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Posts Tagged ‘Milton transit’

On the Campaign Trail: June 15, 2010

June 15th, 2010
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On the Campaign Trail is a regular feature on MiltonSearch.com’s Milton Blog, focused on connecting Milton residents to the candidates for Town Council and their platforms. The Municipal election is October 25th, 2010.

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Fake Lake Parody
The buzz this past week was all about Jennifer Smith’s ‘Fake Lake’ parody. The multi-talented candidate for Ward 2 wrote a song poking fun at the mounting cost of the upcoming G20 Summit in Toronto to the tune of “If I Had a Million Dollars” by the Barenaked Ladies. A friend assisted with vocals and her son played guitar and the song was featured on the front page of the Toronto Star website.

It was nice to see Jennifer receive a fair bit of publicity for her efforts. She was also interviewed by several TV stations who aired the interviews and her video on the evening news. Granted, attacking the Harper government over G8/G20 Summit spending is low-hanging fruit so to speak, but nonetheless, well-played Jennifer.

Are your kids street-proofed?
In Ward 6, candidate Mike Cluett is out door-knocking (he recently stopped by the offices of MiltonSearch.com whilst making the rounds) and posting regularly on his blog as usual.

As a member of the Milton Community Policing Committee, Mike informs us of their efforts in connecting with principals of local schools in an attempt to raise awareness among students and their families.

Where is Milton’s traffic calming policy?
When Ward 2 candidate Jennifer Smith isn’t producing music videos, she’s also writing. Last week she questioned Milton’s traffic calming policy — specifically the lack thereof. Other mid-size Ontario communities like Caledon have this type of policy in place and she feels a similar one in Milton would give Town staff some options for traffic calming other than more stop signs.

Pedestrian crosswalk needed on Thompson at Metro Plaza
Ward 6 candidate Mike Cluett has already discussed the need for a traffic light or crosswalk around the Metro Plaza (Thompson/Louis St. Laurent) ad nauseum and now Ward 7 candidate Rick DiLorenzo is also championing this cause.

The issue here is that families living close to the Metro Plaza, or the park on the west side of Thompson with soccer fields, a playground and a splash pad are reluctant to walk to either destination if they have to cross Thompson Road. Cars soar along that stretch of Thompson, usually over 80 km/hour, traveling northbound from the rural countryside or speeding up as they leave town traveling south, making the intersection extremely dangerous for pedestrians.

Milton Transit Open House
Rick DiLorenzo also attended Milton Transit’s Open House this past Sunday and has posted several video clips of the event.

An example of an 'urban village' proposed by Ward 8 candidate, Zeeshan Hamid.

The Urban Village
Zeeshan Hamid, candidate for Milton Ward 8 recently posted his vision for Milton from an urban design standpoint: the urban village. Zeeshan is concerned about Milton’s urban sprawl and its lack of sustainability. The urban village concept instead focuses on bringing back traditional neighbourhoods where there is a mix of employment and residential activities enabling people to work closer to where they live (imagine that!). Such a plan is also contingent on a more aggressive effort to bring more jobs to town.

MiltonSearch.com wholeheartedly agrees with Mr. Hamid on most of his urban planning ideas — Milton needs to start working towards becoming an enviable ‘urban village’ or an ‘escarpment community’ as he phrased it earlier. Nice job, Zeeshan.

See where Milton spends your money
In the ‘better him than us’ category, Andrew Salmons, candidate in Ward 1, must have spent quite a bit of time compiling an amazing, interactive, year-over-year comparison of how and where the Town of Milton spends your tax dollars. Andrew states that the Town should publish expenses online in a similar, accessible manor in the name of transparent, efficient and open government.

Yup, that sounds about right to us.

All of the candidates featured in this edition of ‘On the Campaign Trail’ should be commended for the effort they have put into their websites, blogs and to communicate with not only voters but residents throughout Milton. We encourage you to bookmark their sites and those of the other candidates and current councillors in an attempt to stay informed ahead of this Fall’s municipal election.

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Posted in Election, Hawthorne Village, Mike Cluett, Milton Community Policing Committee, Milton Development, Milton Events, Politics

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Petition Against 5% Increase in GO Transit Fares for 2010

February 14th, 2010
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GO Transit has announced that yet again during a recession, they plan to raise fares by 5% in 2010.

GO Transit has announced that yet again during a recession, they plan to raise fares by 5% in 2010.

As he was a year ago, Milton resident Andrew Salmons is all over GO Transit’s recent announcement that they will yet again raise fares by 5% for 2010.

I’d have to agree with Mr. Salmons on this one. During not only a recession, but a supposed environmental crisis — not to mention the traffic issues faced daily by GTA commuters — this is absolutely the wrong decision by GO.

I realize GO is continuing to make improvements and additions to their service, but it’s wrong to hit riders with this increase, especially with so many experiencing either wage freezes or taking pay cuts in the past year thanks to the state of the world economy.

In my mind, it would make sense for GO to keep costs down as much as possible so that taking transit becomes a ‘no-brainer’ for commuters. There would probably be an increase in ridership which would fund planned improvements and growth. And if funding falls a little short, well, the government seems to be more than willing to throw around stimulus money these days… Wouldn’t appeasing the huge number of GO commuters be seen as ‘low hanging fruit’ by the Provincial Government?

Are you a user of GO Transit? If so, we would encourage you to do your part by signing the online petition we received from Andrew Salmons via email.

Will this change anything? More than likely not, but I think it’s important for GO to see where it’s riders stand on this announcement and also read your comments and suggestions.

From Andrew Salmons:

GO Transit has done it again! They are increasing your monthly pass rate by 5% again this year, on top of the 5% increase last year. That is a 10% increase in just 2 years, while annual inflation is 1.2% as of December 2009, and was 1.3% as of March 2009.

To put the latest 5% increase in perspective:

A rider traveling from Milton to Union will now pay $272 per month from $260 in 2009, $250 in 2008, and $246 in 2007. 8.8% increase since March 2008.

A rider traveling from Oakville to Union will now pay $214.50 per month from $205 in 2009, and $195 in 2008. 10% increase since March 2008.

Add your name to petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to (1) reduce GO Transit fares to be inline with inflation since 2007, (2) conduct a complete review GO Transit’s operating expenses and contracts, and (3) develop and implement a strategy for economically sustainable and affordable transit in Ontario.

I ask you for your support and ask you add your name this year’s petition against the fare increase.

Please sign here

Feel free to forward this petition to your friends, co-workers, and family, and your Member of Provincial Parliament.

Thank you for your support!

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Posted in Commuting, GO Transit, GTA, Milton Development, Politics, Traffic, Transit

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Boyne Survey: “They have to have someplace to live”

February 21st, 2009

The Boyne Survey will be the site of the third phase of Milton’s residential growth, the previous two having started over the past 10 years. Once all three phases are complete, Halton’s regional staff estimate Milton’s population will be close to 150,000 by 2021.

The Boyne Survey will be the site of the third phase of Milton’s residential growth, the previous two having started over the past 10 years. Once all three phases are complete, Halton’s regional staff estimate Milton’s population will be close to 150,000 by 2021.

An intersting story in this weekend’s Champion on Milton’s development from the ‘other’ side. Farmer Hugh Beaty describes the development approaching his Omagh farm as “they have to have someplace to live.”

Yes, it’s hard to believe the next phase of Milton’s development will be creeping into the territory of the small hamlet of Omagh, but Mr. Beaty, it’s not that simple…

Yes, we all knew Milton was primed for a serious population boom as Mississauga and Oakville neared their capacity, but the flipside is that this development comes at the expense of some of Southern Ontario’s and certainly Halton Region’s best farmland.

It makes you wonder about where or when the Town of Milton should draw the line on their expansion plans. We’ll see as time goes on as to whether the tough economic state we’re in affects those decisions as well.

Enjoy, and as always, we invite you to leave your comments below.

From The Milton Canadian Champion:

For 90 years, Hugh Beaty has watched the once small town of Milton inch closer to his farm near Omagh, in the area formerly known as Trafalgar North.

Yet, though he was taken away from his home at times — serving in the Second World War, doing charitable work in northeastern Brazil — he was always able to return to a farming community.

“I’m still living on the farm I was born on,” noted Beaty, whose family name is the namesake of a community and under-construction library branch in the town.

Soon, though, the retired farmer’s 100-acre property on Fourth Line, just south of Britannia Road, will no longer look out onto flat farmland. Instead, it will be face to face with the growing urban area of Milton.

“They’re going to come,” said Beaty of the population increases in Milton. “They have to have someplace to live.”

Where they — up to 50,000 new residents — will live was the subject of a public meeting last week on what is called the Boyne Survey- Education Village secondary plan.

The 950-hectare Boyne lands are bounded by Louis Saint Laurent Boulevard to the north, James Snow Parkway to the east, Britannia Road to the south and Tremaine Road to the west. The Town is also including the 165-hectare area known as the Education Village at the northwest corner of Britannia and Tremaine roads in the secondary plan.

Beaty, along with more than 50 other local residents, attended the session to find out what planning has already been undertaken by the Town in preparation for opening up the area to residential development, perhaps by 2013.

According to the Town’s planning consultant, Liz Howson, much of the background research on the Boyne area has been completed, including sub-watershed studies and retail requirements to service the proposed community.

The Boyne Survey will be the site of the third phase of Milton’s residential growth, the previous two having started over the past 10 years. Once all three phases are complete, Halton’s regional staff estimate Milton’s population will be close to 150,000 by 2021.

What might distinguish the Boyne area compared to the first two growth phases, according to Howson, is a focus on transit-supportive development. This would include higher density development at the intersections of major streets and a possible transit hub located at the Education Village, which is the proposed site for a campus of Wilfrid Laurier University.

Planning has already begun for widening important traffic corridors as well. The Region foresees the widening of Tremaine from Britannia to north of the 401 starting in 2013, with a portion between Derry Road and Main Street in 2011. And the Region will start an environmental assessment for the widening of Britannia between Tremaine and Trafalgar Road this year, said Town planner Bill Mann. Construction on Britannia is also scheduled to begin in 2013.

The next stage in the planning process is the creation of land use options in the Boyne survey area. The options will be the subject of another public workshop Thursday, Mar. 5, before being whittled down to a preferred option to go to Milton council for approval.

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Posted in Environment, Halton, Hawthorne Village, Milton Development, Real Estate, Transit, University

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Eales fed-up, gives up bid to repair GO

January 16th, 2009

From the Toronto Star:

Pat Eales, who rallied 11,000 angry GO riders to sign a petition last winter, quit her job and has given up on commuting.

Pat Eales, who rallied 11,000 angry GO riders to sign a petition last winter, quit her job and has given up on commuting.

The woman who rallied 11,000 angry GO commuters to sign a petition last winter has quit the customer service advisory committee inspired by her efforts.

Saying she couldn’t handle another winter of long, frustrating commutes on the GO train, Pat Eales found a new job about 15 minutes from her Oakville home – ironically overlooking the GO station.

On days like Wednesday, when thousands of commuters were left in the deep freeze because of train delays, Eales says she thanks her lucky stars she no longer suffers the commute to downtown Toronto.

She started an online GO petition after being late for work repeatedly last winter. It demanded a freeze on fare hikes and a 50 per cent refund on fares when trains are delayed 20 minutes or more.

The petition tapped enormous customer outrage – 11,000 disgruntled commuters signed on – but wasn’t enough to persuade GO to cancel a 15-cent-a-ride fare hike. GO also argued that since it relies heavily on fares, a late-train refund would have come out of commuters’ pockets anyway.

GO did, however, set up a committee of seven train riders and one bus passenger to advise the board and staff on how to improve service.

Eales quit after the first committee meeting, in September, when she found her new job – something she says probably would have happened anyway.

At that meeting, Eales said members were given a free lunch, a return fare to GO’s downtown office and a model double-decker bus. But most members of the committee – composed of riders from each of GO’s lines and a student – remain anonymous.

“After all I did and the things I wanted to accomplish, I didn’t feel that was the venue for it,” she said.

“How are we supposed to be a liaison between (GO Transit) and the GO transit riders if no one knows who we are and no one knows we even exist?” asked Eales, who said she was required to sign a confidentiality agreement when she joined the committee.

“GO assembled these representatives to be a confidential sounding board for their policies and plans,” said GO spokesperson Vanessa Thomas. “It’s not so much that they are anonymous, but their role is specific and related to providing advice to GO.”

Committee members were solicited on the GO website and, so far, have focused on learning about the GO system. They did support the move to put defibrillators on trains.

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Posted in Commuting, GO Transit, GTA, Transit, Transportation

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Have you taken Milton Transit?

October 9th, 2008

Mike Cluett
Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog

Did the Town of Milton suffer from the “chicken and the egg” syndrome?  Did they spend millions of dollars unnecessarily to get brand new buses that could fit more people BEFORE the people actually take the bus?

Mike Cluett says that while we will need a transit system in town, it has to be economically viable.

Mike Cluett says that while we will need a transit system in town, it has to be economically viable.

As I’ve stated in the past, I do beleive Milton needs a transit system for its increasing population.  There has to be a way for someone to get downtown Milton from lets say Hawthorne Village for the Farmers Market on Saturday instead of getting in the car, trying in vain to get up Thompson Road, turn left at Main and head on down.  We all know the downtown area isnt meant for lots of vehicle traffic and the bus would be the preferred way.

Only problem is that no one is taking advantage of it.  Recent Milton Transit reports show that the only time ridership on the buses increases is when there are FREE TRANSIT days, sponsored usually by corporate citizens like Mattamy Homes, Fieldgate etc. and go back down to almost non existant levels when Miltonians have to pay.  While we will need a transit system in town, it has to be economically viable.  We cant just keep throwing money at the issue and hope someone will take the bus.  We cant have a program if no one is using it.  The town can throw money around and try to educate people that taking the bus is the better way.

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Posted in Environment, Mike Cluett, Milton Development, Milton: The Bad, Politics, Transit, Transportation

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Heat wave slows Milton GO Trains

July 19th, 2008

go train milton to toronto

Those familiar with taking the GO Train into Toronto from Milton are well aware of all of the trials and tribulations involved. Those of you thinking about or who have recently moved to Milton and plan to commute into the city via the GO Trains might be interested in this recent article on why you can just throw that handy, dandy train schedule out the window when the temperatures heat up…

From Tess Kalinowski, Transportation Reporter at the Toronto Star:

GO Transit is warning of 15- to 30-minute delays on the Milton line in light of today’s extremely hot weather.

But based on last summer’s experience, which saw delays usually in the two- to three-minute range, those delays could be much shorter, said GO spokesperson Jessica Kosmack this afternoon.

The Milton line is owned by Canadian Pacific, which slows its trains to 64 kilometres per hour (40 miles per hour) once the temperature hits 32 degrees C, she said.

That allows the engineer and conductor in the locomotive to see if a kink has developed in the rail ahead due to heat expansion, explained CP spokesperson Mike Lovecchio.

CN also slows its passenger and freight trains once the temperature hits 30 degrees C but the delays in the Toronto-area tend to be insignificant, said company spokesperson Mark Hallman.

In many cases, because of the number of stops on the GO lines, the trains wouldn’t normally exceed the hot weather speed limit of 105 kilometres per hour. ( 65 miles per hour)

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Posted in Commuting, Environment, GTA, Milton: The Bad, Toronto, Transit, Transportation

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GO’s ridership growing faster than service

May 28th, 2008

Milton GO Train Station

Bus service, parking lots stretched

As fast as GO Transit expands its bus and train service, ridership on many routes appears to be growing faster.

This year GO was expecting about a 4- to 5 per cent increase in riders. But March ridership numbers released to GO’s board of directors this week showed average weekday ridership increased 7.5 per cent over the same month last year.

That’s about 14,080 more riders daily or the equivalent of nine additional train trips.

A surfeit of riders is a good problem to have when “most transit companies are out there screaming to get people on the system,” said GO managing director Gary McNeil.

“We’re trying to manage the demand based on the supply we’ve got available,” he said, adding that bus capacity is almost “maxed out” even though GO introduced the first of its new double-decker fleet on the Highway 407 routes in April and it is not retiring its coaches as fast as it had expected.

Ridership is migrating to the off-peak periods when there are seats available on the trains, but at many stations there’s virtually no parking available by the end of the morning rush, said customer service director Bill Jenkins.

The third track being built along GO’s busy Lakeshore line means the Oakville VIA station for about $3 million by December.(The new station will be built northwest of the existing building, which is being demolished.

Georgetown riders will have their weekend bus service to Union Station increased. An hourly express service will service downtown Brampton and a second hourly service will go to Bramalea and Malton.

The transit company also plans to launch a new weekday bus service between Bronte and Milton with 13 trips in each direction to connect with 407 bus service at the Burlington 407 Carpool lot, the Lakeshore West service to Union Station and McMaster University.

As it prepares to extend service into the Niagara Region, GO is also introducing buses from a new interim park n’ ride lot in Stoney Creek to the Burlington station. The move is expected to reduce the demand on parking at Burlington, where a new parking structure is supposed to open next month.

All GO Transit’s Milton trains are now pulling 12 cars that accommodate 300 additional passengers on each train.

The 12-car trains also are being used on three Lakeshore runs: the 8:25 a.m. Oshawa express train to Union Station; the 5:03 train to Pickering from Union and the 4:10 p.m. express to Burlington from Union Station.

Eight of GO’s 27 new locomotives are now in service. The agency is awaiting delivery of more locomotives before it can add more 12-car trains to the busy Lakeshore line. The new engines are supposed to be delivered by the middle of next year.

Meantime, some Lakeshore platforms still need to be lengthened to accommodate the longer trains. Platform work begins this month in Hamilton, in the summer at Appleby and in the fall at Long Branch.

– by Tess Kalinowski, Transportation Reporter for the Toronto Star

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Posted in Commuting, GTA, Milton Development, Milton: The Bad, Politics, Transit, Transportation

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