MTO Opts for the Path of Least Resistance

Editorial

By JOHN KASTNER -Stratford Beacon Herald

When it to comes to the greatest dilemmas perhaps there are just no right answers.
And so it is with the expansion of Hwy. 7/8 from Stratford to New Hamburg.
The notion or driving four or five lanes through the heart of the hamlet of Shakespeare is beyond absurd but for a while, that was the preferred path.

Sanity has prevailed and according to details released Monday night the preferred path now swings just south of Shakespeare and heads into the south end of Stratford along Pork St.
Saving Shakespeare was the motivation for the citizens' groups, protests, signs and yellow ribbons, so it would appear the prime objective has been reached.

But others will argue that ripping up hundreds, possibly thousands of acres of some of the best farmland in the world is not much better. Regardless, the new path will certainly be viewed as the lesser of two evils by most -- unless of course you are one of the farmers who now sees the prospect of having his farm cut in half by a freeway.

For those farmers it now becomes hard to plan, plant, build or refinance when the expansion of the highway hangs over their collective heads like the sword of Damocles. But if the highway has to expand, and that seems to be a conclusion that most have resigned themselves to, then it has to go somewhere.

Logic would dictate that it needs to take a route that will have the least amount of negative impact. To that end, Shakespeare was off the table and enter the rural route.

The other fly in the ointment is the presence of three significant historical sites. The Fryfogel Inn of course along with the Lingelbach church and cemetery.

It has been stated many times that it may be years, possibly decades before the province tackles this project in earnest. On the other hand, the process has to start somewhere and defining a path is the obvious first step. Now that we move closer to that stage we can draw two conclusions from this elongated process.

On one hand, it's hard to believe, almost disconcerting, that anyone ever considered going through Shakespeare as a remotely viable option. Conversely, it's somewhat comforting to see that the decision makers could be swayed not only by protests and opposition, but by some common sense as well.

The affected farming community will be upset by the new path, and rightfully so, but there's no question, the new route beats the alternative.
Article ID# 2936887

New Route Avoids Towns Eats Farms

By LAURA CUDWORTH STAFF REPORTER -Stratford Beeacon Herald Jan. 18th, 2011

Shakespeare will be spared but some historical sites and Perth East farmland will fall victim to an expanded highway.

The Ministry of Transportation unveiled the route that the new multi-lane highway likely will take at a public meeting at the Shakespeare and District Optimist Hall Monday night. There will be another meeting tonight from 4 to 9 p.m.

The route follows Hwy. 7/8 until about 2.5 kilometres east of Shakespeare. It dips south and follows the train tracks and eventually veers further south through a bush lot and farmland, then follows a municipal drain before it connects with Line 33 or Pork Rd., where it bypasses Stratford.

It was a relief for many residents to see the highway move south of Shakespeare. There was a strong lobby by village residents after some proposals had five lanes go right through the centre of the community.

"I'm very happy to see the MTO has found a way of bypassing the village," said Dave Cole, chairperson of Shakespeare Area Residents Association.
"The key is to make sure the smallest number of people are impacted. I believe this is a step in the right direction."

Though Cole was happy the route doesn't go through Shakespeare, he said he does feel for those who will be affected by the highway. Some of those will be farmers. Land will be eaten up when the highway follows 7/8 and more will be affected when it dips to the south. Gary West's property won't be touched by the new route, but he was left wondering how farmers who are affected will manage.

"It's going to be tough if you have to move machinery from one side (of the highway) to the other," he said. He wondered if combines and other heavy equipment would be allowed on the new highway at all.

The Agriculture Business Community of Perth East, Perth South and Wilmot West has 300 members and has been well organized and actively advocating to protect as much farmland as possible.

Sharon Weitzel wasn't prepared to speak for the group immediately after seeing the plan last night.

"We have a large membership that needs to digest this," she said. "All I can say is it goes through a lot of farmland."

History buffs have some concerns about the plan, too. The highway expansion goes past the Fryfogel Inn as well as Lingelbach cemetery and church. All of those properties are already close to the road. "It's not very positive. I'm sure we'll direct some concerns to the Ministry of Transportation," said Ian Taylor, a member of the Perth County Historical Foundation.
He also had concerns about the impact on the railway if the Canadian National Railway wants to expand the tracks.

Charles Organ, MTO project manager, said the ministry could mitigate the impact on the Fryfogel Inn by expanding on the north side. "We recognize the historical significance of the Fryfogel Inn and respect that and we'll factor that in as the study moves on," he said.
Organ called the Lingelbach Church and cemetery a pinch point.

"We tend to steer away from cemeteries," he said, though the impact on the church would also be looked at. Organ said there was positive feedback at the meeting and unless new and significant information comes forward, the process will likely move to the next stage, which is a preliminary design.

For his part, Cole is satisfied with the process. "I do believe the system works. The MTO asked for feedback-- every time we answered and we were heard," he said.

After tonight's meeting, the ministry will be accepting more feedback.
The next meeting is scheduled for late spring and another in late 2011 will focus on the preferred preliminary design. The study should be complete by 2012.

lcudworth@bowesnet.com

The MTO Answers Some Questions

Recently the MTO finally responded to our first letter challenging some of the information they sent us. Below is the second letter we received from the regional office. ABC is not entirely happy with this letter either and will continue to press the issue.

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Ministry Response Letter Dec 2010

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Ministry Response Letter Dec 2010 Pg 2