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["To:","Ministry of Transportation Ontario"]
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["From:","City of Burlington"]
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["Date:","2021-08-28"]
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["Re:","Staff Comments and Feedback of the Provincial Transportation Plan \"Towards a Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) Transportation Plan - Discussion Paper\""]
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[]
["GGH Transportation Plan - Discussion Paper: City of Burlington Staff Comments"]
["Department",null,"Comments"]
["Transportation Planning ",null,"Would the MTO be open to sharing the methodology and criteria which was used to develop the Long/Medium & Short list of options for the Preferred Draft Network?"]
[null,null,"How will the MTO be supporting local municipalities achieve 10-minute frequencies on local transit within the GGH, recognizing that the largest barrier to implementing this level of service is generally the operating costs of such headways?"]
[null,null,"Is the proposed East/West cross-regional transit connection that is mentioned the 407 Transitway project that is ongoing? It is difficult to identify based on the mapping. When developing the Transportation plan staff suggest the mapping be refined."]
[null,null,"What is the rationale for additional highway widenings of already large highway facilities (401,403,QEW, 400), where we know that this additional capacity will not alleviate congestion on these roadways (Well known cases of Induced Demand – i.e. Katy Freeway in Houston, TX). Is this the best use of available resources? "]
[null,null,"With respect to Goods Movement, has there been any consideration with increasing rail capacity and additional intermodal stations to reduce truck traffic VKT’s? Also, has there been consideration with respect to the potential impacts of autonomous truck traffic and facilitating new logistic models which accommodate the shift in the way goods are moved?"]
[null,null,"With the KPI’s that are proposed for measures of success for this plan, will the MTO be improving or enhancing data collection? For example, expanding travel surveys for a comprehensive look at mode share? Also, will this data be public and accessible for local agencies to leverage?"]
[null,null,"Will the local agencies have an opportunity to comment on the draft final plan?"]
["Department",null,"Comments"]
["Community Planning",null,"While other documents may have highlighted connections to the Provincial land use planning policies this document does not take the time to highlight the interconnectedness of this work with the Provincial Growth Plan.  Efforts should be made to mention and reinforce the Growth Plan and its associated objectives in this document.  Draw the connections between land use planning and transportation and transit planning. "]
[null,null,"The role of Metrolinx is noted in several locations, however there is an opportunity to ensure that MTO and the whole of Metrolinx are working together to achieve objectives that both of their respective mandates cover.  The need for further collaboration and integration of MTO and Metrolinx should be highlighted."]
[null,null,"The 7 near term goals don’t appear to be in alignment with the key finding from engagement which was to “Make transit as convenient as driving for getting where I need to go”."]
[null,null,"Transit, and specifically transit with 10 min service, is identified as the key tool.  It would appear that much of the solution will fall to individual municipalities as transit service providers.  This will significantly impact transit budgets."]
[null,null,"How has the transportation vision considered and engaged with the Federal government (thinking of the announcement of Toronto to Montreal fast VIA rail service; other Federal transportation decisions)?"]
[null,null,"How has the transportation been clear about what the Province does and does not deliver/control/regulate?  There are many opportunities in this document to provide a view of the excellent transportation planning work occurring at the Regional and Local level.  It would also be an excellent time to clarify who does what and what the Province will seek to do to support all in meeting the long range objectives of this plan. "]
[null,null,"Page 3: Repeat of Peterborough on map"]
[null,null,"Page 9: ‘Are these the right initiatives and concepts for the transit system in 2051?’ Need to ensure transit solutions are integrated in alignment with our Integrated Mobility Plan. Specific reference is made to ‘exploring a new east-west, crossregional connection between Burlington and Oshawa that connects existing GO Rail lines outside of Union Station’. Alignment with MTSA ASPs, particularly Burlington GO, and the Integrated Mobility Plan"]
[null,null,"Page 11: ‘Are these the right initiatives and concepts to enhance the road network and address congestion?’ My main question here is should we be alleviating congestion as a principle? We should be moving away from a reliance on private vehicles and promoting more transit orientated solutions especially in the context of climate change and reducing GHG emissions. Reference to made to ‘Supporting innovation and leveraging new technologies, such as automated, connected and electric vehicles, that achieve a safer, more efficient, equitable and sustainable transportation system.’ This should include the provision of EV charging infrastructure. "]
[null,null,"Page 15: one the of seven interconnected goals to keep the region moving refers to relieving congestion. As mentioned above, in light of climate change, relieving congestion should not be a priority of this plan. "]
[null,null,"Page 17: ‘Making it easier to walk or cycle to or from transit stations by working with municipalities to prioritize and coordinate improvements to active transportation facilities, such as bike lanes, that connect to transit stations and stops.’ Needs to be alignment with MTSAs."]
[null,null,"Page 19: ‘What else can we do to relieve congestion?’ Is a do-nothing approach available here? "]
[null,null,"Page 19: ‘Developing and conducting coordinated emergency response plans and exercises to be prepared for a range of emergency situations, including extreme weather events, security and cybersecurity incidents, utility outages, pandemics and disease, among others.’ Extreme weather events are linked to climate change and the transport sector is responsible for large amount of GHG emissions hence why we should not be encouraging the use of private vehicles. "]
[null,null,"Page 21: ‘Improving local and regional cycling linkages by working with municipalities…’ this works needs to align with the Cycling Masterplan."]
[null,null,"Page 25: ‘An Indigenous inclusion lens will be applied when developing actions and initiatives, in line with the Calls for Justice of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).’ Should there be some reference here to Truth and Reconciliation? "]
[null,null,"Page 25: ‘Combatting human trafficking through training to increase recognition and reporting, posting educational material with the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline information and working with key partners to increase awareness of human trafficking. In addition, we are making transportation facilities such as rest areas safer through infrastructure upgrades such as site clearing, improved lighting and security cameras, where feasible.’ This should be two separate bullet points. One is focused on human trafficking and the other is about general safety that will benefit everyone. "]
["Department",null,"Comments"]
["Burlington Transit",null,"Many of the initiatives regarding transit require consistent and dedicated funds from senior levels of government.  Transit continues to compete with other priority items.  Funding for capital is helpful, however the operational impact is what limits BT’s expansion (4 buses = 8 drivers à can’t buy buses – too much to sustain)"]
[null,null,"10 minutes minimum headway would require significant investments beyond Burlington Transit’s 5 Year Business Plan. To help achieve the 10 mins minimum headway, provincial governments should support local transit operation financially."]
[null,null,"Too many players – Cities, Regions, Metrolinx, MTO – someone needs to take the lead and the organizations that have to run/operationalize plan should be major players at the table.  For example Region of Halton does not have regional transit, Region of Halton does not understand the operational aspects of transit and thus can not offer anything other than a high level regurgitation of the province/metrolinx plan.  Another hurdle/barrier that municipalities must address in developing transit options for residents.  BT works closely with neighboring municipalities to ensure riders can easily transfer between systems, and that fare integration already exists.  Don’t create political barriers that end up taking years to implement something that could have been done by the local agencies much quicker."]
[null,null,"Bike lanes on major roads should be mandated by the province to be protected. For example Dundas street in Halton Region à opportunity exists to promote cycling, the road is a 70km/h crossroad that typically has vehicles travelling in excess of 80km/h – region is putting bike lanes on the road, but not protected.  There rationale that a multi-use path will exist is the reason why not protected.  If cycling is to be supported and promoted, making it as safe as possible will give people more reason to cycle to their destinations."]
[null,null,"Traffic and congestion in Burlington à nothing is mentioned in the plan regarding the QEW corridor between Oakville and the Burlington Skyway à this is a major source of congestion"]
[null,null," Rail à federal jurisdiction – many of the corridors used by GO transit may use CN and CP rail lines – how can GO trains be prioritized?"]
[null,null,"15 mins, two-way, all-day GO service would lead to more parking demand and local congestions, if local transit service could not keep up. There needs to be goals to limit parking supply at GO Stations.  The large amount of parking lots is contrary to the goal of growing transit ridership."]
[null,null,"Essentially, there needs to be operational support of local transit agencies, and goals to limits to parking supply at GO Stations."]