Takes aim at Toronto Int'l Film Festival, Mayoral candidate Henry Dayday is taking aim at Circle Drive traffic snarls and the financing of River Landing.
At a press conference Friday, Dayday said fixes are needed to solve traffic jams on Circle Drive between Millar Drive and Ave. C while the city waits for funding to build a north commuter bridge.
“What we need is a common-sense approach to fix our traffic flow problems,” Dayday said.
He said a north commuter bridge is needed, but not until the city reduces its debt.
The commuter bridge project, announced earlier this year, would connect the rapidly growing northeast corner of the city with the north industrial area on the west side of the South Saskatchewan River at Marquis Drive north of the Silverwood Golf Course. The bridge is estimated to cost between $50 and 75 million. Mayor Don Atchison is pledging the bridge will be open by September 2016.
Dayday didn’t say exactly what could be done to solve the traffic problems on Circle Drive, but suggested removing the median or adding more lanes. He said he would order a study to look at solutions that could be implemented.
“Let’s start solving problems with less-costly solutions,” he said.
In 2006, $6 million was spent to widen and repave the stretch of road. Two years ago, the city commissioned a study to investigate options for the interchange and look at how to improve congestion on the Circle Drive business corridor. The major suggestion is to reconfigure the interchange at Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive to direct all traffic to a single set of traffic signals. A 2004 study recommended a freeway above Circle Drive so the business district is bypassed. The ultimate solution is a north bridge, city traffic planners said earlier this year.
Dayday also questioned the financing strategy for River Landing. Taxes from the area were always meant to cover operating costs such as street sweeping, snow clearing, and maintenance work. But private sector development has been slow-moving and taxpayers are footing $1 million per year to pay for upkeep at the landmark site. Under the city’s financing strategy, the funds will be paid back when development begins breaking even in five years.
Dayday said the financing strategy is dangerous because it assumes future revenue will be there to pay for the project.
“You need to balance your budget today,” Dayday said.
At a press conference Friday, Dayday said fixes are needed to solve traffic jams on Circle Drive between Millar Drive and Ave. C while the city waits for funding to build a north commuter bridge.
“What we need is a common-sense approach to fix our traffic flow problems,” Dayday said.
He said a north commuter bridge is needed, but not until the city reduces its debt.
The commuter bridge project, announced earlier this year, would connect the rapidly growing northeast corner of the city with the north industrial area on the west side of the South Saskatchewan River at Marquis Drive north of the Silverwood Golf Course. The bridge is estimated to cost between $50 and 75 million. Mayor Don Atchison is pledging the bridge will be open by September 2016.
Dayday didn’t say exactly what could be done to solve the traffic problems on Circle Drive, but suggested removing the median or adding more lanes. He said he would order a study to look at solutions that could be implemented.
“Let’s start solving problems with less-costly solutions,” he said.
In 2006, $6 million was spent to widen and repave the stretch of road. Two years ago, the city commissioned a study to investigate options for the interchange and look at how to improve congestion on the Circle Drive business corridor. The major suggestion is to reconfigure the interchange at Circle Drive and Idylwyld Drive to direct all traffic to a single set of traffic signals. A 2004 study recommended a freeway above Circle Drive so the business district is bypassed. The ultimate solution is a north bridge, city traffic planners said earlier this year.
Dayday also questioned the financing strategy for River Landing. Taxes from the area were always meant to cover operating costs such as street sweeping, snow clearing, and maintenance work. But private sector development has been slow-moving and taxpayers are footing $1 million per year to pay for upkeep at the landmark site. Under the city’s financing strategy, the funds will be paid back when development begins breaking even in five years.
Dayday said the financing strategy is dangerous because it assumes future revenue will be there to pay for the project.
“You need to balance your budget today,” Dayday said.
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