Traffic Around The Midtown…

Traffic Around The Midtown Area

I am concerned about the number s of people in such a confined space since estimates are claiming some 60,000 people will be living in Midtown by 2050 and if there is ever a "Mississauga type" derailment evacuation it would be extremely hard to do in a reasonable amount of time.

1. The road system around the Midtown area is already highly congested especially with the evening west bound rush hour traffic and if there is an accident on the westbound QEW it can take hours to cross 16 Mile Creek on Cornwall Road since there are 7 x traffic signal intersections from Chartwell to Kerr Street a distance of only around 1.5km. This causes traffic congestion especially at the Cornwall / Trafalgar and Cornwall / Cross / and Speers Road. Roundabouts need to be installed at these intersections.

2. North South on Trafalgar is an issue especially during evening rush hour, since the Trafalgar / Cornwall intersection is constantly being blocked by evening rush hour commuters wanting to turn North on Trafalgar.

3. Traveling North from the Trafalgar/Cornwall intersection to the west bound QEW exit on Trafalgar, there are 3 x signalized intersections in about 0.5km (500m). This is another reason for a roundabout at the Cornwall/Trafalgar intersection and the Trafalgar / Cross Avenue, as it is only some 300m from Cornwall Road/Trafalgar intersection and lights there back up traffic back to the Cornwall Road intersection, causing more traffic jams, so a roundabout is needed there.

4. The east bound exit from the QEW will have a tunnel underneath Trafalgar Road exiting at the South Service Road East. This will allow the removal of the traffic signals there, and the closure of any traffic exiting the QEW and trying to immediately turn North on Trafalgar Road. Instead, exiting QEW traffic can turn south on Trafalgar go around the roundabout at Cross Road and Trafalgar to go north, or can follow the tunnel to South Service Road east turn south on that road and then right on Trafalgar to go north.

5. The issue with having some 60,000 in such a small area with a possible “Mississauga type” derailment evacuation is an issue especially for those living to the west of Trafalgar, north of Cross Avenue. Cross Avenue only has two exit points which, especially in the evening west rush hour are both severely congested. What is needed is a bridge from the South Service Road East across 16 Mile Creek to the dealership so that it can join up with Wyecroft Road. Such a bridge is easily accomplished by expanding the QEW across the already present empty bridge supports crossing 16 Mile Creek and simply moving the QEW north by two lanes. Since these empty bridge supports already exist, as does the bridge across 16 Mile Creek, there are no additional environmental requirements and all that is necessary is to build across these empty supports. This would then allow for a third emergency exit should there ever be a train derailment.

6. As to the wisdom of putting 60,000 people in a small area with no real park space will overwhelm the roads around Midtown, which is already subject to traffic jams with the present population. Schools, medical facilities, shopping etc., will all take space so open space for recreation will need to be created. Too many people in too small a space over time caused ghettoes to be created. The solution is to have 20,000 – 30,000 fewer people in the area.

7. Alternatively, as a solution for perhaps 45,000 people, is to have the whole area being built as one large park with Trafalgar Road bisecting it and all other roads leading off Trafalgar and all parking put underground. This would allow such density and provided the other road improvements were done should help keep the area from be a constant traffic jam.

8. Without the area being green, there will be huge issues with overcrowding of the small open spaces that are currently being presented. Minimum urban planning requires open spaces of some 2.2Ha / 1000 population. 60,000 people should have some 132Ha of open space which on the present size of the area is impossible so create the necessary space, have the Highrise buildings surrounded by open space.