Dear Councillor Holyday, 

We the undersigned are writing to ask that you and the staff at Traffic Operations for the City of Toronto please consider our request to place a proper crosswalk on Renforth Drive near Toledo Road. We are requesting this for the safety of the children in the area who cross this section of Renforth Drive to attend school each day. 

As you are aware there are crossings at Burnhamthorpe Road to the north and Bridgetown Drive at Bloordale Park to the south, both crossings are over 7 minutes away on foot.

A large amount of students attending Bloordale Middle School from the West Mall neighbourhood get to Renforth Drive via Sealcove Drive. Once at Renforth these students are not near any of those crossings but are across the street from their school. To get to school in the morning and to go home after school, they take their chances crossing Renforth between Toledo and Sealcove. This practice has been ongoing since the 1960's when Bloordale was first opened. 

As parents some of us recall doing the same in the 1980's and 1990's when we were students and even at that time residents were asking local authorities for a crosswalk at this section of Renforth.

However; in the past 5 years the traffic has become noticeably worse and much more dangerous. Near misses are now a daily issue and fear has gotten to an all time high where many parents refuse to let their children walk to Bloordale. These students are missing out on the benefits of walking to school because of one street, because of one piece of missing infrastructure. To make matters worse, with more parents driving the traffic only becomes worse and only adds to the problem. 

Please consider our request before something happens to one of our local children.

Please consider this a matter of high importance at a time when the City of Toronto, Mayor Tory, and all of City Council are looking for ways to make Vision Zero a reality. 

Regards, 

The Concerned Residents of Ward 2 - Etobicoke Centre