Improved public transit system is vital
Ironically, while the Ontario government committed to supporting an improved transit system to run through the urban cores of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, the more than 21,000 commuters who travel daily between Kitchener and Guelph will be encouraged to drive their cars.
The reduction of personal vehicle use for commuting is not only a local or regional issue, it is a global issue. Effective, efficient and affordable public transportation is one of the easiest and most effective tools we have to improve greenhouse gas emissions.
Improved transit services within this area and into greater Toronto — including more frequent service, access to a wider range of destinations, and reduced travel times — would not only increase transit ridership and reduce highway congestion, but would be a key ingredient in an improved quality of life. It would also improve our competitive advantage and our ability to attract investment and businesses.
Regional planning studies conducted over the last few years have clearly stated that continuing with road expansions alone is not a realistic or affordable option to manage growth. Instead, aggressive efforts need to be made to pursue land use and transportation policies that will promote public transit, reurbanization and greater transportation choice.
Rapid transit is identified in the new Provincial Places to Grow growth plan as an important catalyst to support downtown core revitalization and control urban sprawl in the region.
The cities of Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo must continue to promote and lobby the provincial government for an effective inter-regional transit system linking this entire region to the Greater Toronto Area, as well as Brantford and Hamilton.
March 27th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Absolutly I agree.
While it is important that we move forward with the very much needed highway improvements perhaps it would not be be such a pressing issue if there was viable public transit between the two cities in the first place.
21000 commuters each day could pay for one heck of a transit system.
April 3rd, 2007 at 11:09 pm
To me, public transit is one of the main issues — in addition to open and universally accessible post-secondary education.
Only when we have a seamless and functioning public transit system in place will people finally leave their cars at home and bring about a drastic reduction in GHG emissions.
Improving, expanding, upgrading, etc. roads and highways will only provide more incentive for people to drive. Bad idea.