight for electric trains. We need to keep the pressure on the Ontario Government, so that they follow through on the recommendations of their own 4 million dollar study to electrify the Georgetown Rail Corridor and do not purchase diesel trains in February 2011. This issue could easily get lost among the political priorities, somewhere between suburban transportation needs and the Pan Am Games. The best way to keep the pressure on is through letters, emails, phone calls and other communications. With an election on the horizon, voters’ words have power. To this end, our friends at Stop Diesel Trains have created postcards that can be mailed to Premier McGuinty. The cards have a simple but clear message:

Members of the Junction Triangle Rail Committee, Clean Train Coalition, Stop Dirty Diesel Trains, and other community groups are holding a demonstration on Wednesday January 26, 8:30am, demanding that Metrolinx NOT purchase diesel trains for the air-rail link to Pearson Airport.

Details are in the Clean Train Coalition's flyer below.

ATTEND: THE CLEAN TRAIN DEMONSTRATION

We demand that Metrolinx NOT purchase diesel trains for the air-rail link to Pearson Airport.
Wednesday, January 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St
2 blocks north of College St, west of Yonge St
CALL: 416 205 5807 TO LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR CBC RADIO ON THE ELECTRIFICATION.
VOLUNTEER: send your name to info@cleantrain.ca to help deliver flyers in your area.

The following notice was sent out by Metrolinx to inform the community of upcoming road closures on Dupont St. between Osler and Dundas (under the tracks), and along the West Toronto Railpath above Dupont St. You can download the original PDF of this notice here.

GEORGETOWN SOUTH PROJECT

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

The Georgetown South (GTS) Project will provide infrastructure improvements to meet existing GO Transit ridership demand and future growth. It will also accommodate the new Air Rail Link service between Union Station and Pearson International Airport.

Dupont Street Bridge

Road Closures: December 15 (Overnight) and 17-19

Project Description
The Dupont Street bridge currently has five tracks. As part of the GTS Project, a new bridge span will be installed between the existing GO tracks and the West Toronto Rail Path bridge to accommodate one additional track. The work will involve modifying the existing concrete abutments, constructing a new steel pier, and installing the new steel beam span.

Join the Clean Train Demonstration at Metrolinx's offices, Tuesday November 16 at 9:00am, 20 Bay Street at Queen's Quay.

The Metrolinx Board is meeting to make recommendations to the provincial government regarding rail transit priorities. This is a crucial time for us to demonstrate to Metrolinx and the Provincial government that we are not willing to accept any increased pollution in our neighbourhods.

The following event announcement comes from the Clean Train Coalition:

Pressure mounts on Premier McGuinty to GO ELECTRIC!!

You are cordially invited to attend the Clean Train Coalition's GO ELECTRIC music event on Sunday, September 26th in Sorauren Park, from 1:00pm - 5:00pm. Local musicians will perform throughout the afternoon, with keynote speakers taking the stage at 3:00pm.

Ontario Redi-Mix: As seen from Erwin Krickhahn Park.

The Ontario Redi-Mix plant at 57 Wade Ave. has closed down. I don't know the exact date of the plant's closure, but it has now been inactive for several weeks.

Ontario Redi-Mix is the concrete manufacturing and distribution factory that is visible over the railway tracks at Erwin Krickhahn Park. What seemed like a constant parade of cement trucks around the Bloor-Lansdowne area is a direct result of this plant. I know that there were many complaints about Ontario Redi-Mix from residents in the Lansdowne / Wade / Jenet / Paton area stemming from the truck traffic, noise, dust, dirty streets, idling trucks, cracked sidewalks, and much more. I bet the residents of that area are happy to see this place closed down.

Perhaps it will make life better for Junction Triangle residents on Rankin Cres., and users of Erwin Krickhahn Park too? I'm not sure, as I can't say I've ever been bothered by this facility while in the park, but maybe people who live close-by had different experiences (please post if you have!).

The following meeting info comes from Metrolinx, regarding their Georgetown South Project status (GO Train expansion, and Airport Rail Link on the Georgetown corridor):

Open House - Lithuanian Hall
When : Thu, June 24, 6pm – 9pm
Where: 1573 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON (map)
Description: To review the project scope, current status, and learn about next steps in the design and construction phase.

More information about this project is on Metrolinx's Georgetown South Project website. Please also see the Junction Triangle Rail Committee and Clean Train Coalition websites for perspectives from local residents.

The following meeting notice comes from the Clean Train Coalition:

Reminder: Clean Train General Meeting this Tuesday, June 22nd

The Clean Train Coalition will be holding a general meeting at Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre, 1900 Davenport Road, just west of Symington. The meeting will take place in the main hall/sanctuary.

We will be discussing our strategy to build support for the Clean Train movement in communities along the line and our plan to use the Clean Train Pledge Campaign and other strategic initiatives to pressure Premier McGuinty, who ultimately has the say.

We plan to reach out to community groups along the line, and hope that each can send a representative to learn about the pledge and take it back to their membership for review.

Everyone is welcome. Join us. Be part of the solution!

Where: Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre, 1900 Davenport Road
When: Tuesday June 22, 7pm