[Cambridgite]

Since we are already on the topic of the highway 427 extension, I thought I'd share another goody the province has planned for us.

http://news.therecord.com/article/227066


Hwy 24 bypass issue at council

August 11, 2007
KEVIN SWAYZE
RECORD STAFF; With files from the Hamilton Spectator

CAMBRIDGE

A planned Highway 24 bypass east of Cambridge will only bring more traffic problems to town, an opponent says.

Dr. Paul Cary, a Cambridge physician and Sheffield resident, said the proposed two-lane highway between highways 401 and 403 will funnel more traffic into Cambridge, not divert it.

A new route between Cambridge and Brantford would entice truck traffic to use a new exit at Highway 8 to access the city and points west, because it will offer a shorter route.

"It's not going to benefit Cambridge," Cary said. "It's going to drive more traffic in then take it out."

The province says the new highway is needed to link Brantford and Cambridge and Highway 401 and Highway 403 because of large population and traffic growth expected to hit the Golden Horseshoe Area in the next 25 years.

A meeting on the proposed highway attracted a crowd of about 500 people, mostly opposed, to the Rockton community centre Thursday night.

Fred Leech, a Ministry of Transportation official, told the meeting the highway is not predetermined but added Ontario cannot refuse to study it because of pressing regional and provincial transportation problems.

On Monday, Cary will take his message to Cambridge council and call on politicians to voice objection to the way the $2.2-million provincial highway study is unfolding.

The Stop the 424 coalition wants the province to look at upgrading Trussler Road west of Cambridge and add a full interchange with the 401 instead of building a new, north-south route east of Cambridge.

Cary is vice-chair of the stop 424 group, which also opposes the proposed study route because it will cross prime farmland, sensitive nature areas and cut through part of the protected provincial greenbelt. The group includes residents from Flamborough, Brant, North Dumfries, Puslinch, Cambridge and Brantford

The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in historic city hall, 46 Dickson St.

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig joined local mayors two years ago to lobby the province to start the study to deal with crash-prone and overburdened Highway 24 between Cambridge and Brantford. The study started a year ago.

Craig said Cary would be "respectfully received" but he doesn't want city council to intervene in the study process. The provincial study should be allowed to produce a recommendation that council would then comment on.

Cary wants the study detoured before it carries on to a what he says is a predetermined conclusion: Brantford's dream of attracting more development.

Cary knows Cambridge politicians support a new highway but he "wants to plant the seed" of doubt about the negative outcome of building such a highway.

"I think that we're going to try to make it low-key, nonemotional, solid factual sort of presentation," he said.

Cary recently made a presentation to Brant County council, but said his message wasn't welcome there. "They're salivating at the development" the new highway would bring, he said.

As for Brantford city council, he hasn't bothered to ask because he believes that city is pro-highway.

[MolsonExport]

Tania Praeg, Record Staff

[Cambridgite]

Tania Praeg, Record Staff

Oops!

[vid]

Why don't they just expand the ROW that already exists?

[Cambridgite]

Why don't they just expand the ROW that already exists?

Because there would be too much driving within the cities. On Hespeler Road, it takes about 20-25 minutes to drive through Cambridge. More like 40 minutes during rush hour. A highway skirting the east sides of both cities would enable people to travel at faster speeds and by-pass most of the in-town traffic. It would also greatly improve access to KW and Guelph from Brantford (skipping Cambridge traffic up to the 401). It would improve accessibility between Waterloo Region and Hamilton-Burlington as well. Most importantly, it would give trucks from Waterloo Region better access to the Niagara border crossing and take a lot of traffic off highways 6 and 8.

However, there are a few problems with this.

1) Induced traffic. If you make commuting long distances easier, more people will do it. People will adjust to the highway until it too becomes congested.

2) Highways act as magnets for generic suburban development. There will be increased pressure to build subdivisions, industrial parks, and commercial strips off these highway exits. This will ultimately congest the highway even more.

3) There are no current linkages between Grand River Transit, Brantford Transit, or Hamilton Transit. Once again, the MTO hasn't jumped to the highway conclusion without even examining other options. Very typical of them. :rolleyes:

[3madjack]

If Brampton, of all places, can claim, "All roads lead to Brampton" with access to at least four of the 400 series of highways, I think it's time that KWC got another 400 one. Besides, getting around KWC these days is like trying to get around in Calgary...SLOW.

[3madjack]

:previous: Before anyone bites my head off, I think only two of the 400 series actually lie within Brampton (the 410 and the 407) but the damn sign (you know the one) says all of them, including the 401.

[vid]

The 401 gets within about 100m of Brampton, as does the 427, according to my map. (*Has a lot of maps.*)

It's an old map though, from 1999. It only cost 2.95, and allowed me to get two other maps: Missisauga and Niagara Falls. :) I got Calgary and Pembroke/Cornwall on Tuesday, and I'll probably get the updated Toronto next week.

Anyway, Brampton having a lot of highways could be because of it's proximity to Toronto? It's right beside it. KW might benefit from a highway running along the west and north sides of the city, to form a ring road with highways 85, 7, and 7/8, though that would probably feed sprawl into the neighbouring townships. It looks like KW has done a decent job of keeping the city in the city.

[Rathgrith]

You know, I was just thinking... maybe instead of building a highway, Waterloo and Brantford should look at inter-city rail service to run between the two "cities" (Not sure about Brantford being a city ;)) I doubt GO or VIA would operate it but a private, p3, or a municipal agreement could develop it. Its doesn't have to be high speed but i am sure with these gas prices it is something worth looking at.

[DHLawrence]

With road traffic increasing the way it has, I think both will be necessary in a few years to avoid even more congestion.

I'm surprised they haven't thought of expanding the Hanlon Expressway in Guelph south of the 401. It would certainly come in handy, and would probably alleviate traffic on both 24 and Highway 6 south for years in the future.

[BusyBerliner]

You know, I was just thinking... maybe instead of building a highway, Waterloo and Brantford should look at inter-city rail service to run between the two "cities"

I absolutely agree. There currently isn't even bus serice between Branford and KW/Cambridge. You have to take a bus to Hamilton and then go to Brantford from there.

The good news is that the proivince has identified the need for a transit link in their growth plan, but this is long term and I haven't heard anything yet. When the time comes though it shouldn't be too difficult - there is already a rail right-of way that runs along the Grand River to Paris and then onto Brantford which could be linked with the Cambridge bus terminal/LRT station.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn246/busyberliner/growthplantransitmap.jpg?t=1216653845

[Rathgrith]

What!!! There isn't even a bus service? I know there is a bus that runs from WLU to WLU Brantford but have no greyhound or other bus service is really sad.

[DHLawrence]

Waterloo Region is completely isolated from its nearest neighbours by public transit. You can't take a bus to Stratford, Brantford, or Guelph. You can take the train to Stratford or Guelph, but for that distance it's hardly worth it when you consider the speed and price.

Eventually we'll need some sort of light or heavy rail or bus system connecting the cities, even if it's just a single diesel rail car that goes back and forth all day. Road expansion will be necessary, but this will mean it won't have to be done as often.

[Cambridgite]

You know, I was just thinking... maybe instead of building a highway, Waterloo and Brantford should look at inter-city rail service to run between the two "cities" (Not sure about Brantford being a city ;)) I doubt GO or VIA would operate it but a private, p3, or a municipal agreement could develop it. Its doesn't have to be high speed but i am sure with these gas prices it is something worth looking at.

I don't think demand for rail service between Cambridge and Brantford & Hamilton is really warranted. Rail is for slugging large numbers of people to one or more centralized locations. I'm sure GO busses connecting downtown Cambridge to dowtown Brantford, McMaster, and downtown Hamilton would be enough. Neither highway 24 or highway 8 (between the cities) warrant enough traffic to need any kind of right-of-way.

[mark76]

Waterloo Region is completely isolated from its nearest neighbours by public transit. You can't take a bus to Stratford, Brantford, or Guelph. You can take the train to Stratford or Guelph, but for that distance it's hardly worth it when you consider the speed and price.

Eventually we'll need some sort of light or heavy rail or bus system connecting the cities, even if it's just a single diesel rail car that goes back and forth all day. Road expansion will be necessary, but this will mean it won't have to be done as often.

I agree.Highway 7 towards Guelph is packed in both ways.Maybe and just maybe when those city guys could call up a meeting and do something whats best for public.

I think,especially bus service between Kitchener and Guelph along Hwy 7 would ease congestion ,but hey why make things easy while they can be more complicated?? We have to burn senseless amount of gas instead having nice bus service ( at least during rushing hour).

In other hand, commuters are bit spoiled and want to have convinience and luxury while they drive to work.Maybe they aren`t since there is no alternatives and options.

I can bet if you put competetive price for bus tickets those busses would be full success!!!

[waterloowarrior]

Waterloo Region is completely isolated from its nearest neighbours by public transit. You can't take a bus to Stratford, Brantford, or Guelph. You can take the train to Stratford or Guelph, but for that distance it's hardly worth it when you consider the speed and price.

Eventually we'll need some sort of light or heavy rail or bus system connecting the cities, even if it's just a single diesel rail car that goes back and forth all day. Road expansion will be necessary, but this will mean it won't have to be done as often.

there is bus service between Kitchener and Guelph... 11 buses a day (one way) sometimes
two buses each way for stratford

The train is quite unreliable as well (Kitchener to Guelph/G-Town etc) it gets held up by freight traffic and accidents too much, we need major investments in that corridor (hopefully we'll get it through the GO study)

[Rathgrith]

I don't think demand for rail service between Cambridge and Brantford & Hamilton is really warranted. Rail is for slugging large numbers of people to one or more centralized locations. I'm sure GO busses connecting downtown Cambridge to dowtown Brantford, McMaster, and downtown Hamilton would be enough. Neither highway 24 or highway 8 (between the cities) warrant enough traffic to need any kind of right-of-way.

I know, if anything it should be a bus service first. But I think you would be surprised by warranting something. If you build something, they will come. Especially at these gas prices. Either a GO bus system or something like it. In the future a O-train like set up would be nice between to run between Waterloo, Brantford, and Guelph. All I'm saying is that I would rather see rail between the cities as opposed to a freeway.

[kwoldtimer]

I know, if anything it should be a bus service first. But I think you would be surprised by warranting something. If you build something, they will come. Especially at these gas prices. Either a GO bus system or something like it. In the future a O-train like set up would be nice between to run between Waterloo, Brantford, and Guelph. All I'm saying is that I would rather see rail between the cities as opposed to a freeway.

You may be right, but travel patterns would have to evolve considerably along with urban growth (and then how do you get around upon arrival? - none of these cities has great public transit - yet). From K-W, most travel is to the east (Guelph, Brampton, Mississaugua, Toronto), or west to Stratford. I think Cambridge is a bit different but, from K-W, private travel south to Brantford, south-east to Hamilton (unless on way to Niagara and border) and even south-west to London is not all that heavy. I don't think it is all that uncommon for someone to live their entire life in K-W and never to have been to Brantford or even to Hamilton or London (not me - I have been to London several times, Brantford at least once. and I am sure my parents took me to Hamilton once when I was very young!:jester: ). Before the 401 was built (yes there was such a time :yes: ) day shopping trips by bus to Hamilton were fairly common, but that is long past. Maybe an improved highway link between Cambridge and Brantford to link the 401 and 403 would begin to change things, but train links seem a long way off.

[jcollins]

there is bus service between Kitchener and Guelph... 11 buses a day (one way) sometimes


I cant think of it off hand, but is the only pick up between here and guelph downtown?

Would a carpool type parking lot somewhere close to 7 increase popularity?

[ikerrin]

I don't think demand for rail service between Cambridge and Brantford & Hamilton is really warranted. Rail is for slugging large numbers of people to one or more centralized locations. I'm sure GO busses connecting downtown Cambridge to dowtown Brantford, McMaster, and downtown Hamilton would be enough. Neither highway 24 or highway 8 (between the cities) warrant enough traffic to need any kind of right-of-way.

I don't know how we can continue to think this way!!

There are times when people say, Canada is not like Europe so we should just accept buses, but if ever there was a case when this was not true, it is on this route.

There should be an hourly highh-speed electric rail connecting between KW, Hamilton, St Kits, Niagara, Buffalo at 200kph speeds. And other routes between TO - KW and TO-Hamilton. These should be the first routes in the Ontario Quebec High-Speed rail corridor. Its stupid to say that there are not enough trips between these cities. The reason that there are not is because it takes an hour along a country road to get make a short trip.

These routes have European density and they are all inter-connected. downtown to downtown service would put an emphasis on ... downtown and redevelopment would occur downtown and the burbs would be left to atrophy.

How can we continue to think like this. No wonder we have a braindrain. What person with any cosmopolitan urge wants to live in the exurban soup that is the Gold Horshoe!:hell:

[jcollins]

Highway 24 replacement returns to council

September 08, 2008
Record staff

CAMBRIDGE

Provincial officials are trying again to replace congested and accident-prone Highway 24 between Cambridge and Brantford. A study begun two years ago produced a recommended route east of Cambridge and the existing highway. In June, Queen's Park shelved the study, after opponents said the road between highways 401 and 403 would have to cross the province's nondevelopment greenbelt between Waterloo Region and the Greater Toronto Area. A new study was commissioned, this time looking at a swath of land farther to the west, bisected by the existing Highway 24. Provincial highway officials will be at Cambridge city hall tonight to kick off the new study process, which includes public meetings later in the month. The city meeting starts at 7 p.m. in new city hall, 50 Dickson St.

[DHLawrence]

I hope they do something about it soon; there needs to be a better way to connect the two highways than Highway 6.

[notmyfriends]

Why not just turn highway 6 into a freeway? They just made it come up the "mountain" as such, so what's wrong with going all the way?

[mark76]

highway 424 should be done.there is group of people who oppose that.I understand them nobody wants more traffic in front of their yard.

hwy #6 especially Hanlon Parkway is getting worse and worse.anyway here is the list of accidents on provincial hwy`s:

PROVINCIAL HIGHWAYS WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FATALITIES, 2000-2006

6 Hamilton - 24 km, 18 killed

69 Parry Sound - 25 km, 15 killed

7 New Hamburg - Shakespeare - 25 km, 14 killed

401 Kingston - 22 km, 11 killed

3 Niagara - 22 km, 11 killed

401 Ayr-Drumbo - 25 km, 11 killed

11 South River (Algonquin Park region) - 25 km, 11 killed

11 Gravenhurst - 23 km, 10 killed

17 Kenora - 23 km, 10 killed

401 Leeds and Grenville - 23 km, 10 killed

SOURCE: MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENT DATA SYSTEM, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION LINEAR HIGHWAY REFERENCING SYSTEM

'KILLER 6'

THERE HAVE BEEN 22 PEOPLE KILLED IN 17 FATAL COLLISIONS ON HIGHWAY 6 BETWEEN 2000 AND 2007.

August, 10, 2000

Hamilton's Eric Wiegel, 37, was killed after losing control of his southbound vehicle near Clappison's Corners. It slid into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer.

October 14, 2000

Eleven-year-old Jesse Duke of Guelph was killed after a drunk driver slammed into the back of his mother's vehicle. His mother, Jennifer Fish, 42, and her husband, Kerry Mullen, were also injured. Tammy Marche, 28, of London was sentenced to four years in prison for impaired driving causing death.

December 20, 2001

Ronald Jago, 58, of Kitchener and Alan Morey, 46, of St. Catharines both died when their vehicles collided near Morriston. Morey had lost control of his SUV on an ice-covered bridge and slid into the path of Jago's oncoming pickup.

November 6, 2002

Ryan MacFarlane, 20, of Hamilton was killed after his southbound pickup collided head-on with a northbound tractor-trailer north of Flamborough.

June 1, 2003

Daniel Harold Rudd, 20, of Hamilton was killed as he walked into the southbound lanes of the highway late at night and was struck by a car.

The driver, a Hamilton man, wasn't injured.

January 26, 2004

A 75-year-old man was killed when his Honda collided with a GMC van in the northbound lanes in Flamborough during strong winds and blowing snow.

February 15, 2004

Katie Patricia Ferguson, 22, of Puslinch was killed while travelling north near Carlisle. She lost control of her car and swerved into the southbound lanes, where it was struck by another vehicle. A five-year-old boy in the second vehicle was seriously injured.

May 1, 2004

Bonnie Heikoop, 27, of Mount Pleasant was killed after her northbound vehicle went through a red light at an intersection and collided with a southbound transport truck that had stopped at the light.

July 28, 2005

Waterdown's Paul McArthur, 38, was killed after a northbound transport truck slammed into the back of the stalled dump truck McArthur was assisting. The dump truck had run out of gas and McArthur, who operated a mobile service station, was working on the truck when it was hit from behind on a steep section of the highway up the Niagara Escarpment known as "The Cut."

December 15, 2005

Kathryn Lawson, 37, of Hamilton was killed when her southbound vehicle crossed into the northbound lanes in a snowstorm and struck a transport truck. She was returning home from a dress rehearsal with the Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Choir.

December 22, 2005

Five people died after Hamilton's Vivian Porto, 43, lost control of her minivan in blowing snow and crossed into the northbound lanes. Porto, along with her son Francesco, 13, daughter Azzadine and niece Emily, both 10, were killed. So was the driver of the other car Bobby Fox, 40, of Cambridge.

July 2, 2006

Mark Severn, 50, of Stoney Creek was killed when he lost control of his Corvette while heading south in Flamborough. Police suspected he may have fallen asleep before his car veered into the northbound lanes and struck an SUV.

August 30, 2006

Burlington's Alex Dobbins, 20, was killed when his southbound sedan crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit a transport truck.

March 1, 2007

Cody Lott, 19, of Guelph was heading south on Highway 6 when his Pontiac Sunfire crossed into oncoming traffic, striking a northbound pickup truck head-on. The pickup driver, John Cockburn, 56, of Burlington, was seriously injured.

August 27, 2007

Elmira's Ryan Taylor, 30, was killed after his northbound SUV collided with another northbound vehicle and skidded into the southbound lanes, striking a car and a pickup truck.

September 16, 2007

A woman believed to be in her mid-20s from Hamilton was struck and killed after walking into the path of a Chevy Cobalt near Concession 5 West.

October 19, 2007

A 65-year-old Kilbride woman died after she was struck head-on by a car that crossed the centre line.

IMPACT

Saturday:

Costly crashes

Today:

Ontario's killer stretch

Tomorrow:

Deadly drivers

Wednesday:

Fatal distractions

[DHLawrence]

Why not just turn highway 6 into a freeway? They just made it come up the "mountain" as such, so what's wrong with going all the way?

Apparently they've been talking about connecting the four-lane section of Highway 6 to the Hanlon for about twenty years. I think it needs to happen--either that, or bypass it completely. People won't like it, but we desperately need a new Highway 7, an upgraded 6, and a bypass for the current Highway 24. Those are necessities, even if we introduce trains or regular buses along these routes.

[metropolis]

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/411820

September 09, 2008
Kevin Swayze
RECORD STAFF

CAMBRIDGE

Motorists shouldn't hold their breath waiting for a fix to congested Highway 24 between Cambridge and Brantford.

Provincial officials have started work on a strategic plan to move people and goods between the two cities, but it's not likely to be done before 2013.

A detailed design of whatever transit solution is approved would take longer still, said Fred Leech, the Transportation Ministry's western region planning manager. The province would then have to approve a construction.

Leech said that "2015, 2016 would be an optimistic date" for the start of any construction.

The study area for the strategic plan is bounded by Trussler Road in the west, the Hamilton city limits in the east, and Highway 401 to the north and Highway 403 to the south.

Leech was at council last night to talk about the new "Brantford to Cambridge transportation corridor'' study. It replaces a Highway 24 corridor study started two years ago into how to improve the overburdened, crash-prone highway between Cambridge and Brantford.

Queen's Park scrapped that study in June, after opponents took aim at a recommendation to build a highway between Highways 401 and 403 through a protected greenbelt east of Cambridge.

Local politician were also lobbying to move the study area west to include Trussler Road, which has long been proposed as a truck route between the 401 and 403 around Ayr. The new study area also includes downtown Brantford.

The old study had a budget of $2.25 million, of which $1.5 million was spent before the study was scrapped.

The rest of that budget will be used to prepare the terms of reference for the new study, which the Environment Minister will be asked to approve next year, Leech said. Once that's done, a budget can be set.

A series of initial public comment sessions on the study are planned: Sept. 29, at Brant Park Inn, Brantford; Oct. 1, at the St. George arena; Oct. 6 at Future Inn, Cambridge; and Oct. 7 at the Ayr fire hall. All run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

kswayze@therecord.com

[gghtransit]

What I find amusing is that the province had planned, and bought the land for, a Highway 8 bypass around the west side of Cambridge, then cancelled the entire thing. Now, many years later we're looking potentially looking at a new west-side bypass when they should've just built the original Highway 8 Bypass years ago.

Typical government.

[DHLawrence]

The Highway 8 bypass was planned to go through Cruickston Park; that's part of why it never happened--too much environmental disruption. It'll probably face a little less opposition farther out from town.

[Cambridgite]

Frankly, if we are even considering a north-south highway, my proposition would be the following:

Run the highway north from Brantford, curving west, just south of Galt, curving up around West Galt, northwest into southwest Kitchener, and converging onto Trussler. Provide interchanges at places such as the 403, Dundas street, Water street, St. Andrews street, Cedar street, the 401, New Dundee Road, Fischer-Hallman Road, and converging onto Trussler just before Bleams.

Why? There is no significant north south highway along the west side of our region (and SW Kitchener is the fastest growing part) and there is only one sensible way to get into KW from Cambridge. Yes, some people use Homer Watson but highway 8 is the dominant route by far. West Galt is very isolated, not only from KW, but even from the rest of Cambridge in general, given its geographic features, the road system, and the way the urban growth boundaries are designed. It would likely also have the effect of significantly easing the north-south traffic in Cambridge.

[mark76]

can`t agree more cambridgite, even today hwy 8 going towards 401 get clogged in the morning.
I commute everyday all the way to old hwy 6 and for almost 4 years i got sick of it.

For example yesterday around 5 pm ,there was a crash on 401: hwy 8 toward toronto was a mess!!

What we need is an alternative ,maybe new exit or GO.

We can disucss about this for days ,and still thing will be the same.

I think MTO does not have any plans to build one more interchange for K-W.

By the way there is updated city of kitchener sign which says population 220 k:banana:

[Cambridgite]

For example yesterday around 5 pm ,there was a crash on 401: hwy 8 toward toronto was a mess!!

Yeah, I was stuck in it on the way back to Cambridge yesterday. The iXpress had to take a detour down King street, Sportworld, Maple Grove, and Highway 24 to get to the Bridgecam centre. I saw them doing work on the overpass to the 401 earlier in the day, which surely didn't help.

What we need is an alternative ,maybe new exit or GO.

We can disucss about this for days ,and still thing will be the same.

I think MTO does not have any plans to build one more interchange for K-W.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we should solve all our traffic problems with new highways. On the contrary, I wish we'd invest more in a revamped transit system (the proposed transit lane on highway 8 is an example). I'm just saying that if we do indeed build a new highway, we should utilize those infrastructure dollars to the fullest. I wasn't even just thinking about the improved connection to the 401 from the theoretical new highway. I was actually thinking more about improving the northwest-southeast flow within the Region. Inadvertantly however, it would also mean improved connections to the 401 and 403 (Brantford and Hamilton).

By the way there is updated city of kitchener sign which says population 220 k:banana:

Ah, I still remember the good ol' days when it said 180k (about 10 years ago).

[notmyfriends]

By the way there is updated city of kitchener sign which says population 220 k:banana:

That's funny, I noticed just yesterday that the sign on King by the hospital to 220K.

[DHLawrence]

Corridor study back to square one (http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/article/143082):



Cambridge residents seeking relief from heavy truck traffic through the Galt core will have to wait as much as a decade to see help from the province.

On Monday night, officials from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) told members of the city's general committee they are going back to "square one" on the Brantford to Cambridge transportation corridor study.

That study, started more than two years ago, was supposed to find ways to steer heavy intercity truck traffic away from the Galt core and Highway 24 in Cambridge.

The "fresh start" comes in the wake of growing opposition from municipalities, community groups and residents objecting to planned improvements to the existing Highway 24 and the creation of a new two-lane road connecting highways 401 and 403 on the east side of Brantford and Cambridge.

MTO district manager Fred Leach explained in his presentation to council that with the agreement of the mayors of Brant County, North Dumfries, Blanchard-Blenheim, Oxford County, Brantford, Cambridge and the Waterloo Region chair, the analysis area has been revamped. It now excludes the provincial greenbelt, east of Cambridge, and has been pushed west across the Grand River to the boundaries of North and South Dumfries townships.

At the beginning of the month the MTO released a new draft terms of reference for the project's environmental assessment which will be presented at a series of public information centres taking place in the next few weeks. The local public meetings takes place Oct. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Future Inn in Cambridge , and Oct. 7 at Ayr Fire Hall in Ayr.

Leach explained that the new study will take a holistic approach to addressing the long-term transportation needs of the area to 2031. It will come up with a

transportation development strategy that looks at everything from cars and trucks, to bus service and GO Transit. The strategy will also set out who will build what when it comes to developing the transportation network.

Following the public information centres the public will have until Nov. 14 to comment on the proposed terms of reference for the new study. Ministry officials will submit the final draft of the terms of reference to the Minister of the Environment early in 2009. The study is slated to wrap up in 2013 when it will be presented to cabinet for final approval.

Once approved, Leach said the provincial elements of the strategy would be implemented only as funding is available, but the earliest anything could likely be built would be 2016.

During his presentation Leach emphasized that the information collected to date would be used as background information for the new study. He also noted that MTO's plans will be integrated with those of the various municipalities.

"Just because we are starting over doesn't mean all construction will stop," he said. "Projects being done by the city and region will still go forward."

City chief administrative officer Don Smith tells the Times: "The connection between Highway 401 and 403 is very important to Cambridge for a number of economic reasons and we're hoping this study will move ahead as quickly as possible."

Smith said discussions are continuing on the development of the proposed south boundary road connecting highways 24 and 8.

"It's a regional project, so it wouldn't be affected," he said.

Any plans for the eastern bypass around Cambridge are now on hold.

[mark76]

cambridgite,still and seems long way to go to happen something really major in this region.Kitchener geo position is a bit away from 401,and would be more difficult to make new hwy.Reasons : money ,then somebody found there is habitat of salamanders, dispute with aboriginal people etc,etc.Also to add politics to this ,you have an idea things are going slow.

What I meant and its always happening is whenever there is crash on 401 to toronto ,hwy 8 is backed up all the way to Ottawa St. exit in Kitchener.
Yes we can expand more and more hwy 8 but we need some sort of alternative, I am not asking for new hwy just one more interchange.

As for c of k sign ,yes i saw one by the GRH on old King.
When I came to Kitchener in 2001 it was like 185 k.

[gghtransit]

The Highway 8 bypass was planned to go through Cruickston Park; that's part of why it never happened--too much environmental disruption. It'll probably face a little less opposition farther out from town.

I'm not entirely sure about that, Cruickston Park didn't even exist until many years after the Highway 8 ByPass Plan was shelved. It was only within the last 10 years or so that Cruickston Park was designated as such, before that it was simply private farmland.

Methinks, there's more to it.

[DHLawrence]

That's the area it was supposed to go through, anyway; it may have been private, but it was still a potential route.

[gghtransit]

That's the area it was supposed to go through, anyway; it may have been private, but it was still a potential route.

I know what the route was, all I'm saying is that it wasn't the fact that the route went through this area that the project was cancelled, since none of the land was protected at the time and wasn't desginated as a park and/or protected area (or anything remotely similar) until many years after the project was cancelled.

Having said that, we likely wouldn't be having this Highway 24 study now if this Highway 8 bypass had been built back in the day (aside from perhaps a connection between the southern limit of the bypass and the 403).