[All] Your WR Record letter, "Cambridge was failing"

[Robert Milligan]

Paul,

I am writing this email because you asked me to communicate by email.  
But I would also really like to have an exploratory (and more  
interactive) telephone conversation with you. (519-696-2288)

Let me say how very much I appreciate citizens who are thinking about  
our Region's potential LRT then expressing their concerns in  
assertive, well-written letters to the editor.

As a person who has likely invested more time and effort in this Rapid  
Transit project (and earlier in Regional roads) than any other 10  
people -- and who lobbied for the integration of KT and CT -- I see  
the need for more citizens to do the necessary transit research so as  
to optimize their constructive feedback and IDEAS.

As I have had many LRT (or RTI) discussions with Doug Craig -- and  
even more with Ken Seiling -- I am in a good position (especially as I  
live in the "neutral territory" of New Dundee) to interpret their  
views (and those of other Councillors and staff).

And I fear that the Region's and K-W's unfair treatment of Cambridge  
over the years -- which seems to be too motivated (even unconsciously)  
by trying to keep an "uppity"  "second class" community in its place  
-- could have dire consequences for the integrity and reputation of  
our Region.

A worst outcome could be that Cambridge soon seeks successfully --  
after a plebiscite -- to become geographically part of Wellington  
County and forms close ties with Guelph aided by a GC LRT along the  
underutilized GEXR/CN tracks (20km x $5M/km = $100M including the LRT  
vehicles).

The University of Waterloo models to all the Region and beyond the  
keystone values of Innovation & Collaboration. "In the next decade,  
the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and  
the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create  
solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow."
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/aboutuw/

The practice of many Regional Councillors -- and some staff -- seem to  
imply contrary values.

This is demonstrated by the great inability of these councillors and  
staff to collaborate with Cambridge -- to the Region's advantage in so  
many ways. (Councillor Jane Brewer's Cinderella comment about  
Cambridge was viciously irresponsible -- and probably orchestrated by  
somebody else! Shame on you Jane and ... !)

Further indication comes from their lack of support for an Innovative  
-- and more cost-effective --  LRT system design, Instead, they  
blindly-support an excessive tax-money-wasting and likely poorly-used  
white elephant  LRT plan.

Such unproductive values and actions surely will  diminish our  
Region's Pioneering Innovation image around the World.

To be more specific, the Regional & K-W modus operandi seems to be, "  
Stop complaining about your unfair treatment or we will punish you!".  
(Carl Zehr's talk a few months ago to the Cambridge CofC in support of  
a Cambridge GO-Train was a welcomed exception -- good for you Carl.)

(And I look forward to Ken Seiling speaking similarly such as by  
supporting a more cost-effective LRT to Cambridge now! Perhaps God  
will whisper such a suggestion in his ear soon perhaps as Ken plays  
his heavenly music at Waterloo's First United Church. I fear that once  
Ken gets angry at a person or community, only God can change that  
anger in his heart to forgiveness and love!)

In a July 2010 letter the Record, Claudette detailed many of these mal- 
treatments by the Region (and Province), http://www.therecord.com/opinion/letters/article/296207--cambridge-deserves-a-fair-share 
.

As I end this email, let me say that my LRT research -- involving  
mostly proven transit and
renewable energy IDEAS -- suggests that a more thoughtful type of  
staging (I might call it Smart LRT as opposed to ... ) would enable us  
to extend the LRT along a shorter, faster, safer, much less  
expensive,  ,,, route (& of greater capacity) to the Ainslie Terminal.

Such an extended and truly rapid routing (with express bus cross  
connections) would attract significant numbers of working middle-class  
drivers from their cars to lessen traffic congestion.
And intensification goals would be better met -- but more slowly  
realized because of the Provinces (necessary) -- and affected Federal  
-- funding shortfall.

We could have a more functionally more successful LRT at a very  
livable cost -- and treat Cambridge more fairly in the process. But  
unfortunately Ken will lead the attack against such an approach as he  
did before, during and now after the election -- and for reasons  
irrational !

My next LRT Report will detail such an approach -- and I would hope  
for feedback from you on the draft.

Regards,
Robert


PS:

!, The pro-LRT group is meeting in dowmtowm Waterloo 6;30 tonight at  
the restaurant,
Whole Lot-A Gelata near (south of) Wordsworth Bookstore.

2. Here is a copy of a year-old RT Report of mine:






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