Streetcar ignites fire
St. Clair right of way is 'unsafe' and a 'considerable risk' as emergency route: Toronto Fire
By SUE-ANN LEVY
| Full Column |
Fire chief raises concerns over St. Clair streetcar
Updated: Wed Jun. 18 2008 7:03:47 PM
ctvtoronto.ca
Toronto Fire Chief Bill Stewart is raising alarm bells again about the St. Clair Avenue West streetcar project, saying the roadway will be too narrow for fire trucks to pass through.
Stewart says the dedicated right-of-way project should have been designed to accommodate emergency vehicles. He says the roadway won't be safe and could cause critical delays in response times.
He also says there is an increased chance of collisions between emergency vehicles and pedestrians waiting for streetcars.
The chief said he first raised his concerns before construction began.
Coun. Cesar Palacio and many residents who live and work in the area protested at the site on Wednesday. Palacio says the safety of thousands of residents is at risk by the project.
Since the project is still years away from completion, he says there is plenty of time to alter the plans.
TTC Chairman Adam Giambrone responded to the concerns on Wednesday, saying the fire department signed off on the project before it was approved.
"We worked very closely with the fire department from the very beginning and it was Fire that made some recommendations on the designs, and they signed off on it," Giambrone said.
Giambrone added the city will continue to work with the fire department to ensure the St. Clair neighbourhood receives adequate fire protection.
St. Clair Streetcar Right Of Way In Jeopardy
The debates raged before it was even installed. Businesses complained it would cut foot traffic and construction would tie up their storefronts; while commuters wanted a faster way downtown.
Now that it's up and running, the St. Clair streetcar is facing another problem: is it safe?
Toronto Fire Services raised the alarm on the dedicated right of way that stretches from Yonge to Bathurst, and will eventually extend to Gunns Road. In a letter to Councillor Cesar Palacio, they said the route hampered their work.
"Concerns of public safety, where thousands and thousands of people along St. Clair, inside their community, could be at risk," Palacio described.
Fire officials claim the road is unsafe and could cause critical delays in response times and even problems fighting fires.
"You think the city would have considered that before they did all this. And they didn't," joked one area resident.
The fire chief claims he did share his concerns with the TTC before construction began.
In a detailed letter, officials say part of the problem is that this road would be too narrow. They also say that there's a chance pedestrians waiting for streetcars here could be hit by an emergency vehicle.
Toronto Fire Chief William Stewart warns the raised streetcar lines add crucial minutes to his department's response time.
"The issue for us is, if we have to use the right-of-way...for emergency response...if we have to get up on that raised right-of-way, we have to maneuver. We have very little minimal space to operate that truck on. And protect you coming off the truck," explains Stewart.
Another concern is at the curb, which is nine inches high in spots. Instead of quickly zipping in and out of traffic, as it would on a regular road, the fire truck has to climb over it.
"There were all sorts of issues around sidewalk width, road width," agrees TTC spokesperson Brad Ross.
"The safety concerns of Toronto Fire were absolutely considered, and my understanding with Toronto Fire is that they understand that they can use the right-of-way for short periods. It's not designed to be driven on permanently. It's not a fire route as I say. It's designed to be used in emergency situations," Ross argues.
"Well that would be a fair statement - if you had a street that wasn't totally blocked," countered Stewart.
It's the poles that distinguish this route from similar right of way lines on Queen's Quay and Spadina. Emergency vehicles don't have the same problems on those streets.
According to Palacio, the right of way will not be complete until 2011. Plenty of time, he says, to redraw the plans.
"It's our responsibility to create a safe environment for residents, especially when their safety is going to be compromised because of this project," he vowed.
On CityOnline, Palacio pointed to the existence of dedicated lanes on Spadina and Queen's Quay, but said the TTC has not been forthcoming with its reports from the area.
"We've asked for that information for over four years from...the TTC. We've said, okay, you have this experience on Queen's Quay and Spadina with the right-of-way. So what's happened? Has response time been affected? And you know they can't find that data to give it to us."
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