<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">FYI<div>R<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>From: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Robert Milligan <<a href="mailto:mill@continuum.org">mill@continuum.org</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">July 6, 2010 5:59:03 PM GMT-04:00</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">Nancy Button <<a href="mailto:bnancy@region.waterloo.on.ca">bnancy@region.waterloo.on.ca</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Cc: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">RTInfo <<a href="mailto:rtinfo@region.waterloo.on.ca">rtinfo@region.waterloo.on.ca</a>></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face="Helvetica" size="3" color="#000000" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Re: Province of Ontario announces funding for rapid transit</b></font></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div> </div><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Nancy,<div><br></div><div>Glad to see that you now have a participatory website. But it is not the higher level "Linux-creation" type website that could help develop more cost-effective IDEAS. I suspect you think you now have sufficient "approved" knowledge for a successful detailed LRT design -- I suggest otherwise. In fact I fear that your website will mostly be where opposing sides battle each other and some relatively not-yet-sufficiently-informed people ask questions. <b>I hope that it becomes something very positive that I haven't anticipated.</b></div><div><br></div><div>As for the major thought in your LRT news, I agree with staging but of a more appropriate type. If you want the LRT to be an initial success -- as measured by ridership quantitatively and qualitatively (who are the riders beyond the current majority -- students & the working poor) -- then average speed and length of the line are critical in attracting the middle class out of their cars so as to combat traffic jamming. <b>(Keep in mind that LRT critics will mellow as they realize that their worsening traffic jams will be combated by a ridership-successful LRT.</b>)</div><div><br></div><div>Obviously a higher average speed LRT combined with just-in-time bus connections and optimally designed bus routes are all very necessary to have a transit time comparable to one's car.</div><div><br></div><div><b>And having a longer LRT line (a Northfield terminal to Ainslie Terminal) will be especially attractive to middle class riders who have to travel significant distances such as south Cambridge to RIM or Waterloo to ComDev. In a relaxed manner, they would be able to chat with new friends, read a report or newspaper, just enjoy-the-ride, etc. </b></div><div><br></div><div>Serving the malls -- mostly their off-rush-hour underpaid employees -- will do little to alleviate rush "hour" traffic jams.</div><div><br></div><div>So -- using proven rail technology IDEAS, collaboration with GEXR & CP Rail, etc. -- affordably extend the LRT along the rail right-of-way from Nt to AT in the first stage (a "Ridership Corridor") along with an exemplary interconnected "Intensification Corridor" along K-W's King St. Then we will have both Ridership success and a great example of Intensification success for other developers to drool over and pressure for more LRT money!</div><div><br></div><div><b>Yes do staging but like I have already suggested -- or better. Please -- for the sake of the reputation of the Region, all supporting politicians, all involved professionals & academics -- reject (but enhance) your proposed failure-likely staging, i.e.: Stage I -- the very expensive (it costs sooo much more to install tracks along a street), slower, accident prone, low capacity, road space hogging, ... mostly along "Intensification Corridors" and just to Fairview Mall; Stage 2 -- an angry "separatist-feeling" Cambridge in 2036 (or never). </b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Wake up and smell the roses of courageous potential "outside-the-box" LRT thinking. And to transform potential into reality, wouldn't it be wonderful for Chair Ken Seiling to be the Champion of "Outside-the-Box" Innovative Thinking?! </b></div><div><br></div><div>Robert Milligan</div><div><br></div><div>PS: For those who might think that I am being unrealistic esp. re: costs, then send me an email requesting a copy of my more detailed report.</div><div><div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>On 6-Jul-10, at 11:07 AM, RTInfo wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div>It is my pleasure to share with you some important news about the Region of Waterloo’s rapid transit project.<br><br>The Province of Ontario has committed $300 million towards the capital cost of constructing a rapid transit system in Waterloo Region! You can read more about the June 28 announcement on the rapid transit website (<a href="http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca">http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca</a>).<br><br>This is a significant investment by the Province in the future of Waterloo Region. The Region is now seeking a matching funding commitment from the Federal government.<br><br>Light rail transit, implemented in stages, is the best environmentally and financially sustainable solution to help manage our community’s future growth and the region’s transportation needs. With the new Regional Official Plan finalized and the Regional Transportation Master Plan approved by Council last week, the Region is ready to implement this important initiative.<br><br>We are confident that, with a matching funding commitment from the Federal government, we can make rapid transit a reality in Waterloo Region. Once we know what federal funding is available, we will be able to move forward with the planning and design of the project.<br><br>We’ll update you as soon as we know more. Meanwhile, please join the conversation about the rapid transit project in our iEngage discussion forum (<a href="http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/community/">http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/community/</a>).<br><br><br>Nancy Button<br>Director, Rapid Transit<br><br><br><br></div></blockquote></div><br></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>