vegeta and others: Thanks for explaining more of the issue. But I don't think it's about NIMBYs.
Nobody in that article is saying the clearcutting should not happen. They're asking if Metrolinx is doing enough to fix the damage to Railpath. In fact, the guy quoted is saying "DON'T plant trees in our backyards - Plant them alongside the ROW." And it seems like a pushback against NIMBYs who want the noise barrier too.
It may not be your main concern or Mlinx's. But it's pretty reasonable.
What damage is being done to Railpath at this time??
The removal of trees and what every on Metrolinx land has no impact Railpath.
The hording at Bloor is not interfering with the Railpath.
The person saying "Don't plant them in our backyard" doesn't mean Metrolinx is forcing the trees to be planted on their land. As for putting them in the ROW, how do you do it when there is no room or will become a safety issue for the crews of the trains since they will be the first to run into them, before the 1,000+ riders that will be effected by a tree???
Are the people who want these trees in the corridor prepared to accept full liability to cover all cost related to injury, damage and dead caused by an accident, because of these trees along the ROW edge on Metrolinx land??? Don't think so.
As for the sound barrier, there are committees in place at this time working with Metrolinx as where they should go, how high and what type. There will be public meetings to bring people up to speed as what being looked at and how do they feel about it. Only after this is done, will wall go up, but not for the full corridor.
Bottom line, ""IF"" CN had done their maintenance of the corridors like they should had, most of those trees would not exist today for people to demand more trees than should be in the first place.
If you want to talk about trees being cut down, this area only had small trees. If you look at the north side of the Lakeshore line east of Southdown Rd, trees 100' tall where cut down with very little back lash from the residents who backyard face the corridor with some new ones being planted on their property.
""SAFETY" comes ""FIRST"" before the wishes of the local residents over the trees, shrubs or sound wall.