Waterloo Region Connected

(12-21-2016, 02:25 PM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]This is a pretty painful chain of tweets to wade through - from the City and GRT both being clueless as to the location (did they even look at the photo?) to just trying to pass it off to each other, or get people to call in (probably hoping they won't, since it's inconvenient).

I saw the stop in question while on the eight this morning and it is still not cleared!

For those making complaints, is there any feedback provided to you from the city to close the loop or is it just a black hole of information? For example, does the city ever get back to you and say "yes we had a look there is/is not an issue and this is the actions that were taken"? Otherwise how do you know that your complaint was actually looked into at all? That would be another advantage of an electronic system, you could keep track of where your complaints are in the queue for inspection and/or actual clearing.

(12-23-2016, 10:16 AM)Pheidippides Wrote: [ -> ]

(12-21-2016, 02:25 PM)Canard Wrote: [ -> ]This is a pretty painful chain of tweets to wade through - from the City and GRT both being clueless as to the location (did they even look at the photo?) to just trying to pass it off to each other, or get people to call in (probably hoping they won't, since it's inconvenient).

I saw the stop in questionfrom while on the eight tbismorning and it is still not cleared!

For those making complaints, is there any feedback provided to you from the city to close the loop or is it just a black hole of information? For example, does the city ever get back to you and say "yes we had a look there is/is not an issue and this is the actions that were taken"? Otherwise how do you know that your complaint was actually looked into at all? That would be another advantage of an electronic system, you could keep track of where your complaints are in the queue for inspection and/or actual clearing.

The short answer is no, there is no feedback mechanism.

The long answer is, you can call in and ask, they'll eventually forward you to the bylaw officer investigating (who will probably eventually end up calling you back), and eventually you can find out.

If you really want to, you can ask for the reference number for your complaint, and call Bylaw Enforcement directly to see where it is. Usually the call centre staff don't proactively offer the reference number, but sometimes they do.

From the Kitchener Post: It shouldn’t be the city’s duty to keep local sidewalks clear in winter

The lowlight:

"I understand that meeting the needs of people with mobility issues is of paramount concern.

But I wonder why we think the responsibility for meeting those needs should be off-loaded to the city."

The other reasons why the municipal government should not keep sidewalks clear (besides cost, of course, which should be reason enough according to the author) is that the author has a neighbour, Johnny, who clears the author's sidewalk for him with a snowblower; the author made spending money as a kid shoveling snow and kids today should too; and because he didn't personally hear any grumbling about uncleared sidewalks when it snowed the other week.

"I understand that meeting the needs of vehicular mobility in the city is a paramount concern for various economic reasons.

But I wonder why we think the responsibility for meeting those needs should be off-loaded to the city."

Repeat with any number of comparable examples.

(12-29-2016, 11:28 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: [ -> ]"I understand that meeting the needs of vehicular mobility in the city is a paramount concern for various economic reasons.

But I wonder why we think the responsibility for meeting those needs should be off-loaded to the city."

Repeat with any number of comparable examples.

Will he next either propose that individual homeowners should be responsible for clearing the road in front of their house also, or explain with good and valid justification what the difference is between roads and sidewalks?

I didn’t think so.

He didn't clear the roadway for money as a kid?

That's how I put myself through college!

Another example of poor coverage, this one LRT-related. The Cedar intersection is still officially incomplete - the signals aren't on yet, for example - but that doesn't help pedestrians trying to get across Charles, who must either wander into the vehicle lanes or slog over slush.

(12-31-2016, 03:35 PM)KevinL Wrote: [ -> ]Another example of poor coverage, this one LRT-related. The Cedar intersection is still officially incomplete - the signals aren't on yet, for example - but that doesn't help pedestrians trying to get across Charles, who must either wander into the vehicle lanes or slog over slush.

Lol, I can't see anything cleared in that picture, but it might just be the picture.  But I do wonder who's responsible for clearing that snow.

The city of Waterloo has told me that officially, there is nobody responsible for clearing snow on the road in a crosswalk.  Tough luck everyone who walks.

The sidewalks there were cleared, but not the boulevard portion of the crosswalks.

(12-31-2016, 04:02 PM)KevinL Wrote: [ -> ]The sidewalks there were cleared, but not the boulevard portion of the crosswalks.

Even on Cedar, they don't look cleared, but a photo isn't so clear.


Regardless, the boulevards are a problem.  I found it especially frustrating when the tracks are adjacent to the sidewalk and uncleared (where the crosswalk is), and the city of Kitchener won't even take the complaint.

They won't take the complaint? What do they say?

(12-31-2016, 08:13 PM)MidTowner Wrote: [ -> ]They won't take the complaint? What do they say?

They say "call the region"...I say, no it's a sidewalk issue, they say, "on LRT tracks, I can't help you, call the region, I can't do anything".

Quite frankly, I feel for them--the call centre agents, having no real recourse, but this was the purpose of our contact centre, to be one point of contact.  If it's a regional issue, they should take the complaint and forward it on.

I think you're right, it's a sidewalk, so it's the municipality that's responsible, ultimately. If it happens that the property is owned by a different level of government, well, like you say, they can take it to them. But the municipal government needs to keep it clear. I mean, theoretically.

It was surprising to me that you said that, because I called the other week about the area around the tracks on Duke Street, and they took my complaint. Maybe they didn't understand- the uncleared area included the track right-of-way, but also properties on either side- and I don't know if there was follow up. Sometimes, with these issues, it seems like there are varying levels of understanding and differing opinions among the call centre staff.