<p dir="ltr">Amazing work, Lulu.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So far as traffic is concerned, I see 2 things that could help :</p>
<p dir="ltr">- What would be wrong with widening Wabanaki Dr and hooking it up with the Fairway Rd / Hwy 8 cloverleaf?</p>
<p dir="ltr">- Why didn't they bring River Rd out to Hwy 8 when it was being widened? Then at least some cars heading out of town would be kept off Fairway Rd.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Beyond that, well they shoulda thoughta that when they planned the city! It must be said too, that transit options to the Doon / Pioneer area are lousy. Ever tried to get to the W Reg Museum without a car?! Maybe pushing for some Express buses out there would be a strategy for saving the Valley.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Eleanor</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Oct 3, 2013 7:43 PM, "Louisette Lanteigne" <<a href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com">butterflybluelu@rogers.com</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div><div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div><span>Hi folks</span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span>The public open house regarding the
River road Extension took place Oct. 1st. Public comments are open until October 14th. </span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><br>
</span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span>Comments can be shared with Wayne Cheater at the Region of Waterloo at <a href="mailto:WCheater@regionofwaterloo.ca" target="_blank">WCheater@regionofwaterloo.ca</a> and Donald
Drackley at <a href="mailto:ddrackley@ibigroup.com" target="_blank">ddrackley@ibigroup.com</a></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span><br></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span>I created a flickr page featuring some of the photos taken during the open house. They are here for your reference:</span></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64027613@N00/sets/72157636164364475/" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/64027613@N00/sets/72157636164364475/</a></span></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span>Below is the feedback I have provided to them along with photos in the attachments of some of the display materials. </span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span>(The data specific to Jefferson locations was from a previous open
house. )</span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><br></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span>Lulu </span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span><br clear="none"></span></div><div><br clear="none"></div> <div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"> <div style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;font-size:12pt">
<div dir="ltr"> ----- Forwarded Message -----<br clear="none"> <font face="Arial"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Louisette Lanteigne <<a href="mailto:butterflybluelu@rogers.com" target="_blank">butterflybluelu@rogers.com</a>><br clear="none">
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> "<a href="mailto:WCheater@regonofwaterloo.ca" target="_blank">WCheater@regonofwaterloo.ca</a>" <<a href="mailto:WCheater@regonofwaterloo.ca" target="_blank">WCheater@regonofwaterloo.ca</a>>;
"<a href="mailto:ddrackley@ibigroup.com" target="_blank">ddrackley@ibigroup.com</a>" <<a href="mailto:ddrackley@ibigroup.com" target="_blank">ddrackley@ibigroup.com</a>> <br clear="none"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, October 3, 2013 5:31:20 PM<br clear="none">
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Roadway threatens multiple Species At Risk. <br clear="none"> </font> </div> <div><br clear="none"><div><div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<div>Hi Mr. Cheater & Mr. Drackley</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">These are my
comments regarding the October 1, 2013 openhouse for the River Road Extension from King Street to Maintou Drive. </div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><div style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;font-size:12pt">
<div><div><div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><font><span><br clear="none">
</span></font></font></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><font><span>In Waterloo Region, road salts close wells, we have legacy contamination issues to deal with and 13 sewage
treatment plants are dumping partially treated sewage into the Grand River. Taxpayers are pay 100's of millions to clean this up but to make things cheaper, we need clean water going into the ground to dilute water treatment costs. </span></font></font></font></div>
<div dir="LTR" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:medium"><div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br clear="none"></span></div></div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">
<span></span></div><div dir="LTR"><div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_322"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_391"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_271"></a><font color="#000000"><span>Jefferson Salamanders are an indicator species of excellent water quality recharge areas. Adding road salts
and impervious surfaces near these habitats contaminates our wells faster and increases costs for taxpayers. To date there is no proposed salt mitigation strategy for the River Road Extension according to Regional Staff I have spoken with. There are no measures to replace lost water volumes equal to the current volumes or water quality infiltrating on site currently if we pave over this roadway. This project will augment natural water tables and water quality of this area.</span></font></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><span><br clear="none"></span></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<font color="#000000"><span>I appreciate greatly the work staff
have done on
this matter. Their community outreach has been excellent and I want to thank everyone for that, but in light of several issues it is difficult for me to support the project as it stands currently. </span></font></div><div style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:16px;margin-bottom:0cm">
<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:16px;margin-bottom:0cm"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span>Stantec conducted the hydrogeology for the River Hill Road Extension. They handle many of our local well meditations and they are also doing the Lake Erie pipeline study. If water quality or volumes are adversely impacted by this project in Hidden Valley it makes me
wonder who stands to profit? Building in
such a high constraint area like this sets a dangerous precedent for other projects to encroach upon
Endangered
Species Habitats and the message it sends is that it's OK to bend and break the rules. We can't have that. </span></font></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span><br clear="none"></span></font></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span>As much as I do appreciate the work being done by the GRCA on this matter, the fact still stands that the Region is among their largest fiscal sponsors. Conflicts of interest exists in the system that
could further complicate
issues. </span></font></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span><br clear="none">
</span></font></font></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">I attended the Open house for the River Road <span><span><span>Extension</span></span></span> on October 1, 2013 and I can confirm the following information:</div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-The proposed River Road Extension is well within 1km of critical habitat of the Jefferson Salamander breeding
areas.</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-The Region of Waterloo intends to remove trees and create a buffer zone of plant life to buffer the edge of the roadway. This land augmentation is expected occur one year before road construction in 2016.</div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Final draft plan will be going through the approval process in 2014</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Construction is anticipated to begin in 2017</div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-No salt mitigation strategy has been crafted for this project. </div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-No
permits to disrupt species or habitats have been submitted through the EBR
process yet. </div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-When I asked if the Region intends to seek kill permits using section 16 of the Endangered Species Act, they stated they are in discussion with the <span>MNR</span> but refused to confirm if they will do this. Should this project be approved, they will by law require this. </div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;margin-bottom:0cm;background-color:transparent"><font color="#000000"><span></span></font></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
Here is a videotape I took of Regional Council staff advising council that "WE DON'T NEED PERMITS" for habitat or species
destruction because it would cause delay. I took this video in Regional Council on October 4<span>th</span> 2011. <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRuYRIQdJk" style="font-size:12pt" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRuYRIQdJk</a> </div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">Previously I spoke with Gail Jackson who is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Ontario MNR and she confirmed that there is no grandfather clause for the Endangered Species Act. If the animal is at risk of extinction, then a threat is a threat regardless of prior planning processes. The law gives the priority towards
protecting that
animal. Any land augmentations <span style="background-color:transparent">requires the permit process and it can</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> take up to 7 years to secure that. </span><span style="background-color:transparent"> The project must be signed off three times before such permits are issued. The intent to seek the permit must be posted on the Environmental Registry where the public has the </span><span style="background-color:transparent">opportunity to voice concerns. The applicant must address the issues in a manner that proves net benefit to species or the permit will not be approved. This is to comply with the Ontario Endangered Species Act, the Federal Species At Risk Act and our meet our international obligations to ratify the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This isn't just a local issue. This is a federal and international priority. </span></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span><br clear="none"></span></font></font></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span></span></font></font></div>
<div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><font color="#000000"><span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px">The natural studies conducted in 2012 and 2013 specifically states that the studies "were only focused on areas where alignments
were feasible & likely". (Source: LGL report as seen in the
attachments.) This information I have gathered in the attachment appears to indicate that the Region has
i</span><span>mplemented the use of discretionary powers to limited the scope of the study in spite of confirmed observations for the following species in Hidden Valley:</span></span></font></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<font color="#000000"><span><span><br clear="none"></span></span></font></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Jefferson Salamanders (Threatened)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
-Barn Swallow (Threatened)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Butternut Trees (Endangered) </div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Chimney Swift (Threatened)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
-Bobolink (Threatened)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Milk Snake
(Special Concern)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Snapping Turtle (Special Concern)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Nighthawk (Special Concern)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
-Bald Eagle (Special Concern)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Canada Warbler (Special Concern)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
The Endangered Butternut trees are in close proximity to the area of the proposed roadway, as illustrated in the
attachments. </div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">Suitable Habitats exist for the following species but there is a lack of data to confirm if they are in Hidden Valley: </div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">-Least Bittern (Threatened)</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
-Rusty Patch Bumble Bee (Endangered)</div><div style="margin-bottom:0cm;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><font color="#000000"><span></span></font></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">
-Northern <span>Myotis</span> aka Long eared bat (Endangered)</div><div style="background-color:transparent"><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br clear="none">
</span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"></span><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">According to the Ontario Endangered Species Act, required habitat protection must include 300m of critical habitat zone plus an area "Up to one <span>kilometre</span>" around that location. Here is the applicable section of the Endangered Species Act specific to the protection of Jefferson Salamanders.</div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 10pt;font-size:13pt;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:bold">
<b>ONTARIO REGULATION 436/09</b></div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 10pt;font-size:13pt;text-align:center">made under the</div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 10pt;font-size:13pt"><b>ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, 2007</b></div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 10pt;font-size:13pt;text-align:center">
Made: August 12, 2009<br clear="none">Filed: November 18, 2009<br clear="none">Published on e-Laws: November 20, 2009<br clear="none">Printed in <i>The Ontario Gazette</i>: December 5, 2009<br clear="none"></div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 10pt;font-size:13pt;text-align:center">
Amending O. Reg. 242/08</div><div><br clear="none"></div></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><div style="margin:0pt 0pt 0.0001pt;font-size:13pt;font-weight:bold">
<b>Jefferson salamander habitat</b></div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt;font-size:13pt;text-indent:30pt"><b>28. </b>For the purpose of clause (a) of the definition of “habitat” in subsection 2 (1) of the Act, the following areas are prescribed as the habitat of the Jefferson salamander:</div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 55.8666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">1. In the City of Hamilton, the counties of Brant, <span>Dufferin</span>, <span>Elgin</span>, Grey, <span>Haldimand</span>, Norfolk and Wellington and the regional municipalities of <span>Halton</span>, Niagara, Peel, Waterloo and York,</div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">i. a wetland, pond or vernal or other temporary pool that is being used by a Jefferson salamander or Jefferson dominated <span>polyploid</span> or was used by a Jefferson salamander or Jefferson dominated <span>polyploid</span> at any
time during the previous five years,</div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">ii. an area that is within 300 metres of a wetland, pond or vernal or other temporary pool described in <span>subparagraph</span> i and that provides suitable foraging, dispersal, migration or hibernation conditions for Jefferson salamanders or Jefferson dominated <span>polyploids</span>,</div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">iii. a wetland, pond or vernal or other temporary pool that,</div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 115.666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">A. would provide suitable breeding conditions for Jefferson salamanders or Jefferson dominated <span>polyploids</span>,</div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 115.666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">B. is within one kilometre of an area described in <span>subparagraph</span> i, and</div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 115.666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">
C. is connected to the area described in <span>subparagraph</span> i by an area described in <span>subparagraph</span> iv, and</div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:13pt">iv. an area that provides suitable conditions for Jefferson salamanders or Jefferson dominated <span>polyploids</span> to disperse and is within one kilometre of an area described in <span>subparagraph</span> i.</div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:13pt"><br clear="none"></div><div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:17px;background-color:transparent">Source: <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/elaws_src_regs_r09436_e.htm" style="background-color:transparent;font-size:12pt" target="_blank">http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/source/regs/english/2009/elaws_src_regs_r09436_e.htm</a></div>
<div style="margin:0pc 0pc 6pt 83.6666666666667pt;font-size:17px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">The habitat maps of the Jefferson Salamanders of Hidden Valley is included in the attachments. I took these photos at a public</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">open house</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">back in 2011 and it includes one confirmed specimen found in close proximity to proposed roadway network. No doubt, these animals and their habitat will
be at increased risk if this roadway is built. The 300m </span><span style="background-color:transparent">bufferzone</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">is represented in red but there is no delineation of the 1km habitat range as required to comply with existing law. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">It is my concern that in allowing insufficient narrowly scoped studies to be used for the approval processes, the Region of Waterloo may be held liable for violating the Species at Risk Act section 58. <span style="background-color:transparent">Ecojustice has sued the Federal Govenment's
Department of Fisheries for using discretionary powers for habitat delineation before. There is case law to support this. The ruling survived an appeal process. </span><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://www.ecojustice.ca/media-centre/press-releases/appeal-court-decision-affirms-protection-for-killer-whales" style="background-color:transparent" target="_blank">http://www.ecojustice.ca/media-centre/press-releases/appeal-court-decision-affirms-protection-for-killer-whales</a></div>
<div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:16px">Essentially the Supreme court has ruled that the protection of Endangered Species should not be left to the discretion of politicians. Same logic applies at the Regional Level. </span><br clear="none">
</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Currently</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">Ecojustice</span><span style="background-color:transparent"> </span><span style="background-color:transparent">is suing the Province of Ontario for using discretionary powers to reduce protection of the Endangered Species Act 2007. For more information on that lawsuit visit here: </span><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" href="http://www.ecojustice.ca/blog/ontario2019s-broken-promise" style="background-color:transparent;font-size:12pt" target="_blank">http://www.ecojustice.ca/blog/ontario2019s-broken-promise</a></div>
</div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br clear="none">
</span></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">In the preamble for the Ontario Endangered Species Act 2007 it states: </span><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold">The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
takes note of the precautionary principle, which, as described in the Convention, states that, where there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for
postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat. </span><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;font-weight:bold"><br clear="none">
</span></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">In light of that passage I would like to request that the Region secure mapping that features both the critical habitat range and the area that provides suitable conditions for Jefferson Salamanders to disperse up to 1km</span><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">. I would also request that critical habitat ranges and habitat delineation zones be established for the other federally protected species confirmed within the
Hidden Valley area including Barn Swallows,
Chimney Swifts, Bobolink etc. These species all require a recovery strategy under the law as written. </span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><br clear="none">
</span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="font-size:16px;background-color:transparent">So technically I oppose the roadway. There are too many ecological constraints, to many associated costs and realistically, the longer we delay cancelling the road, the more expensive this entire venture is going to get. </span></div>
<div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent"><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="background-color:transparent"><span style="background-color:transparent">Never the less, I would like to share concepts to address the core concerns that were used to justify the creation of the roadway. </span><br clear="none">
</div></div></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font><span><br clear="none"></span></font></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">
<div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><span>The Region of Waterloo
states the purpose of the River Hill Road Extension is "to relieve congestion & traffic dangers that exist on Fairway road." That was back in 2004 when the Region's population was only 495,000. Provincial growth targets for Waterloo Region will increase populations to 742,000 over the next 18 years. That's over double Kitchener's current population. Traffic Congestion will happen in our Region whether this road is built or not and with it comes increased health care issues, increased traffic etc. </span></font></span></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent">$72 million could be used to purchase a fleet of 144 hybrid buses (at $500,000 per bus) or it pay for an additional 3km to add to our light rail system
without degrading the natural
capital infrastructure we
require for water supplies, clean air and public health. With an aging population, this is a wise option to provide enhanced public transportation options. </span><br clear="none"></div></div><div dir="LTR" style="font-family:'Times New Roman'">
<div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br clear="none"></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom:0cm;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent"><font><span></span></font></div>
<div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_189"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_3910"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_197"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_204"></a><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" name="14180b4d471d2b9a_yiv1009055246yui_3_7_2_26_1380802321445_213"></a><font color="#000000"><font><font><span>According to the Region's collision study, the number 1 cause of accidents in
the Region of Waterloo is rear end collisions. The main time for accidents is Friday at 5pm. Traffic problems on Fairway road are not about bad roads so much as it is about driver error. Folks are going shopping, coming home from work, they are tired.</span></font></font></font></span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px"> Adding chevrons</span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px">, rumble strips and reducing speeds in problem areas is far cheaper to enhance driver awareness than building a $72 million dollar roadway. Modifying human behaviour is the choice with the least amount of infrastructure and expense required so we really need to find more opportunities to adopt strategies of that nature because green spaces are not limitless. </span><span style="font-size:12pt">We need to put the focus on moving people, not cars.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:0cm"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px">I would like to continue to be on the mailing list. </span></div>
<div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></span></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;font-size:16px;background-color:transparent;margin-bottom:0cm;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:16px">Thank you and all your staff for all the efforts done to facilitate the
public process on this matter. It is greatly
appreciated. </span></div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><font color="#000000"><font><font><span><br clear="none"></span></font></font></font></span></span></div><div>Louisette Lanteigne</div>
<div>700 Star Flower Ave.</div><div>Waterloo Ont.</div><div>N2V 2L2 </div></div></div></div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div><div><br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div></div><div> </div></div><div> </div></div>
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