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Staff recommendations aim to reduce dependence on personal vehicles

Staff recommend potential widening of 68 km of road to allow for transit, cycling space
20180815 guelph transit 2 ts
GuelphToday file photo

Several city streets will be widened to allow for transit prioritization and cycling space if city staff has its way. That’s the recommendation heading to council during a special meeting next week.

“This (Transportation Master Plan) is being developed as a sustainability-driven, equity-based plan that is innovative when compared to traditional car-focused TMPs,” states the report, which recommends 68 kilometres of road be widened as the city strives to accommodate population growth as well as bring down dependence on personal vehicles.

“Together (with the city’s growth plan), these studies ensure that population and employment growth in Guelph can be safely and adequately accommodated, leading to a future-ready, livable and prosperous community beyond 2031.”

Dubbed Sustainability and Resiliency Focus, the staff-preferred option would see approximately 68 km of potential road widening to increase space for transit prioritization measures and possible transit priority lanes, along with protected, dedicated cycling space and room to accommodate future technologies such as driverless vehicles. 

The city “needs to anticipate how changes in technologies, mobility services and personal travel choices will impact the road network,” adds the report, noting this option “protects additional arterial road corridors for future widening to accommodate these unknowns.”

Council is slated to discuss the plan, as well as consider alternatives, during a special council meeting on May 26, starting at 6 p.m. that will be streamed live at guelph.ca/live.

If the staff recommendations are approved, council will direct staff to “develop an implementation plan, policies and financial strategy” to achieve the preferred option. That report is expected to be presented to council in December.

“The proposed network improvements ... will improve goods movement by removing cyclists from the road along most truck routes, assigning them to protected spaces away from vehicles,” explains the report.

The 2016 census shows 79 per cent of travel in the city is done by car, with eight per cent through walking, seven per cent via transit and three per cent is cycling, with three per cent done by school bus and one per cent “other.”

The proposed breakdown for 2051 is 60 per cent by car, 15 per cent each for walking and transit, as well as 10 per cent cycling.

Among the alternative approaches considered was a plan to widen 46 km of roads for the same purposes. This was the option supported by the public during a survey and consultations earlier this year.

However, it “provides less flexibility in the future to accommodate emerging technologies and transportation trends such as driverless vehicles” than the staff-recommended option, the report notes.

Staff also considered a “do nothing” option and a car-focused approach. 

The prior isn’t being recommended because it “does not address the goals and problem statements laid out in this plan,” explains the report, whereas the latter is the “most expensive and environmentally impactful plan.”

All of the options considered assume provincial plans for Hanlon Expressway improvements proceed, though they’re unlikely to be completed by 2031, as well as implementation of two-way, all-day GO train service as well as other inter-regional transit.

Also noted in the report, Guelph Junction Railway is not recommended to include passenger services.

The deadline to register as a delegate or send written submissions for the May 26 special council meeting is this Friday at 10a.m. To register, visit guelph.ca/delegation, call 519-837-5603 or email [email protected].

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Richard Vivian

About the Author: Richard Vivian

Richard Vivian is an award-winning journalist and longtime Guelph resident. He joined the GuelphToday team as assistant editor in 2020, largely covering municipal matters and general assignment duties
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