[GREN-Exec] Presentation on LRT

[Gregory C. Michalenko]

I would consider going on my own and try to complement what GREN or other Grenlings say.  To this end, why don't we circulate point-form summaries of what we intend to say, and make sure that we're not repeating the same thing?

I would like to make the point that public transit is particularly important to poor working people who need to get to their jobs and other vital destinations.  I would use a couple of arguments that David Miller mentioned when he spoke at the School of Planning at UW about 6 weeks ago when he mentioned that public transit was vital to the economic needs of Toronto and that  representations had been made to the City by the powerful economic and industry associations regarding the need to improve transit so that their workers could get to work on time and with least time on the road.  A study showed that some people from the poorest North York social housing areas were spending as much as 4 hours en route each day to various assortments of part-time jobs, as many as 3 in one day.  Yet when Ford came in and threw his wrecking ball at the Toronto transit plan, these interest - who of course were instrumental in funding his ascendency to power - let out not a peep in defense of the existing transit plans.

I will try to find some data on growing income disparity in KW and any information that might be relevant concerning % or people in KW who do not own cars.  It would be good to know if any data have been collected about public transit destinations, income, and place of residence.  This interest stems from a day last summer, when, driving north on Westmount in Kitchener, a sudden thunder storm struck and I gave a ride to 2 very wet and tired immigrants who were laden with groceries from the Price Chopper in south Kitchener which offered them the cheapest prices for food.  They had been trying to get home to an apartment complex in Waterloo. Transit was sparse and not convenient for their needs.  i would emphasize the need to not only build the backbone of the LRT but also the ribcage of connecting routes that would compose the skeleton of a viable future public transit plan worthy of our future much larger city.  Recent Record articles have shown the results of a Metroline phone survey (by the way, I was one of the some 1500 who got called and recollect that it was not a very well designed survey).  One of the 3 "options", road expansion only and no transit investment of any kind, was favoured by 30% of respondents.  I would mention that this is not a valid option at all, since it would exclude those without cars  from civic benefits, and give it all to car drivers.  If the survey wanted to present such an option, then a fourth option, all transit and no roads, should have been included as well.

I would be glad to hear your thoughts and ideas as well.

- Greg

p.s.  The primacy of cars over people in our culture was driven home when I was hit by a car while I was on my bike.  The car took off but I got the licence number.  I went to the police and they asked if I saw the driver's face.  I pointed out that I could only see the back of his head.  Then I was asked "what if you got the licence wrong?"  I said "put it through your computer, it was a late model large white car."  Out popped the registration for a 2 year old white Pontiac.  The police would not lay charges - I was just a cyclist.  Then, to add insult to injury, I had to submit my claim for injuries, medical costs, and bike repair costs to the Scot-free driver's insurance  company...through my car insurance company !  I was the victim of another hit and run accident yesterday when I was stopped in my car waiting for pedestrians to cross an intersection so that I could turn right.  Now I will be out a pot of money.  That's why the previous hit-and-run is on my mind at the moment and I'm feeling a bit cranky.

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From: executive-bounces at gren.ca [executive-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Susan Bryant [shbryant at uwaterloo.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9:59 AM
To: 'John Jackson'; 'GREN Executive'
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] Presentation on LRT

I would suggest Deb or Kevin, since they’re so knowledgeable about the issue. We should also send out an all-GREN request for people to come (giving time and place) to support them and also speak.

Cheers,

Susan B


From: executive-bounces at gren.ca [mailto:executive-bounces at gren.ca] On Behalf Of John Jackson
Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2011 8:48 AM
To: GREN Executive
Subject: [GREN-Exec] Presentation on LRT

The presentations on LRT to Regional Council are on May 31st and June 1. Unfortunately, I will not be able to speak on our behalf since I will be in Milwaukee those days.

We should choose someone else to speak on our behalf.

John

--
John Jackson
17 Major Street
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 4R1
519-744-7503
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