TTC Queen Street East Construction – May- June 2014

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Rail Replacements at Streetcar Stops on Queen Street East

Mid-May to Mid-July 2014

During this year’s major track work at the intersections of Queen/Leslie (May 11 to June 21*) and Queen/Broadview (June 30 July 25), the TTC will also be replacing worn rail at various streetcar stops along Queen Street East between Jones Avenue and Parliament Street.

During the scheduled Leslie/Queen and Broadview/Queen work, streetcars will be diverting north to Gerrard Street East, while buses will run on Queen Street with a minor diversion via Dundas Street East.

The TTC is committed to minimizing disruption to the community and will take advantage of the streetcar diversions that will be put in place for the two intersection projects. Coordinating this required work will reduce the duration of impacts to streetcar service on Queen Street East as much as possible.

Timeline

The stop rail replacement work will be conducted during the weekdays and weekends.

Generally, the work at each of the stop location will take between 3 to 4 days to complete.

While this work is scheduled to be conducted during the daytime, some evening work may be required.

Traffic lanes will be reduced at each location to create a safe work zone, and on-street parking will be temporarily restricted within the work areas.

 

Table title:Queen Streetcar Stop Rail Replacement Locations
Street Direction Timeline
Street:Booth Avenue Direction:West Timeline:May 12 – 15
Street:Logan Avenue Direction:East Timeline:May 20 – 23
Street:Logan Avenue Direction:West Timeline:May 26 – 29
Street:Brooklyn Avenue Direction:East Timeline:May 30 – June 2
Street:Brooklyn Avenue Direction:West Timeline:June 3 – 6
Street:Carlaw Avenue Direction:East Timeline:June 19 – 22
Street:Caroll Street Direction:West Timeline:July 1 – 4
Street:River Street Direction:East Timeline:July 10 – 13
Street:River Street Direction:West Timeline:July 14 – 17
Street:Tracy Street Direction:East Timeline:July 21 – 24
table sub-title:Three additional stops will be considered if time permits
Street:Bright Street Direction:East Timeline:TBD
Street:Pape Avenue Direction:East Timeline:TBD
Street:Sackville Street Direction:West Timeline:TBD
Note: There is no track work planned in this area from June 22 to June 30.

 

What to expect

Break/remove concrete to expose the rail along length of the streetcar stop (approx. 36m). Remove and replace rail, and place new concrete. Set to cure. The track allowance beyond the active work zones will be used for equipment and material storage.

The TTC regrets any inconvenience resulting from the track work. Efforts will be made to complete the work within the scheduled timelines while streetcars are diverting north to Gerrard Street East.

 

A new explainer video takes viewers through the Queen Street East intersection work Youtube link opens in new window and shows TTC customers, as well as drivers, cyclists and pedestrians how to get around during construction.

Planned closures are as follows:

Leslie St. and Queen St. E. – May 11-June 21: Replace 80 year-old water mains and install new streetcar tracks to connect to the Leslie Barns, the storage and maintenance facility being built to house Toronto’s new low-floor streetcars.

Victoria St. and Queen St. E. – May 11- 31:  Replace tracks and switches.

Broadview Ave. and Queen St. E. – June 30- July 25:  Replace tracks and switches.

The 501 Queen streetcar, and 504 King streetcar during the Broadview Ave. and Queen St. E. intersection closure, will divert during this work. Frequent replacement bus service will be provided along Queen St. E. between Coxwell Ave. and River St. Increased north-south bus service on Greenwood, Jones and Pape Aves. will help get customers to and from Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) should they opt to take the subway.

The TTC, and the Leslieville and Riverside BIAs, remind everyone that businesses remain open, and encourage residents to continue to support local business during construction.

The TTC thanks its customers and the local community for their patience as we work to improve transit in Toronto.

 

Map of TTC closures along Queen St E

The streetcar diversion between Spadina and Church.

Several other streetcar routes, including 301 Queen, 502 Downtowner and 503 Kinstord, will be replaced by bus service.

Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue will be closed from June 30 to July 27 while track is replaced.

Part of the diversion is to create a route to the new streetcar facility at the bottom of Leslie. The TTC is laying down new track and replacing a water main, working with the city.

Queen E. streetcar diversionThe diversion to Gerrard St. East will add 12 minutes to the trip. (TTC)

 

Riverside is the place to be on the First Weekend of June, with the dynamic duo of Eats & Beats in Riverside StreetFEST and The Riverdale Art Walk!

Eats & Beats band

On Saturday, June 7th, the Riverside District (Located on historic Queen St. East between the DVP and Empire Ave) is hosting their annual spring Eats & Beats StreetFEST. Come and join us for a festival showcasing Riverside’s family friendly food outlets and unique small town in the big city atmosphere.

eb1Riverside Burger at Burger Shoppe

 The Riverside District is renowned for its home design shops, heritage architecture, coffee shops, food providores and popular contemporary restaurants.  Local eateries will be opening their doors serving tasting plates and musical entertainment in the heart of Queen Street East.

eb6 chef Lynn and Chef Lora making snow cones

 This year we have a whole host of different activities happening, including:

Nell & Natasha’s Blues & Rhythms BBQ, where you can Feed your stomach and soul at Nell & Natasha’s Annual Free BBQ and HUDU Rising Blues Band performing classics and originals from 2:00-6:00pm. PLUS face painting also sorts of different family activities.

 Three informative and entertaining walks; there is the Diversity of Riverside Historical Walk at 1:00pm, and discover the diverse history of Riverside. The walk kicks off with the 100th Anniversary of the Ralph Thornton Centre, and is led by local historical aficionado, Ron Fletcher. The RAW Art & Insider Tour at  2:00pm, starting at the Riverside booth at Jimmie Simpson Park, where you can get the inside scoop on historical Riverside and the Riverdale Art Walk. Artists’ works are showcased in store fronts in this pop-up street gallery. Plus, keep your eyes on twitter @RiversideBIA  &  @Culinaryadvco  for an exclusive space on Chef Scott Savoie’s Culinary Adventure Co. – where foodies get their adrenaline rush – will be doing this free Riverside insiders food tour.

EB 4 Riverside VIP Food Tour with Culinary Adventure Co

 From 1:00pm Tastes of the Middle East – Excite & Delight the Sense with Food, Dance and Filigree Henna. Delight the senses with an array of delectable of Middle Eastern tasters. 3:00pm get an intro into belly dancing with acclaimed Sarah Skinner, known for her mastery of belly dance. Adorn yourself with gorgeous Henna tattoos by Gord Grover.

Big Horn Beats on Saulter Street will come alive with fresh music with local horn band, Don Valley Stompers (1:00-3:30pm) – a powerful New Orleans style brass band, plus other surprise musical guests. RTC’s 100 Anniversary Celebrations (1:00pm) Kid’s interactive crafts and activities, including face painting, musical origami, rainbow necklace making and colourful cookies!

Rick & Scott

 Streetcar & An Síbin Pub Presents “Bringing Down Broadview” This street is a diversity of food fun and all sorts of funk. Streetcar Developments, An Síbin Pub and Boots & Bourbon will have a lineup of musical acts and treats. Get a taste of Celtic and Soul food, music, and drink! Enjoy a BBQ Feast and some of Ontario’s Best Craft Beers on the Back Patio & Beer Garden, plus a host of delicious bites from Boots & Bourbon. At 4pm get your boots stomping with Boots & Bourbon leading line dancing lessons, and then taking it out flash mob style. Steak Night Begins at 5pm come enjoy 3 different sizes & styles of Steak at Great Prices!  Come for the after-party at 10pm for some live Celtic Rock with The O’Deadly’s. Irish morsels and show off your Gallic foot work with guest Celtic band.

Munro Street Eats and Beats 2013

Happiness Block Party on Munro Street From 2:00- 6:00pm Oma Chiropractic & Quince Flowers are bringing together people from their circles and yours for the sheer fun of it. Plus, we’re celebrating the launching QT, a new venture by Quince Flowers. Be relaxed in your body, put flowers in your hair, and enjoy the musical styling of The Woodshed Orchestra and the sound of children’s laughter. Smiles and hugs are free!

Janes Walk 2013

 The Riverdale Art Walk is a two-day (June 7th -8th ), public fine art exhibition showcasing established and emerging artists in retail spaces, artists’ studios and Jimmie Simpson Park in Toronto’s flourishing Queen East arts district. The first outdoor art show of Toronto’s season, participating artists are selected through an anonymous jury process, and is an initiative of the Artists’ Network, a not-for-profit, member-driven, arts organization dedicated to the development of self-sustaining, professional artists. Visit artistsnetwork.ca for more information.

Eats & Beats has a diversity of other great activities going on from 1:00-6:00pm

1:00pm & 3:00pm Olive & Olives Rainbow Themed Culinary Workshops at 779 Queen St. East.

1:00pm-4:00pm BMO – Celebrate with BMO Bear at 711 Queen St. East

1:00pm-6:00pm Burger Shoppe Boogie Serving up their “Hot Hawaiian” and boogie down with their live DJ at 688 Queen St. East

1:00pm-6:00pm Fresh Food at Riverside Market  

1:00pm-6:00pm Mustard Seed Bazaar at 791 Queen St. East

1:00pm-6:00pm Wine Rack Pulls Out the Funk at 731 Queen St. East

1:00pm-6:00pm Woodgreen ‘To Walk In My Shoes’ Exhibition at 650 Queen St. East

2:00pm-4:00pm Dimensions Banging Down the House at 732 Queen St. East

4:00pm macFAB Dresses up the World! With bowtie and head band workshops at 734 Queen St. East

4:00pm-7:00pm Hi-Lo Spins Out the Vintage at 753 Queen St. East

Plus, Riverside Businesses are holding tastings and sidewalk sales.

LET US KNOW YOU’RE COMING and sign up HERE 

Thanks to our prime sponsors Nell & Natasha Homeward Realty  and Streetcar Developments

Thyme Again Gardens in Riverside

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Ever dream about walking out your door and picking farm fresh organic produce,  well now you can….well almost!   Meet Lorraine Schmid and Lori Aselstine, owners and operators of  Again Gardens, a certified organic farm in Prince Edward County.  Lorraine and Lori offer fresh produce to you through their Community Shared Agriculture program.

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 The concept of the CSA program reflects an innovative and resourceful strategy that connects local farmers with local consumers.   Consumers buy an annual membership in the CSA and the farmer provides members with a weekly supply of farm fresh produce. This arrangement provides the farmer with a guaranteed income and gives the consumer a share in the farm’s bounty.

Tomatoes

 Your farm to home box may include seasonally available organic produce such as onions and garlic, beans and greens, berries, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, squash, and much more. In addition to your weekly box, you may purchase eggs, cut flowers, homemade preserves, and cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken.

CSA Toronto (1)

 Thyme Again Gardens’ CSA program runs from June 24th to October 14th.  As a member, your weekly box is available for pickup at Olive & Olives (779 Queen St East) on Tuesdays between 4pm and 7pm.

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 Join us on this blog as we follow Lorraine and Lori through their journey to provide you with the freshest, healthiest produce and items straight from the farm

For more information on the Thyme Again Gardens CSA go to: http://thymeagain.com/toronto-csa/

Or contact Lorraine and Lori directly at (613) 394-1139

www.thymeagain.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThymeAgain

 

Nell & Natasha Your Mother Daughter Team

Your Mother Daughter Real Estate Team

Your Mother Daughter Team

Nell & Natasha Real Estate Homeward Brokerage, have more than 25 years experience serving buyers and sellers of Toronto Real Estate. Living and working in the heart of Riverside Nell and Natasha are active contributors to the community. Because real estate is also about the communities in which we choose to live and work, they believe in giving back.

 

They host Annual neighbourhood events like a Spring BBQ and Halloween
Pumpkin Patch from their office at 807A Queen Street East (conveniently located
across from Jimmie Simpson Park). Proceeds from these events always go to
local charities. Natasha is also active in the Riverside Business Association as an
Executive Board Member of the Riverside BIA.

Nell & Natasha

Nell & Natasha

Get to meet this Dynamic duo this Saturday, June 7th at the Eats & Beats Street
Fest. In addition to the great band and free BBQ, make sure you don’t miss out on
other entertainments for your little ones, such as: face paintings, balloons, prizes
and many more!

Wild Plant Walk in Riverside with Danette Steele – the herbalist

Ever wonder if plants that you consider “weeds” and any use, or if there were plants in your own backyard that could heal you?  Well, take a walk on the wild side – hear stories and make new discoveries about the plants that grow throughout our city. Join Danette Steele – the herbalist + city farmer – for a walk through Riverside lane-ways, parks and gardens. Identify wild and cultivated plants that can be used for food and medicine.

Janes Walk 2013

 Many everyday local plants have a lot of healing properties… and Danette, who also has her practice with Oma Chiropractic, loves to share plant wisdom with people to encourage safe and effective self-care using herbal medicine.

An insider’s surprise medicinal weed is…. the pervasive Dandelion. This plant is awesome – it is known as the plant of survival / survivors!! The root is a great tonic for the digestive system and the liver; the leaf is a mild bitter – also a liver tonic. The leaf is a diuretic and encourages elimination through the kidneys, and Dandelion is included in combination remedies for skin problems, for aching joints and gout.

Recipes will be shared! Learn about sustainable, safe and respectful practices for harvesting plants in the city …. And – be prepared to be surprised as you connect with the plants – and take some time to slow down and smell the Dandelions!

So who is Danette?

DanetteDrinkingNettles

Danette Steele – the herbalist + city farmer – has more than 20 years of experience as a herbal practitioner and community educator. Danette loves to share healing plant wisdom along with yummy recipes, garden design ideas and growing tips. Her teaching spaces are engaging, fun and practical. Danette is committed to facilitating joyous and rigorous learning experiences – through her workshops and consultations, wild weed walks, herbal classes, mindfulness meditations and cooperatively-designed eco urban gardens. For more information: www.danette-steele.com.