Toronto's contingency measures for transportation and other City services during TTC service disruption

    TORONTO, April 26 /CNW/ - The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113,
representing TTC drivers and other employees has gone on strike as of
12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 26. For this TTC service disruption, the City
has prepared contingency plans and traffic measures that will remain in effect
throughout the disruption. This will ensure that all City roads and services
will continue to operate as efficiently as possible.
    In order to do this, the City has implemented a series of traffic
measures and is encouraging drivers to "Keep Right" when they hear an
emergency vehicle approaching and to clear a path in the middle of the road.
    To ensure the highest degree of access for emergency vehicles, emergency
routes will be established where parking will be prohibited between 7 a.m. and
7 p.m., Monday to Friday, as follows:

    -   Avenue Road/University Avenue between Lawrence Avenue and Front
        Street
    -   Bloor Street/Danforth Avenue between Jane Street and Victoria Park
        Avenue
    -   Yonge Street between Front Street and Steeles Avenue
    -   Eglinton Avenue between Allen Road and Brentcliffe Road
    -   Bayview Avenue from Eglinton Avenue to Lawrence Avenue
    -   Finch Avenue from Highway 400 to Jane Street
    -   McCowan Road from Eglinton Avenue to Ellesmere Road
    -   Lawrence Avenue from Markham Road to Brimley Road
    -   The Queensway from Roncesvalles Avenue to Parkside Drive

    There will be no exemption from the "No Parking" provisions for persons
displaying disabled parking permits on roads designated as emergency routes.
    To assist all residents in getting to work, reserved bus lanes on
Eglinton Avenue, Fleet Street, King Street and Pape Avenue will temporarily be
designated as car pool lanes (vehicles carrying three or more people) for the
duration of the transit disruption.
    To extend the existing bike path and lane network, the curb lanes on both
sides of Bay Street, between Queens Quay West and Yorkville Avenue; Queens
Quay West, between Lower Spadina Avenue and Yonge Street; Dundas Street East,
between River Street and Broadview Avenue will be designated for bicycles
only. Stopping will be prohibited on the sections of roadway designated as
bicycle only lanes. Safety barriers will be installed on bike lane routes over
the weekend in preparation for Monday.
    The Parking Enforcement Unit of the Toronto Police Service will conduct
aggressive tagging and towing of vehicles parked on city streets during posted
"No Stopping," "No Standing" and "No Parking" periods. The "No Stopping" rule
for vehicles will be waived for those motorists stopping at transit stops to
pick up or discharge passengers.
    The City is encouraging employers to consider flexible work hours, car
pooling and any other arrangements that may help reduce road congestion during
peak periods.
    Parking lots at 14 designated City community centres and arenas will be
available free of charge primarily for car pooling (list provided below).
    All businesses are encouraged to review their scheduled delivery times to
ensure that they have the least impact on traffic on major roadways.
    All City services and programs will continue to operate as efficiently as
possible during the disruption. All permits will continue at City facilities.
    If necessary, the City will promptly communicate to residents and
businesses any changes to the delivery of City services via the media, the
City's website, www.toronto.ca and Access Toronto at 416-338-0338.

    Parking lots at 14 City of Toronto community centres and arenas will be
available free of charge primarily for car pooling for the duration of the
transit disruption as follows:

    West District

    Centennial Park       Centennial Park Road, Renforth north of Rathburn
    Chris Tonks Arena     2801 Eglinton Avenue West, Black Creek and Eglinton
    Gord and Irene Risk
    Community Centre      2650 Finch Avenue West, Finch and Islington
    Downsview Arena       1633 Wilson Avenue, Wilson and Jane
    Elmbank Community
    Centre                10 Rampart Road, Martin Grove south of Finch

    East District

    Kidstown parking lot  Birchmount and McNicoll Avenues
    Centennial Community  Recreation Centre Ellesmere Avenue and Markham Road
    Scarborough Village
    Community Centre      Kingston Road and Markham Road

    North District

    Fenside Arena         30 Slidell Crescent, Victoria Park and York Mills
    York Mills Arena      2539 Bayview Avenue, Bayview and York Mills
    Baycrest Arena        140 Neptune Drive, Bathurst, south of 401
    Herb Carnegie
    North York
    Centennial Centre     580 Finch Avenue West, Finch and Bathurst
    Esther Shiner
    Stadium               5720 Bathurst Street, Bathurst, south of Steeles
    John Booth Arena      230 Gorsford Blvd., Jane and Finch


                     Visit our website at www.toronto.ca

For further information: Media contact: Rob Andrusevich, Strategic
Communications, (416) 200-3660 (cell)