Highway 7 - Kitchener to Guelph

[SammyOES]

I think there is a very good case for why, even just on a safety basis, a new better separated Highway 7 is a good idea and could contribute to a better urban landscape than we have now, though the comments on induced demand hazards are completely reasonable given history. I think the highway itself doesn't imply suburban sprawl, it's just that it makes it more feasible. As others said, rural highways linking denser cities are different than urban freeways.

I also think that it's usually a zero-sum evaluation where building the highway means less investment in transit connections between the cities. Partly because it is in a finite tax base and faster car trips means a bigger hill to climb for transit to be convenient. It is possible to do both and for both to be important to facilitate growth and employment.

Building a Highway 7 link that facilitates more frequent and improved intercity buses would be a huge improvement and even more so if building it meant a re-imagining of Victoria St. was done to reduce the car orientation and provide the framework to redevelop those strip mall and light industrial lands into something denser and suitable to active transport.

I think the safety aspect is a big one. And if we don’t want the highway, I understand that - but we have to do something. The current road doesn’t work and it’s getting worse with the constant growth.

I see the highway helping in conjunction with things like a go station and the go bus to Hamilton in that it offers options to people and allow us to build sensible high density neighbourhoods that can support local amenities but also support the reality that many people will still need to travel for things like work.

The worst case, imo, is a road lined with box stores and round abouts that has to support local traffic and a large chunk of traffic just moving between the cities.

I’d rather see the highway built for moving cars/buses/trucks and highway 7 rebuilt for lower speeds, separated bike lanes, and easy access to businesses/neighbourhoods.