Local Resident speaks out about highway 4.3

Below are exerpts from a letter send from local Halton Hills resident Peter Belshaw Ph. D. Chemistry/Biochemistry. The letter was sent to the GTA West Consultant Project Manager Neil Ahmed project_team@gta-west.com with a copy to the Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.

Building this highway extension through rural farmland and residential areas will have an enormous impact on the environment, far greater than what is claimed in the phase 1 environmental assessment. The proposed route of the highway will divide south Halton Hills creating a new southern boundary for the town, in the years to come, it is likely that every inch of land between the 401 and the proposed 4-3 extension will be developed commercial/industrial as a result of this new highway. In addition a band of commercial/industrial development would also occur to the immediate north of the 4-3 extension. The net result would be that all the farmland in rural Halton Hills would eventually be developed/paved. The environmental assessment in the draft report only appears to consider the direct impacts of the 4 lanes initially proposed, not the future development of the highway, nor the commercial/industrial development that is likely to follow. The increased vehicular traffic and future commercial/industrial development will also result in a significant lowering of air quality and an increase in noise pollution in the region. The proposed 4-3 extension would also result in the loss of some of the best farmland in Canada. Given that only 8% of Canada’s land is tillable (source: former MP Julian Reed of Halton Hills, citizens meeting open comment June 23rd, 2011 Glen Cairn Golf Course), we should not be paving/developing our best farmland. Given global warming and peak oil, we will need these resources when a few million climate refugees arrive on our doorstep in the foreseeable future (just look at the water wars already happening in the US southwest).

In my judgment (as a Ph.D. scientist Chemistry/Biochemistry), the environmental assessment in the draft report is a complete joke worthy of derision and jest were it not so frightening/impacting towards the south Halton Hills region.

Dr. Belshaw makes many other points in his letter regarding alternatives to the new highway which he has given me permission to share as I will continue to do in a future blog.
In the meantime, be sure to pick up a postcard and send it to Minister Wynne if you are also concerned that this proposed highway spells the end of your vision for Halton Hills. Postcards are available at the many locations around town, including the Civic Centre. Check out the town's website for locations http://www.haltonhills.ca/

Minister of Transportation in Halton Hills

On Friday afternoon we had the privilege of having Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation for the Province of Ontario visit Halton Hills. She was primarily here for a "Meet and Greet" organized by the Wellington-Halton Hills Liberal Party. However, in advance of that event we were able to book a meeting with the Minister at our town hall in order to present the Minister with our point of view on several local transportation issues.

Pictured here is Minister Wynne in the centre of the table. Also in attendance were members of the senior management team and Mitch Zamojc, Commissioner of Public Works at Halton Region. Councillors Somerville, Johnson, Kentner, Robson, Lewis and myself were part of the discussion that was led by Mayor Bonnette.

Approximately 10 issues were covered including the GO Transit Expansion to Acton, increased funding for ActiVan, Active transportation issues, and perhaps most important - our position and concerns with respect to the preferred route for the Greater Tororto Area West Corridor - a proposed new 400 series highway.

I was very impressed with the Minister and her almost instantaneous grasp of the issues. It must be extremely difficult to put herself into the local context when she visits municipalities all across Ontario. Her responses are always reasonable given that she can't simply make up new policies on the fly. However she will tell you if she can help or she can't help. It is very much appreciated that we get a straight answer so that we don't have false hope or start down a pathway that won't lead anywhere in the end.

As part of our meeting I was able to raise the issue of how the Ontario Highway Traffic Act needs to be brought in line with the new emphasis on Active Transportation, particularly as it relates to encouraging pedestrian activity. I have been thinking about this for a couple of years. It was frustrating when Main Street Georgetown was reconstructed with obvious crosswalks that pedestrians could not be given the priority many thought they had. Many people assumed that they had the right of way at the crosswalk whereas in fact the cars have the right of way. We, as a municipality do not have the authority to give the pedestrians the right of way unless we put up those huge, over the road, flashing lights such as they have in Acton.

I have observed in other countries and provinces that municipalities can create situations where pedestrians have the right of way and I would like to have the option here. The Minister was quick to say that this is definately something that they are hoping to address and would welcome further input. Commissioner Zamojc also indicated that this is subject of that the GTA Commissioners are also exploring. I was very encouraged and I will be pursuing this further with the Ministry.

The Minister graciously allowed me to get a picture of the two of us. The Minister is on the right side.

If you have comments about pedestrian priority or any other transportation issues I would like to hear your point of view or suggestion.