05-29-2018, 04:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-29-2018, 04:44 PM by danbrotherston.)
(05-29-2018, 03:08 PM)welltoldtales Wrote: So today the Regional Transportation Master Plan was deferred. A big reason for that was Berry Vrbanovic taking the region to task on the use of some of their language as well as on the fact that they felt the region should look to be a leader in both new mobility and minimum grid.
This means it will come back to council in mid-June. I am guessing they aren't going to be able to make massive changes but I am also hopeful they will. Many of the regional councillors around the horseshoe made it evidently clear that changes needed to be made to the way we build roads.
What irked me the most being there was hearing a member of staff remind everyone that "Roads are for traffic" at the end of the day. The master plan in itself actually seems okay, but the implementation has been awful, specifically on regional roads.
Major changes are unlikely, even dissenting councillors agreed only wording would change.
And yes, staff reminding everyone "Regional roads, unlike city roads, are primarily for traffic", and several councillors also expressing this sentiment was extremely frustrating.
People on bikes ARE traffic, and they ALSO have places to go.
This shows that regional staff wish to continue treating cycling as something that can be added where possible, and ignored where it would inconvenience drivers. This is expressed in the wording of the document, and confirmed by the statements of some councillors and staff. It's the exact opposite of the request to put the priority on cycling and walking, and directly contradicting the vision and goals of the master plan.
Until we decide that accommodating people on bikes, transit, and foot safely is *more* important than shaving 5 seconds off a measurement of traffic performance, we simply aren't going to see meaningful changes in either our infrastructure, and resultantly, our modal share.
The discussion today gave me confidence in many politicians in both directions. Berry Vrbanovic really pushed hard for improvements, as did David Jaworsky, and this absolutely affects how I will be voting in the upcoming election.