<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi All,<div><br></div><div>Please consider supporting TriTAG on this important issue regarding the protection of the Iron Horse Trail's integrity as explained in their Blog, <a href="http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/05/03/designing-to-improve-the-iron-horse-trail/">http://www.tritag.ca/blog/2012/05/03/designing-to-improve-the-iron-horse-trail/</a>.</div><div><br></div><div>Here's how I responded,</div><div><br></div><div>"I completely agree with restoring the IHT to its original alignment -- & that of the former rail line </div><div>-- as it would at least permit a more continuous flow for cyclists especially if an innovative yet cost-effective road traffic control system can be devised for crossing Park with minimum delay & safety. (The same system could be used for IHT crossing of other busy streets such as Union, Victoria, etc.). Of course, pedestrians would also benefit especially young families on an outing. </div><div><br></div><div>But for the sake of what I consider the immediate future -- & some of you the longer term future </div><div>-- of our important LRT system, the ideal higher speed, safer, lower cost, ... commuter rail corridor from Northfield Dr. to the Ainslie Terminal must be kept free of developer degradation. Specifically, I am therefore suggesting that any alternative solution proposed for the Caroline/Park section of the IHT include allowance for at least one LRT track. </div><div><br></div><div>(I've been exploring this negative developer process operating on the [discontinuous from the beginning] Walter Bean Trail forcing key parts between King St. E. & the new section of Fairway Rd. to an even greater degree be diverted so as to go circuitously & less safely along streets).</div><div><br></div><div>The age of developer dominance must be transformed so that citizens -- especially ones </div><div>whose interests embrace the needs of the whole community -- are given a much greater weight in political decision-making beyond the almost token consideration, i.e. pretend democracy must become real democracy."</div><div><br></div><div>Robert</div><div><br></div><div><div class="post-1597 post hentry category-cycling category-news category-walking tag-city-of-waterloo tag-development tag-iron-horse-trail" id="post-1597" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 15px; "><p class="infoline" style="margin-top: -2px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 710px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 12px; word-spacing: 1px; line-height: 1.4em; "><br></p></div></div></body></html>