| Transportation
Minister Frank Klees Meets with MPP Ted Arnott and Waterloo-Wellington
Municipal Representatives to Discuss Transportation
Action Plan
Mayors
and staff representatives of municipalities in Waterloo-Wellington
joined MPP Ted Arnott for a meeting he arranged with
Transportation Minister Frank Klees that was held on
April 10th at Queen’s Park. The agenda was based on
Mr. Arnott’s Waterloo-Wellington Transportation Action
Plan that was created by the advice that he sought from
area municipal councils.
“I
want to thank the Minister for agreeing to meet with
us. The Action Plan contains over 40 recommendations
for transportation for the future of Waterloo-Wellington
and our surrounding area. I am very pleased that we
had this opportunity to allow our municipal representatives
to speak with the Minister about their top transportation
needs for the next five years and beyond,” said Mr.
Arnott.
Mr.
Arnott gave introductory remarks about the Action Plan,
explained how he worked with municipalities in its development,
and introduced the participants who had an opportunity
to speak with the Minister.
“I
believe that the Minister was extremely interested in
what was said and very impressed with the level and
quality of participation. I think he will remember that
as I continue to advocate for the projects that have
been brought forward and I congratulate the Councillors
and staff of the municipalities for their help in that
regard,” he added.
The
participants included Gerry Thompson, Chief Administrative
Officer of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Gordon
Ough, County Engineer for the County of Wellington,
Mayor George Pinkney of the Township of Centre Wellington,
Larry Van Wyck, Manager of Public Works for the Township
of Guelph/Eramosa, Mayor Carl Hall of the Township of
Mapleton, Mayor Ron Elliott of the Town of Minto, Susan
Duke, Chief Administrative Officer of the Township of
Wellesley, Mayor Don Ross of the Township of Wellington
North, Mayor Wayne Roth of the Township of Wilmot, Mayor
Bill Strauss of the Township of Woolwich.
In
January of this year, Mr. Arnott wrote all of the municipalities
and asked for their top transportation priorities for
the next five years and beyond. “We have a considerable
number of transportation issues in our Riding. I want
to do what I can to improve safety and efficiency in
the movement of people and goods, and ensure that our
transportation projects promote the “smart growth” goals
of the Government,” Mr. Arnott said.
All
of the municipalities replied and provided the recommendations
for the Waterloo-Wellington Transportation Action Plan
that was presented to the Minister at the Meeting. Key
projects that have support from municipalities include
the corridor study of Highway 7/8 between Kitchener
and Stratford, a new four-lane Highway 7 from Kitchener
to Guelph, and assistance for Wellington County for
Highway 24 from Guelph to Cambridge. There is also support
for a repaired and upgraded Highway 6 from Fergus to
Mount Forest, Waterloo Region’s Light Rail Transit Initiative,
and OSTAR funding for transportation related projects.
There are other projects that have been recommended
by the municipalities and all of these are included
in the Action Plan that Mr. Arnott is promoting.
“Together we are taking action now to ensure that our
roads and transit enhance our quality of life for the
future. These actions will help us ensure that we don’t
some day face the same congestion problems that plague
Toronto and its suburbs,” Mr. Arnott concluded.
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