Transit plan impresses council

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Jack Evans

EMC News -Belleville - City Council Monday gave a vote of confidence to the consultant firm of Morrison Hershfield Ltd. which is working on a new transportation master plan for the city.

Making the presentation on behalf of the consultant was Jennifer Armstrong, who indicated the project is about the midway point.

She reminded that the last official transportation plan was about 20 years ago and did not consider things like public transportation, bicyclists and pedestrian traffic, all of which they are trying to incorporate into the new study.

She reported that the study is at a point where a first public involvement meeting should be held soon ... probably some time in April.

Factors considered in the plan include safety, sustain-ability, responsibility (financial, social, environmental) and accessibility.

Her projections for the city's growth over the next 20 years are for about 24 per cent, leading to a population total of about 63.5 thousand by 2032. Employment growth is project even higher at about 65 per cent.

The latter figure, she explained, means increased traffic in and out of the city for the workplace.

Studying normal preferred routes for such traffic move-ment, she cautioned that some major arteries or sections thereof are already being used to near or over capacity. Specifically, these include University Avenue leading into the Northeast Industrial Park, Elmwood Drive, the Norris Whitney Bridge area and the Bridge and Sidney streets area.

She cited the city's already excellent record in public transportation which is well above comparable communities, but her firm recommends a target to increase such usage by eight per cent over the next 20 years.

Council received the report with comments of praise for the work the consultants have done so far.