12-09-2020, 10:26 AM
(12-09-2020, 08:41 AM)tomh009 Wrote: It's a bit hard for me to see the green MUT on the map background. It looks like one MUT from Centennial to the Walter Bean Trail, and then a second one from the other side of the bridge, curving onto Woolwich St. And a third one starting on Fountain St, continuing on Hwy 7 until Greenhouse Rd?
The first two look logical to me, but I'm a bit confused about how they connect to what, and whether there is a MUT on the bridge.
The third piece ... is there cycling infra on Greenhouse Rd? Or why would people cycle to Greenhouse Rd, and not any further?
Sorry, I suppose the map isn't too clear. The goal was to very cheaply connect Breslau using existing road space. I'm suggesting using a treatment similar to Blair Rd. in Cambridge which puts a MUT along a widened shoulder of the road, segregated with bollards. I'd hope for a bit stonger of a treatment here due to the increased traffic, but something similarly doable using the existing wide shoulder.
The planned MUT ends at Centenial and there is sufficient shoulder until the bridge over the Grand. On the Grand River bridge, I think they'd have to widen the sidewalk (ha, why is there even a sidewalk) using the excess space in the curbs in order to accomodate a MUT (maybe only 2.5 meters). Beyond the bridge, there is sufficient shoulder space to continue the MUT until the right turn lane for Woolwich St. S. where I once again show a MUT constructed in the boulevard. This MUT connects through to the sidewalks on Woolwich St. S. that go into Woolwich and just end outside of town. It also connects to the trail south of Woolwich St. N. (and also to Woolwich St. N. itself) to connect over to the new suburban development along Fountain St..
Phase 2 just shows connecting up the residential areas on Fountain St. to the trails and to Woolwich St.N. to provide a safe AAA connection with a MUT along Fountain St. as well as some enhanced crossings.
Honestly this is what I argue would be a fiscally conservative plan. It uses resources we have more efficiently, and by only spending a little money we get a significant improvement to connectivity. Self proclaimed fiscal conservatives should be all over stuff like this.
Phase 3 is just a connection to the new under construction development at Greenhouse Rd. I'm not sure what it looks like on a map, so I wasn't sure where to connect the trail too. It would be more expensive because the shoulder on that section is mostly not paved. That being said some connection to Greenhouse Rd. would probably be good. It has no cycling infra, but compared with riding on Highway 7, it does provide a much safer route to several connections (e.g., if someone doesn't mind riding on Shantz Station Rd. (which I *do* mind, but many wouldn't), you can get to both Guelph and Maryhill).
Ultimately, I'm not exactly in a position to estimate these things, but Phase 1, should be on the order of 100,000 - 150,000 even for a fairly significant (more than just a bollard ever 60 feet) treatment of the roadway if the costs for previous projects is anything to go on. That's pennies to the region...why don't we do it!
(12-09-2020, 09:15 AM)neonjoe Wrote: Annex Breslau and fix it that way. It’s far more connected to Kitchener than the other communities in woolwich, it already gets its water and sanitation from Kitchener.
Same fundamental problem. It would be very unpopular. You are talking about a significant tax increase, being in the City of Kitchener. I remember looking at a house in Breslau once...and the seller told me the best thing about the house was the taxes were low because it wasn't in the CoK. I thought, low taxes are great and all, but if that's the best thing about a home, then that place is probably pretty shitty. But I'm guessing a lot of people don't think like me.
Honestly, I don't really understand how our annexations work. I know London ON annexed many of it's neighbours (you'll still find people who declare they live in "Byron"...and that is fully enclosed in the city now). Where as in other countries (maybe other provinces) you have cities which basically starve because people live around the perifery, benefit from the services of the city, but don't pay towards those services. But I cannot imagine it is ever popular.