by Howard Moscoe How do you feel when your car is sitting in rush hour traffic on Steeles Ave., or Sheppard Ave.? Frustrated? Everyone complains about traffic congestion and all of the politicians promise to do something to ease it (at least during the election period), but nothing ever seems to get resolved. That’s because clogged roads are the product of a number of cumulative decisions that force traffic onto main Streets. It’s human nature to want to live on a quiet “car free” street. Over the years, residents have pressured their local councillors into measures that discourage local traffic. They press for stop signs that don’t make sense, speed humps and traffic mazes that push traffic off their particular street and the end result of that is traffic congestion on main roads. The road systems are designed to make traffic flow. Streets like Sentinel Rd., Grandravine Dr., and Derrydown Rd., are classified as “collector roads.” They are designed to collect traffic from local streets. That is where the cars are supposed to flow freely. Yet, as a result of pressure from residents on these streets, they have been clogged with Stop signs and speed humps. Case in point is Grandravine Dr. In 2001, under pressure from local residents, the city surveyed residents of Grandravine Dr., about traffic calming. Traffic calming is where you erect barriers along the street to slow traffic and discourage cars. Of the 466 survey’s sent out only 71 bothered to respond and only 38 of these supported the installation of traffic calming. The traffic calming was installed. That means that a small group, fewer than 8 per cent, was able to dictate to the 6,000 drivers that used the street daily. Is it any wonder our main streets are congested? City traffic planners have laid out a plan that would ease traffic congestion in north-west Downsview. Grandravine Dr., is the only east-west route from Keele to Jane between Finch Avenue West and Sheppard Ave. W. The plan was to extend Grandravine eastward across an empty field to connect with Sheppard Ave. W. Right now, cars going eastbound to Allen Road have to travel an extra 2.8 km (South on Keele St., left at Sheppard Ave. W, and northbound again on Sheppard.) to get around where the Downsview Airforce Base housing is located. That plan has been blocked by residents on Grandravine Dr., who do not want the extra traffic on their street. I don’t blame them, but at some point, the greater good has to come before the local interest. Grandravine Dr., should be extended east to connect with Sheppard Ave. W., but because of local pressure on our councillors, it’s not likely to happen. There are some things that can be done to ease traffic pressure in the area. Right now, cars avoid the extra 2.8 km journey by using St Regis Cres. Another option is to use Bakersfield St., and Ashwarren Rd., but it’s a one way trip westbound. You can’t do it on the return trip because the exit onto Sheppard Avenue W is blocked by a concrete barrier that prevents cars turning west from Bakersfield. The city can open this route to traffic by signalizing the intersection of Bakersfield and Sheppard. This will take a lot of traffic off the main streets. It will be needed because of all of the high rise density that comes with the subway that will be stacked on the east side of Keele Street north of Sheppard, the area that presently houses the Downsview base officers’ housing. It has to be there because the flight restrictions posed by the Downsview airport flight contours will prevent it from being located at the Chesswood subway station.Vast amounts have been spent for road diversion related to the subway construction. We have all suffered the huge increases in volumes of traffic routes off Keele St., through our neighbourhoods to accommodate subway construction. Surely they can find something in the subway road diversion budget to bring this relief now.