Councillors here have taken a dim view of a recent media release by the Puslinch Community Oriented Policing (COP) committee regarding efforts to speed the process to get a Highway 6 bypass for Morriston.
At the April 17 Puslinch council meeting, Mayor Dennis Lever noted the release titled “Bypass is ultimate traffic calming measure” ended up as part of the Wellington County roads committee report.
The release, sent on behalf of the COP committee, states “traffic calming measures” are being considered by the MTO for Morriston but they will not solve the congestion and safety problems on the remaining 7.6km of Highway 6 in Puslinch Township.
“These calming measures have absolutely no impact on the cause of the daily pain and frustration endured by motorists and residents, all of which is created by the growing volume of traffic squeezing into the Morriston bottleneck,” commented Puslinch resident, Brian Bonn. “You can put lipstick on a pig, but you still have a pig.”
“It is the opinion of the Puslinch (COP) committee that the most effective ‘calming measure’ for the Highway 6- Morriston corridor is the construction of the bypass.”
To this end the Puslinch committee continues with its petition, both on-line at www.hwy6bypass.ca and in paper form at various outlets in Puslinch.
This petition has nothing to do with the traffic calming measures being requested by a Morriston resident for Morriston alone.
The Puslinch petition deals with the entire 3.4km two-lane section of Highway 6 South and the 4.4km route North to Wellington County Road 34.
Paper petitions have been distributed to community sites for people to sign. They will be presented to the Provincial Legislature by MPP Ted Arnott.
Lever noted the press release was discussed very briefly by the county roads committee.
However, Lever did not believe the full five pages of the press release was received at the Puslinch municipal office.
Lever said that at the last COP meeting he saw the first two pages of the release, but not the last three.
As such, he wanted council to be fully aware of what was being circulated.
Councillor Ken Roth voiced his concern with what was being presented in the press release.
“The COP committee is making it sound as if the traffic calming measures are of absolutely no use.” He said that is not the case.
He added council supported initiation of the traffic calming measures in Morriston.
“The other thing that upsets me is that it says in here that the mayor for some reason decided to have an economic study.”
Roth said that this was also a decision of council – not just the mayor’s decision.
“I think it is time this committee got their facts straight.”
Roth said, “If this proceeds this way I would like to see this council pull their funding and not appoint a councillor to this committee.”
Lever said his main concern surrounded the final three pages of the press release.
“It is less than factual.”
He stated there were a number of errors and omissions.
Lever added bypass proposals had been in the works for years.
“But this project is competing with all the other projects in the province. There are more projects in the province than can be funded – so they are going to go with the ones which they feel are most important.”
Lever said the current minister of transportation was emphatic that any new project will require proof of real economic benefits before being approved.
“I’m pretty upset and share some of councillor Roth’s concern,” said Lever.
He contended if press releases are being sent out, they should make certain the facts are correct.
