Tag Archives: Transportation

April / May 2013 Progress Report

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May 31, 2013

Development and Infrastructure Committee: June 17, 2013
Budget and Corporate Services Committee: June 18, 2013
Community Services Committee: June 19, 2013
Committee of the Whole: June 20, 2013
City Committee Highlights

Council Decisions
The Big Move and the City of Burlington’s Transportation Master Plan
We have a close relationship with our neighbours – we share an economy, we share a work force, and we share our transportation corridors – the challenges of congestion and gridlock effect us all. Gridlock is one of the most important issues facing us today. This is not just a Greater Toronto Hamilton Area issue, gridlock effects all of Ontario.  Traffic congestion effects our quality of life, increases the cost of moving people, goods and services, and has a significant impact on public safety, our health and the environment.

We have seen and heard metro-bannermuch in the past several weeks about this topic in conjunction with The Big Move and I have been involved in several recent events with this focus in mind. I have posted a recent blog with more information and video links. Metrolinx has just released their Investment Strategy with their recommendations on funding tools for The Big Move.

As we discuss The Big Move, we are also discussing local transportation. The City is in the process of reviewing Burlington’s Transportation Master Plan. More information is available online. Please see the article further down about a special Encore Inspire Burlington presented in conjunction with the Transportation Master Plan Review.TMP_Header
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The Big Move – What’s in it for Burlington?

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May 30, 2013Investment-Strategy-Infographic-web

There has been a lot of talk and news this week about the Metrolinx Plan to invest in transportation across the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area and the Investment Strategy Report released on Monday.

It is clear that the challenges of gridlock and congestion are critical to our economic prosperity and quality of life across the GTHA. The Metrolinx Plan is a strategy to improve traffic congestion across the whole GTHA, from Hamilton to Oshawa.

It is proposed that 41% of funds will be raised in the “416” (City of Toronto) and 42% of investment will take place within the 416. 59% of funds will be raised in the “905”, including Burlington, and 58% of funds will be invested in the same area.

How does “The Big Move” impact Burlington?

Traffic congestion is a major impediment to economic development in Burlington. Burlington companies trade in a wide area and do business across the GTHA. Congestion is a major problem.

We have set a target to create 29,000 new jobs overall in Burlington, with 6-7,000 in the Prosperity Corridor along the QEW. To do that we need a mobile workforce and we need to address the problems of gridlock.

What’s in it for us? From the “Next Wave” of projects planned by Metrolinx, Burlington residents and commuters will most directly benefit from:
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The Big Discussion on “The Big Move”

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metro-bannerMay 24, 2013

We have a close relationship with our neighbours. We share an economy, we share a work force, and we share our transportation corridor.  The challenges of congestion and gridlock effect us all.

Gridlock is one of the most important issues facing us today. This is not just a Greater Toronto Hamilton Area issue; gridlock effects all of Ontario.  Traffic congestion effects our quality of life, increases the cost of moving people, goods and services, and has a significant impact on public safety, our health and the environment.

We have seen and heard much in the past several weeks about this topic and The Big Move  in the media. The Big Move is the 25 year plan from Metrolinx that will impact 6 million residents across the region.

I have participated in several regional Mayor Goldring at the Western GTA Summit4events on this topic over the past few weeks:

Are we facing economic gridlock?

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May 17, 2013

GTA West Conference Photo

Burlington has a unique and close relationship with our neighbours in Halton Region and the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area. We share an economy, we share a work force, and we share our transportation corridors.

Which means we also share the challenges of congestion and gridlock in the GTHA. Traffic congestion affects our quality of life, increases the costs of doing business, and has a significant impact on public safety, our health and the environment.

Transportation, urban planning and economic development are inherently linked. In Burlington we are working with the Burlington Economic Development Corporation to attract more jobs and create live-work opportunities for our residents, but the reality is that we that have a high percentage of commuters.

Every day, approximately 50% of the Burlington labour force leaves the city to travel across the GTHA for work, school, business and other reasons.Traffic congestion and gridlock affects everyone in the region.

I believe that local governments have historically been too local, too silo-ed in their approach to cooperation and economic development. Municipal governments need to take a page from business and not be constrained by traditional lines on a map.  Rather, we need to forge partnerships and alliances with communities that share common interests, goals, resources, and barriers, to develop a stronger, more impactful voice for our constituents. We need to work together.

I’m looking forward to hearing from Ken Greenberg at the Summit on May 21st. Ken gave a presentation as part of the Inspire Burlington series last year, where he talked about cities have an incredible capacity to change, learn and adapt. We can think differently about planning. As Ken so eloquently puts it – “allow ourselves to play chords instead of single notes” and create great, memorable and sustainable places.

Our approach going forward cannot be politics as usual. We need 22nd century thinking to address our current and future challenges and opportunities. Elected officials need to work together with our residents so that we can have a future that we can all aspire to.

I am pleased to join Western GTA Mayors, civic leaders and business leaders at the Western GTA Summit on May 21. This will be an important opportunity to discuss our common challenges of regional transportation and economic development.

Please join me at this free event on May 21 at the Mississauga Convention Centre. Register online at westerngtasummit.ca

cropped-Western-GTA-Summit-2013-logo-RevisedHere are some of the key questions that we will be talking about. Tell me what you think.

 

  • How does traffic congestion impact your daily life in Burlington?
  • Do we need to change the way we live and design our communities?
  • What should our future neighbourhood and city growth look like?
  • What are some ways that we can work together to improve regional transportation?
  • How will we pay for regional transportation networks?
  • What innovation and employment opportunities will we create for our region?

Inspiring Healthy Communities

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May 9, 2013

Over the past 2 years we have heard from some great speakers about what makes a great city and they have provided us with inspiring ideas on how to build our community better. Several of our events have involved conversations around ways that urban planning can impact community life – whether it is the environment, our economic prosperity or public health.

Last week we heard from Dr. David Mowat, Chief Medical Officer of Health for Peel Region about building healthy communities and how the built environment (our roads, buildings, parks) can have a direct impact on public health. Picture1

Some key points that really resonated for me:
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