The City of Niagara Falls,…

The City of Niagara Falls, Municipal Works Division requests two considerations:
1. Clarification that this amendment WILL or WILL NOT apply to new multi-use paths and to auxiliary lanes (e.g. turning lanes); and,
2. That Municipalities be given a streamlined exemption process by the Ministry where it can be demonstrated through technical reports that the impacts to motorists and commuters is negligible, and where the benefit of the new bike lane or path is of significant community benefit.

To illustrate these concerns, please refer to the attached file that depicts a project that has been underway for over 6 years. This project is a connection of the Millenium Trail in Niagara Falls across Highway 420 at the Dorchester Road overpass through the re-purposing of the underutilized auxiliary turning lane on the westbound direction of the bridge structure. This improvement, which is scheduled for construction by MTO in the next 8 months as part of their bridge rehab, will result in zero reduction in through-travel lanes and zero reduction in roadway capacity. This proposed improvement provides significant benefit to the community by connecting the 4.5km northerly Millenium trail across the Highway overpass where it can connect to the 5.0km southerly section of the Millenium trail, and it represents a cost-efficient approach in comparison the alternatives (widen the structure or dedicated bridge), none of which are affordable to the City.

Thank you for this opportunity to comment, and at the very least we trust that our "in-flight" project noted herein can be considered to be okay to continue as planned and budgeted.

Sincerely,

Erik Nickel, P.Eng.,
General Manager Municipal Works / City Engineer