Perth East Has Concerns

Perth East took a lot of time to review the last material presented by the Consultants. Below are their itemized concerns. Perth East Comments on HWY 7 Corridor Update April 2012 - Follow-Up to Special Meeting (1)

News Release from MPP

NEWS RELEASE

Randy Pettapiece, MPP

Perth-Wellington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 5, 2012

Province must listen to Highway 7/8 concerns, says Pettapiece

(Queen’s Park) – Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece spoke again today in the Ontario legislature about the future of Highway 7/8.

Pettapiece made a statement to call the government’s attention to their project. He wanted to stress the need for the Minister of Transportation to show he’s listening to the wide-ranging concerns that his constituents have expressed. The following is the text of his statement:

“Many of my constituents have concerns about the government’s plans for Highway 7 and 8. It matters especially to those who live along the route between New Hamburg and Stratford.

“Here are just a few of the issues that matter to them: heritage preservation, safety considerations, the environment, regional traffic flow, movement of agricultural equipment, the impact on residents and businesses in Shakespeare, fair consideration of property values, among many more concerns.

“These issues matter to them, and they matter to me.

“In December, I requested a comprehensive briefing by Ministry of Transportation officials on the plan for Highway 7 and 8. In January, that briefing took place. I expressed many of the views and concerns I’ve heard from constituents. In February, I met with ABC – the Agriculture Business Communities Group.

“In March, I attended Perth County Council’s joint meeting with the councils of Perth East and Perth South. I listened as councillors spoke up with tough questions for ministry staff and AECOM staff.

“Here’s what I’m asking of the Minister of Transportation: He needs to listen carefully to my constituents’ views. The minister needs to do his homework. He needs to show he’s listening, and he needs to show us that our concerns are being addressed.

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

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Randy Pettapiece, MPP

Phone 519-272-0660 / 1-800-461-9701

Email randy.pettapiececo@pc.ola.org

The numbers don't add up- Stratford Gazette

Wednesday, April, 11, 2012 - 11:11:43 AM

Highway 7/8 projections, numbers called into question

Jeff Heuchert, Stratford Gazette

The figures that have been presented to the public to support construction of a new Highway 7/8 don’t add up to Paul Gras.

The Perth South resident said the Ministry of Transportation and its consultants have used inaccurate data to justify a new four-lane highway between New Hamburg and Stratford.

And, he suggested, once projections around population growth and traffic volumes have been properly adjusted, the need for the project isn’t as evident.

Gras addressed members Perth County council last week, where he asked them to withdraw their support for the highway study, noting the ministry and its project team have “fallen out of acceptable levels of accuracy” and have “never proven the need (for a new highway).

“If there’s something in this deal we don’t like, politically, we have to put pressure on them and put a stop to that,” he added.

Rather than endorse the request from Gras, council agreed to send his research to the ministry for comment and to verify the accuracy of his claims.

According to Gras, the ministry anticipates Stratford’s population hitting 35,600 by 2031 – the highway’s target date. But, based on Statistics Canada’s 2011 report and the area’s growth rate, he suggested that number is likely to be around 32,390.

The ministry is also projecting about 35,000 vehicles will travel the new highway each day, and, depending on its design, the road will be able to accommodate up to 40,000 vehicles per day.

But, “with population predictions too high, these volume predictions are still high,” Gras argued, noting even with exaggerated numbers, a four-lane road would exceed traffic predictions.

Gras also questioned whether a new highway would be much safer, noting the corridor is already below the provincial average in collisions.

The ministry and its team are in the process of finalizing a preliminary design for the highway, which would run west along the existing 7/8 before dipping south to avoid Shakespeare, eventually connecting with Line 33 into Stratford.

In the summer, the ministry will hold additional public information centres to gather feedback.

But given the one-on-one nature of those meetings, Gras said he would like to see the addition of question and answer sessions. These would give the public, media and politicians an opportunity to hear all of the questions and concerns, and hold the project team more accountable, he added.

Also last week representatives from the ministry and AECOM visited Perth East council to further respond to councillors’ questions. They previously attended a county-wide meeting back on March 22.

Perth East councillor Bob McMillan said it was with “guarded optimism” that he believes there is room for future discussions between the team and municipal leaders as the project proceeds.

Numbers call everything into question

Pressure grows on MTO plan
MIKE BEITZ Staff reporter
The Beacon Herald
7 Apr 2012

A Perth South man is urging county council to help “turn back the clock” on the proposed Hwy. 7/ 8 expansion between Stratford and New Hamburg. In a presentation that leaned heavily on numbers, statistics, charts and tables, Paul Gras suggested the... read more...

HIGHWAY Traffic volumes questioned
Mike. beitz@ sunmedia. ca
The Beacon Herald
7 Apr 2012

Specifically, Gras complained about “inaccuracies” in the ministry’s numbers relating to projected population growth in Stratford, traffic volumes anticipated between Stratford and New Hamburg and collision rates along that stretch. Referring to 2011... read more...