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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 16, 2011 · 6 OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5571 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: C Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member A THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association S Suburban Newspapers of America o Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution SARAH MCSWEENEY Circ. Manager Gridlock woes Halton Region says it wants to minimize the size of the headache drivers will endure as massive road widening gets underway mainly in southwest Milton and north Oakville. We've got news for the folks at the region: drivers right across Halton have been suffering headaches for years due to overcrowded, poorly-planned road systems getting worse by the hour, not the year. We are not pointing the finger at just the region. All our highways and municipal roads are bursting at the seams thanks to our burgeoning population. Recently, the region's planning and public works committee approved a traffic impact report with the hope of mitigating gridlock during road reconstruction. Mitigating gridlock? We already have gridlock and we can only imagine the length of time commuters will spend in their cars once the projects begin. For those of you who drive to or through Oakville and Milton you might want to take note of the following: The construction, which includes expansions and grade separations, is to begin in 2012 and 2013 and runs until 2014-2016. The projects include: Dundas Street widening from Bronte Road to Proudfoot Trail, CN Rail crossing and Bronte Creek crossing; Tremaine Road widening from Britannia Road to Derry Road and from Main Street to Hwy. 401; Britannia Road widening from Tremaine Road to Ninth Line; Neyagawa Boulevard widening from Dundas Street to Hwy. 407; Regional Road 25 widening from Hwy. 407 to Britannia Road. To help with the ensuing chaos, the region will review and adjust timed traffic signals, enhance the use of digital signage to inform frustrated drivers of f `real-time traffic conditions," and keep the lines of f communication open offering information on detour routes. In addition, the region is considering applying penalties if a contractor fails to re-open base traffic flow during peak hours and permitting weekend and night work. On Monday, Halton Region started widening a section of Dundas Street from Oak Park Boulevard to Hwy. 403 in north Oakville from four to six lanes with the hope of improving traffic flow. We know it's all part of Building a Better Halton; improving infrastructure is key to our transportation corridor. However, knowing this does nothing to ease the despair felt by drivers trying to get to and from work and making it home in time to see the kids off to bed. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Letter to the editor Planning in action As my planning professors have taught me, the most successful communities are simply those whose residents are happy. Oakville's commitment to build a vibrant, green, and healthy town despite growing pressures has created a high quality of life for its residents, making us happy. Last August, I decided to take a stroll through Oakville's newest community being built north of f Dundas Street, and I was impressed with what I saw. On my adventure, I came across more densely-built homes that faced a large pedestrian walkway instead of a wide road aligned with large driveways. A sense of relief, for finally, a friendly street designed for people and not cars. I also came across the Kids Culinary Garden, a community garden for children to plant, harvest, and use that harvest to cook their own food where they will be able to learn the importance of f sustainable agriculture. The new planning methods used in Oakville's new communities will create vibrant places to live, and will attract people to be more active on our streets. These efforts can be seen across town through improvements to Oakville Transit, and revitalization of our important areas such as Kerr Street. As our society moves away from the suburban, auto-oriented dream, I am glad to see that our town, too, is moving forward with building happy and healthy environments. After all, we have the opportunity to shape our environment, but in the end, the environment in which we live in shapes us. Luis Juarez, Oakville Letters to the editor The Oakville Beaver r welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver r reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Remember responsible parenting The effects of underage drinking are well documented, so why do we continue to have parents who allow/condone it in their homes? I've run in to it before. I have three teenage boys who've gone to parties or are just hanging out at someone's house where the parents allow alcohol to be served and often are even providing it. Am I naiive enough to think that my sons won't drink, even if we don't allow it in our home? No. But I'm also not going to condone it by serving it to them either. Studies are pretty clear about that as well. If you, as a parent, condone it, the children will be more likely to abuse it and will do so more often. I've heard all of the arguments from these parents, and I know I won't be able to convert them. What they choose to do in their own home is their business. But what if they didn't stop at alcohol? Many kids are doing various drugs. Would people get them some and let them try it at home while they're being supervised? Both impair judgment, both can be addictive, and both are illegal (at this age). What you do with your child is your business, but stop taking liberties with mine. You are making my job as a parent that much harder. Renee Testani, Oakville