Traffic problems very real in the North End

We don’t have a traffic problem? Excuse me, but what street do you live on? Are you not aware of a new 1,700-unit subdivision in the North End? Are you not aware of the almost completed 407 extension to the 115? Do you know how much more expansion will result here as the GTA moves north and east?

Mr. Riel, you are sadly misinformed. We have lived on our street for over 15 years and have watched, with the expansion of the north end, the street become a main route from Water to Chemong. So much so at times, more residents now back into their driveways to make getting out easier. Chemong Rd. is becoming the second Lansdowne.

Ms. Therrien and Mr. Baldwin can always be counted on to vote NO on just about everything. Ms. Therrien’s suggestion about alternative transportation is flawed. She seems to not understand that there are thousands of people living here that commute daily to the GTA to work. Not just across town. The same flawed thinking of the bicycle advocates. Can you just see seniors riding their bikes to get groceries and go to the clinics?

Mr. Pappas and the other councillor with downtown interests are concerned only with their own area. Sorry, but this city is growing whether any of the NO’s refuse to believe it and keep sticking their heads in the sand and pretending it still is a small quaint town.

Every forward-thinking city has built a bypass or express route to handle traffic. Moving here more than 30 years ago from Kitchener, they would be in a mess without the Conestoga Parkway. It is time to dust off out of date thinking and realize the inevitability of future major growth here and finally get serious about the benefits of having a north south traffic route away from residential areas.

I know the folks in our area would be happy to see even a 50 per cent reduction in traffic on our streets. W. Dunk McClennan St.