Money well spent????

Yes, but could it have been better spent????


Thank you PWGSC for spending the $$$$ needed to repair the buckled bayside walk.

We are espcially grateful that cyclists and pedestians are protected this time around (unlike the repairs made in 2005) by a barrier separating vehicular traffic!!

However, given the extent of the repairs and safety measures taken, (concrete barriers separating the vehicles, plywood over the bridge grating for cyclists) wouldn't it have made more sense to used the funds for the much needed LAKESIDE walkway??

PWGSC please don't ignore the fact that both the city councils of Hamilton and Burlington have passed resolutions asking PWGSC for the lakeside walk.

The Cycling Committees of Burlington and Hamilton have also sent a joint letter to the minister of PWGSC asking for the lakeside walk.

Make your choice & let others know!

During the past 2+ years, we have lobbied the federal & provincial governments for a lakeside multipurpose path on the Burlington Canal Bridge. This would provide a seamless, safe connection for the waterfront trail between Hamilton & Burlington and will promote cycling and healthy activities. Although the loop under Eastport Dr. has been recently completed, the city councils of Hamilton & Burlington have passed motions requesting the lakeside path alternative. In spite of the new loop, some users continue to take the dangerous shortcut across Eastport Dr., or ride on the challenging bridge roadway.

PWGSC, which owns the bridge, declares a lakeside path is too difficult/costly to implement and NOT needed. PWGSC states the current bayside walk with the loop under Eastport is "the full and unlimited final solution." Applying numbers from the government's Active Transportation study, indicates the cost would probably be recovered in the first year through health, safety, environment and life style benefits!

MTO refuses to consider converting 1 of the vehicle lanes to a multipurpose lane citing the need for all 4 lanes in case the Skyway is shut down. MTO conveniently ignores 2 similar precedents:

1. the Garden City Skyway alternative is only 2 vehicle lanes (1 lane dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists)

2. York St. (403 alternate) will be reduced to 2 lanes.

Thanks for visiting this site. Please be sure to vote for the alternative of your choice and leave comments.

We need PWGSC, MTO & politicians to sit up and take notice of our united efforts and need.

Tell a friend! If you are in agreement with the lakeside crossing, do not hesitate to forward this email to other like minded individuals, friends and politicians from your area.

Use the special forwarding feature below to send this email directly to the Minister responsible for PWGSC, Honourable Michael Fortier, with your comments. They need to hear!

Thanks

PWGSC Urban Myths 1&2?

In a Sept. 2006 letter, PWGSC, the owners of the canal lift bridge, claim the loop is the "full and unlimited final solution." PWGSC also states it has "responded to municipal requests to connect the trails across federal lands."


I guess, PWGSC forgot to tell everyone!

Although they funded the newly constructed loop under Eastport Drive, the city councils of Burlington & Hamilton have passed motions requesting "the active participation and funding support of Public Works Canada in the design and construction of a functional and safe multi use pathway facility on the Lake side of the Lift Bridge."

The people behind the Fishermans' Pier development feel the same way. In their presentation, the caption for the picture reads, "Existing pathway on the lift bridge is narrow and of inappropriate material."

PWGSC - why aren't you listening??????

Its about the width!!!

PWGSC believes the narrow width of the existing bayside walk is adequate! I'd like to know what's in their coffee?

After the canal bridge has been lowerd, there is a crush of joggers, walkers, cyclists and more crossing the bridge - from both sides!

Its just too narrow!!!

MTO, when will we get a lakeside pathway????

Beach trail users are a patient group but we are long over due for a lakeside multipurpose path on the canal bridge. Its been over 2 years of lobbying federal and provincial levels of government and NOTHING has been done.

We've toured the bridge with MTO personnel & our local MPP, Cam Jackson. We have sent countless emails to 2 Ontario MTO ministers providing valid reasons why MTO should consider converting the lakeside vehicle lane on the lift bridge to a multipurpose path. This leaves 1 lane in each direction for vehicle traffic. The remaining lane would be a switchable lane, configured in the direction of maximum traffic, providing TWO (2) lanes in the direction of maximum traffic.

MTO's response was a flat out NO, won't even consider it. All four lanes are needed in case an accident or high winds on the Skyway shut BOTH bridges down. How likely is that?

When will MTO open its eyes and realise the immense benefits that bike lanes offer - especially as a means of reducing traffic congestion & pollution!