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Car-first mentality dominates Halton, says consultant By Tim Foran METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP 19 · Friday, April 23, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com A big challenge for transportation in fastgrowing Halton is changing the current reality, according to a Halton Regional consultant. Of the approximately two dozen people at a recent public meeting in Milton, one of four held across Halton on the Region's master plan for transportation between now and 2031, only one person walked to the evening affair, according to the results of a hands-up survey asked by the consultant. Everybody else came by car, with none cycling or taking transit. "That survey demonstrates one mode (of transportation) is dominant," pointed out Ian Parson, a Halton resident. "Is this (master plan) study to accommodate that mode or change it?" he asked Halton's transportation consultant, Alvaro Almuina. "At the end of the day, we need to change behaviour and that will take time," Almuina responded. "It is a shift away from the car." Following the sparsely attended public meeting, at which about half of the attendees were Regional officials, Almuina said it's possible the Region will require more road expansions beyond what it has already included in its 10year capital budget forecast. However, he said road widenings alone wouldn't be able to meet the transportation needs of the 300,000 more people expected to call the Region home by 2031. The Region and the Town are planning for just over half that population to settle in a wide- ly-expanded urban area of Milton, one that will essentially grow to the Oakville and Mississauga borders. "You can't build your way out of congestion," Almuina said. "So you have to look at alternatives." Those alternatives include modes of "active transportation" and transit. Regional council has set non-binding targets for 20 per cent of all peak period trips to be made by transit by 2031, with automobiles used 70 per cent of the time, and walking, bicycling and other "active transport" modes the remaining 10 per cent. An average seven per cent of all trips made in the morning peak period by travellers in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills were by walking or bicycling, compared to 81 per cent by automobile, according to the University of Toronto's Transportation Tomorrow Survey of 2006, data that is used by municipalities like Halton Region to develop transportation master plans. Halton's transportation master plan must conform to the overall GTAH transportation plan outlined by the Provincial agency, stated Metrolinx, in its document The Big Move. For Halton, The Big Move includes plans for an electrified GO train line to Oakville and Burlington, all-day, two-way trains on the Milton and Georgetown GO lines, and bus rapid transit corridors on Dundas Street and Trafalgar Road. The Region will continue to develop its master plan, The Road to Change, over the next year. The Regional Rain Barrel Sales Events Halton Region will be hosting four rain barrel sales events to promote wise outdoor water use. Diverting water from a downspout into a rain barrel allows you to capture rain water and store it for future use to water gardens, shrubs and potted plants. $36 each (cash only). Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca Notice Of Pesticide Use The Halton Region Health Department monitors standing water and catch basins in urban areas on public lands in The City of Burlington, The Town of Halton Hills, The Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville for mosquito larvae. When mosquito larvae are found, the Health Department uses larvicide to control mosquito larvae in order to reduce the incidence of West Nile virus in Halton. Larvicide will be applied by a licensed applicator contracted by the Region. In Standing Water Location Larviciding of standing water may begin anytime from April 12 to October 31, 2010, once monitoring indicates that mosquito larvae are present. The Halton Region Health Department will apply larvicide to standing water sites under the direction of the Medical Date Saturday, May 1 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 8 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Limit of one per purchase, per household Oakville in The City of Burlington, The Town of Halton Hills, The Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Signs will be posted at each location indicating when the larvicide was applied. Robert C. Austin Operations Centre, In Catch Basins Larviciding of catch basins may begin anytime from June 1 to October 31, 2010, once monitoring indicates that mosquito larvae are present. The Halton Region Health areas on public lands in The City of Burlington, The Town of Halton Hills, The Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville. Comes equipped with secure mosquito screen and handy dispensing hose For more information visit www.halton.ca/waterconservation. For the locations and dates of treatment please visit our website at www.halton.ca/wnv. For more information about West Nile virus, please dial 311 or call Halton Region at Youth in Halton...It's Your Voice! All youth in Halton are invited to the upcoming Halton Youth Empowerment Conference: "It's Your Voice" on Thursday, April 29, 2010 free. Learn how to get involved in your community and make a difference in the issues that matter to you. Gary Carr Regional Chair Halton Regional Meeting Schedule May 4 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Committee May 5 9:30 a.m. Planning & Public Works Committee May 5 1:30 p.m. Administration & Finance Committee Meetings can be viewed at www.halton.ca 230410 www.haltonyouth.com. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting.