Though the overall impact is uncertain, it seems southern Puslinch remains in the scope of discussions in studies regarding the Niagara to GTA transportation studies.
At a recent council session, Mayor Dennis Lever noted correspondence from Minister of Transportation Glen Murran and those involved in the Niagara to GTA transportation corridor study.
Lever said if one visits the website of the review – www.niagra-gta.com – “there is a map that still shows a corridor that comes up through Puslinch, while another is to the east – on either side of the Mountsburg Wildlife Centre.”
Lever said any proposal on the east side of the wildlife centre would come into Puslinch as well.
“So they are still looking at long-term planning of some type of corridor.”
He also commented on a meeting he attended in Hamilton where it was again noted that while the corridors are being considered – it could still be 10 years or so before anything happens.
“But the project is still alive,” Lever said.
Murray’s letter stated that the government is working to tackle congestion across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
“We have invested more than $13.4 billion in public transit across the province, including $6 billion to improve GO Transit. And, more than $17 billion has been committed to design, repair and expand provincial highways and bridges across the province. Planning for the future is important for the economy of our province.”
The final Transportation Development Strategy for the Niagara to GTA Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment (EA) Study is available for review.
The strategy looks forward to 2031 with several recommendations, including new highway capacity to meet the challenges of today and those posed by future growth.
The strategy will be available for review on the project website (www.niagra-gta.com) and at local libraries and municipal offices from Sept. 5 to Nov. 4.
Part of the overall strategy includes several highway widenings and new highway corridor recommendations in the Hamilton and Halton areas and the widening of key highways by two or more lanes to address medium-term transportation needs.
Concerns and recommendations in the western area of the study, which includes Puslinch, includes:
– feedback that a new highway corridor crossing the Niagara Escarpment is not recommended in the west area; and
– concern that a final decision has not been made in the west area and that a potential west area new corridor should have been identified as part of this study, as the proposed highway widenings are not sufficient.
