1) we need to build for…

1) we need to build for where we are going - not where we were several decades ago.
2) there will be tens of thousands of new residents in our city who will need to get around - they can't all drive cars.
3) congestion is caused by cosntruction, and the sheer volume of cars; a well planned street works well for all users (that's what studies have shown).
4) the city has invested huge amounts of time energy and money in creating this network of lanes that will take us into a future of lower emissions as planned by the "TransformTO NetZero by 2040 commitment.
5) the young people of our city and province are telling us they want a climate safe future. Let's build it for them.
Building a highway over greenbelt land would also be a travesty, increasing carbon emissions and destroying farmland. For food security in our future we NEED to protect and preserve farmland. the primary purpose of the hwy is to spread housing further out, instead we need to intensify, in the city, where people can travel by transit, walking and cycling and can save a LOT of money by not needing to have a car.
Yesterday I happened to be driving on Bloor St at 5:30 pm (yes I drive occasionally as well as cycle) and yes, it was slow. But that's mainly because of construction! One of the lanes was closed from Bedford to University. It was great to see the steady stream of cyclists on both sides riding safely along. I did not mind it took me a few extra minutes to get to my destination. I'd rather have a safe road with separated lanes. That steady stream of cyclists, if we keep these lanes, will continue to grow. (it's already grown several times over). Please do not interfere with the important investment the city of Toronto has made in these lanes - through local democracy at work - and please respect the need to shift our traffic patterns. Everyone in a car is not possible for our city so let's not disadvantage those using other modes of travel.