After 18 months, streetcars return to Roncesvalles.  The new tracks are certainly quieter and smoother than the old tracks.

The streetcar has been kicked around quite a bit lately.  As an automobile driver, I understand the frustration with the streetcar.  I would be similarly frustrated with any vehicle that regularly stops in the left lane and blocks both lanes of traffic.  But, as a transit rider, I rise to defend the streetcar.

Our new mayor wants subways instead of streetcars.  But subways and streetcars aren't directly comparable.  Subways cost about 200 times more to build than a surface rail route.  Subways are dark and claustrophobic - underneath the city.  Streetcars run in the open air and sunshine, alongside local businesses.  Sure, subways don't get stuck in traffic, but the same would be true of streetcars if they had their own dedicated lane.

I'm glad you're back, streetcars.  Now, if you could just space yourselves out evenly...

An army of construction workers excavate a trench to hold our new sewers!  What was wrong with our old sewers?  They were too small and falling apart.

A piece of the old watermain. Every drop that came out of your tap traveled through this pipe.  In the background are blue sections of our new watermain.

It seems there is somebody or several people in the area who cut brake lines for some reason. During the last election Liberal supporters had their brake lines cut. Now it seems to be randomly chosen victims.

We now have a draft Western Waterfront Master Plan.  The Planning Alliance has done a great job, and I imagine almost no-one will find much to criticize.  At a super high level, the plan greatly improves the public space on the Western Waterfront (from the Humber to Dufferin, and North to the Queensway.)  Access is improved, parking is concentrated...