Minister Announces Delay in Finalizing GTA West Corridor Transportation Development Strategy in Halton Area

The Minister of Transportation, in a letter to Mayor Bonnette dated August 5th, and received on August 9th, has announced that the GTA West Corridor Transportation Development Strategy in the Halton area will not be finalized at this time. Based on the Town’s submissions and the submissions of others and 1000’s of postcards, the finalization of the Strategy will be delayed until at least the spring of 2012. The Minister is doing this to allow the Ministry to carry out additional analysis and consultation rather than simply adopting a consolidation of Alternatives 4-2 and 4-3 which the draft strategy had recommended.

The Minister has directed that the Town be consulted before any decision on next steps is made and that no final decision be made without public consultation and the environmental assessment work thoroughly
completed.

According to Mayor Bonnette “this is good news because the Minister is essentially saying that the Ministry will further examine the Town’s proposal which was Alternative 4-2 and the widening of the 401 to an urban standard through Halton Hills and Milton rather than to a rural standard. The Town’s position is that that Alternative 4-2 and the 401 widening will provide the road capacity needed for the GTA West Corridor in the Halton area to the year 2031 and beyond. There is no need for Alternative 4-3 crossing all of Halton Hills to Tremaine through the Town’s prime agricultural area”.

Mayor Bonnette, further responded that “we have the Minister’s ear and the citizens of Halton Hills must still remain vigilant to be sure that the further examination and analysis of the options available such as Alternative 4-2 and the widening of the 401 are done thoroughly and comprehensively so that Alternative 4-3 does not become part of the final GTA West Transportation Development Strategy. The Town remains convinced that Alternative 4-3 is unnecessary for the GTA West Transportation Corridor through the year 2031 and beyond, and believes that a fair assessment of other alternatives such as Alternative 4-2 and the widening of the 401 on an urban standard basis will result in the Ministry of Transportation reaching the same conclusion.”

The Mayor is urging all Halton Hills citizens to continue to send postcards to the Minister indicating the unacceptability of Alternative 4-3 and he encourages the continued posting of lawn signs in the agricultural and rural areas of Halton Hills against Alternative 4-3 and he suggests everyone keep the signs in place until the unnecessary and unacceptable Alternative 4-3 is eliminated.

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