I disagree with the proposal…

I disagree with the proposal that building highways faster will reduce gridlock. I would rather see my tax dollars invested in better public transit and increasing road safety for all citizens including cyclists and pedestrians. I only began commuting by bike to my office on King St. in Toronto after the installation of the University Ave. bike lanes. I never felt safe biking in the downtown core before. Today I prefer to use the University Ave. lanes to quickly get out of the downtown core by bike, rather than use the Richmond St. lanes, which are crowded at rush hour. Biking is the most reliable, efficient mode of transportation. My TTC route, by comparison is often interrupted by stopped subway trains or interrupted streetcar service. I would like to see more provincial investment in the faster building and better maintenance of subways, light rail and commuter trains as proven means of reducing gridlock.

Municipalities know what their communities need more than the provincial government and should be empowered to act on behalf of their residents without adding provincial legislative red tape. The bike lanes on city roads should not be legislated in the same act as provincial highways.

I also disagree with Schedule 3 – exempting the Highway 413 Project from the Environmental Assessment Act. We are seeing the increasing negative impact of climate change in Ontario and around the world every day. It’s short-sighted to put the issue of gridlock above environmental protection especially where there are other, greener options for decreasing gridlock rather than increasing car traffic.

I strongly oppose this proposed bill.