The past weekend ABC had a letter to the editor published in the Stratford Beacon (Saturday Jan. 21, 2012). It is in response to an editorial in the paper.
Letter to Editor 2
Monday, January 23, 2012
MTO seeks highway design guidance
By LAURA CUDWORTH, Staff Reporter (Beacon Herald)
The Ministry of Transportation is seeking information from the agricultural community regarding farm equipment and travel patterns for farmers before starting the design phase of the Hwy. 7/8 expansion.
The chosen route follows Hwy. 7/8 until about 2.5 kilometres east of Shakespeare. At that point it drops south and follows the train tracks and eventually veers further south through a bush lot and farmland. It then runs along a municipal drain before it connects with Line 33 (Pork Rd.). Read MORE
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Reg. 603 and the Farm Guide
These two documents: The Farm Guide and Reg. 603 of the Highway Traffic Act have been provided for information.
Please note the MTO has confirmed as of December 2011, there are no plans to add any other sections of highway 7 and 8 to Reg. 603.
Highway Traffic Act
Farm Guide
Please note the MTO has confirmed as of December 2011, there are no plans to add any other sections of highway 7 and 8 to Reg. 603.
Highway Traffic Act
Farm Guide
Monday, October 24, 2011
Perth East asks MTO for an update
The following report was shared with the groups in Perth County, who have been involved in the Highway discussions and EA process. It was solicited by Perth East Council.
From Glenn Schwendinger, COA:
It had been some time since we had received an update from the MTO and it appears that some of the target dates which the MTO had referenced in the past had come and gone without any additional information or notice being received.
As such, the decision was made to send a request on behalf of the Township to the MTO to request an update. A response was received, and this was forwarded to Council last evening. The attached report was received for information by Council.
7 2 1 Cao Report Highway 7 8-1
From Glenn Schwendinger, COA:
It had been some time since we had received an update from the MTO and it appears that some of the target dates which the MTO had referenced in the past had come and gone without any additional information or notice being received.
As such, the decision was made to send a request on behalf of the Township to the MTO to request an update. A response was received, and this was forwarded to Council last evening. The attached report was received for information by Council.
7 2 1 Cao Report Highway 7 8-1
Ministry Plans More Consultations with Farmers.
Oct 2011 The Beacon Herald - LAURA CUDWORTH Staff Reporter lcudworth@bowesnet.com
As a result, community meetings have been postponed to early 2012
The Ministry of Transportation will hold more meetings with area farmers affected by the contentious Hwy. 7/ 8 expansion later this fall.
As a result, community meetings have been postponed to early 2012. The route the MTO unveiled in January follows Hwy. 7/ 8 until about 2.5 kilometres east of Shakespeare. It then drops south and follows the train tracks and eventually veers further south through a bush lot and farmland and then runs along a municipal drain before it connects with Line 33 ( Pork Rd.), where it bypasses Stratford.
That route spares Shakespeare but will eat into farmland which has been highly contentious.
“ Over the course of the study, the Agricultural Business Community ( of Perth East, South Perth and Wilmot West) has forwarded a number of concerns that were considered during the route selection ( planning) phase. Now that we have a selected route, we will be exploring various ways to address their concerns in more detail. We are currently planning to undertake additional informal consultations that will be focused on obtaining more specific information from farm producers and developing ideas to soften any potential impacts,” said Charles Organ, senior project manager for the MTO, in an e-mail.
The meetings with farmers and ABC will likely not impact the route because the planning phase is complete.
There is no chance the highway will be expanded through Shakespeare.
“MTO is proceeding with the preferred route that was presented at the last round of PICS (public consultations) held in January 2011. The route does not go through Shakespeare,” Organ said.
As a result, community meetings have been postponed to early 2012
The Ministry of Transportation will hold more meetings with area farmers affected by the contentious Hwy. 7/ 8 expansion later this fall.
As a result, community meetings have been postponed to early 2012. The route the MTO unveiled in January follows Hwy. 7/ 8 until about 2.5 kilometres east of Shakespeare. It then drops south and follows the train tracks and eventually veers further south through a bush lot and farmland and then runs along a municipal drain before it connects with Line 33 ( Pork Rd.), where it bypasses Stratford.
That route spares Shakespeare but will eat into farmland which has been highly contentious.
“ Over the course of the study, the Agricultural Business Community ( of Perth East, South Perth and Wilmot West) has forwarded a number of concerns that were considered during the route selection ( planning) phase. Now that we have a selected route, we will be exploring various ways to address their concerns in more detail. We are currently planning to undertake additional informal consultations that will be focused on obtaining more specific information from farm producers and developing ideas to soften any potential impacts,” said Charles Organ, senior project manager for the MTO, in an e-mail.
The meetings with farmers and ABC will likely not impact the route because the planning phase is complete.
There is no chance the highway will be expanded through Shakespeare.
“MTO is proceeding with the preferred route that was presented at the last round of PICS (public consultations) held in January 2011. The route does not go through Shakespeare,” Organ said.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Mpp sends letter to Minister
Below are pages one and two of a letter from MPP Wilkinson, sent to the Minister of Transportation, which summaries the results of a meeting with the MTO.
JW Letter to MTO Pg 1 Aug 2011
JW Letter to MTO Pg 2 Aug 2011
JW Letter to MTO Pg 1 Aug 2011
JW Letter to MTO Pg 2 Aug 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Fall Update
Fall Update
Earlier this year the Minister of Transportation wrote to ABC. ABC thought long and hard about what was being offered to us by the Minister of Transportation. (See letter at www.hwy7and8.blogspot.com )
A volunteer meeting to consider all options was held. As it was high season for agriculture in a difficult year, we asked for time to consider what the Minister was suggesting. ABC again did more research and had decided to refuse the Minister.
Before we took that final step we asked Mr. Wilkinson, MPP for advice about our response for the Minister. Mr. Wilkinson eventually facilitated a meeting to see if there was any common ground. The letter of Aug 1st is the result.
ABC has held meetings over the summer to try to identify the MTO next steps. At this time the selected route has not been confirmed.
We continue to stress the importance of retaining agricultural land and businesses and the potential impacts to our livelihoods that would result from restricted road access.
More recently we spoke with the MTO Regional Director for the study area about the issues.
A copy of the letter to the Minister of Transportation summarizing the meeting with ABC and MTO staff has been posted to the website.
Read the letter for all the details at : www.hwy7and8.blogspot.com
Earlier this year the Minister of Transportation wrote to ABC. ABC thought long and hard about what was being offered to us by the Minister of Transportation. (See letter at www.hwy7and8.blogspot.com )
A volunteer meeting to consider all options was held. As it was high season for agriculture in a difficult year, we asked for time to consider what the Minister was suggesting. ABC again did more research and had decided to refuse the Minister.
Before we took that final step we asked Mr. Wilkinson, MPP for advice about our response for the Minister. Mr. Wilkinson eventually facilitated a meeting to see if there was any common ground. The letter of Aug 1st is the result.
ABC has held meetings over the summer to try to identify the MTO next steps. At this time the selected route has not been confirmed.
We continue to stress the importance of retaining agricultural land and businesses and the potential impacts to our livelihoods that would result from restricted road access.
More recently we spoke with the MTO Regional Director for the study area about the issues.
A copy of the letter to the Minister of Transportation summarizing the meeting with ABC and MTO staff has been posted to the website.
Read the letter for all the details at : www.hwy7and8.blogspot.com
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