Toronto Transportation Commision (TTC) has
announced their plan to construct a Bus Garage at McNicoll and Kenndy, south of
Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church and in a neighbourhood of senior homes, a
senior long term care centre, a school, condominiums, major malls and stores.
The project will cause potential adverse impacts to SCBC's congregants and to
the socio-economic environment of the neighbourhood. It will also cause severe
traffic congestion and serious health and safety risks to the community.
In particular, the TTC design to have only one
exit on the future Redlea Avenue will incur a serious risk to SCBC's pedestrian
safety – there will be more than 3,000 crossings by our congregants between our
parking lot and the church building every Sunday morning, and a high volume of
crossings throughout Saturdays and during weekday evenings, for regular and
special events. Our congregants include many seniors, children and young
families with babies.
Also the proposed garage’s large fuel tanks,
waste containers, and traffic for refueling and waste disposal pose severe
potential hazards, particularly due to the railway right next to the garage.
There are many other environmental issues that are of serious concern - air,
noise and waste disposal.
Together with SCBC congregants, the Mon Sheong
Court senior residents and staff, Mon Sheong Long Term Care residents, their
families and staff workers, the Bamburgh Gate Villa condominium and townhouse
residents, Villa Elegance’s senior home residents, there are at least 5,000
people in the local community opposing this project, let alone Mary Ward
Catholic Secondary School students, users of the L'Amoreaux Community and
Recreation Centre, other residents, major malls and many business stores owners
in the neighbourhood.
For reasons stated above, SCBC vigorously object
to the building of the McNicoll Bus Garage. We strongly urge the City of
Toronto and the TTC Board to reject and cancel this proposed garage project.
traffic in this area is already a nightmare without adding a massive bus garage. think about the seniors and kids who live right there. bad idea for the neighborhood.