LETTER

Re-thinking traffic solutions: ring roads

 

With federal funds now available for infrastructure, and the pressure to "do something", I would like to re-enforce points made here since 2011, when the NCC first mandated a study on interprovincial connections.

In particular, I address MP Greg Fergus, native of Montreal, and all new city councillors. Our new Minister of Transport already sees the advantages of (new) interprovincial connections for residents of Aylmer, Pontiac, Hull, Gatineau and Ottawa.

“Infrastructure” covers all of the issues facing an entire region. There are many more concerns than simply funneling Aylmer’s office set to their jobs downtown.

Our regional issues include:
1) Trucks and transit forced into the core to complete interprovincial deliveries
2) All interprovincial commuters forced into the core to complete their daily commute
3) The demographics of heavy development in western Gatineau and Ottawa
4) The lack of emergency detour routes for Highways 50 and 417
5) The lack of appropriate corridors for mass transit projects
6) How to best join Ottawa mass transit to Gatineau’s

I suggest a re-think of the entire conundrum. We can use the French word ‘circulation’ to signal a new way of thinking about regional transit, and we should look to US and Canadian cities for examples of how to solve the above-listed issues in one swoop. Ring transit and ring-roads are the way forward.

It is important to remind the decision-makers that a circular transit system will be much more efficient than straight-line thinking, which seems to dominate the process.

One word comes to mind with the undertakings of Mr Fergus regarding mass transit [tramway, light rail] into western Gatineau: unacceptable.

 

It is unacceptable that a project of such expense to public has seen little or no public input. Guided information nights and polite letters to the electorate do not count as public input.

I do agree with Mr. Fergus that now is the time. I cannot agree with his proposed corridor [tramway], as it isn't a corridor at all!

It is time for elected representatives to conduct a [genuine] open house, providing a forum for those with forward-thinking ideas to make proposals. It is time to stop nonsensical mass transit projects which do not look at all of the issues.

Lee Bourdon
Aylmer