In all the hoopla recently over Guelph’s building development plans, especially the proposed high-rises for students at Gordon and Stone Road, there seems to have been an essential consideration missing.
As Paul Bedford, former chief planner for Toronto, says, “There is no denying that transit is the key to sustainable future.”
Guelph is already experiencing gridlock as defined as having to sit in your car through two changes of a stop light to gain access to the intersection. Think Gordon at Arkell Road, Edinburgh or Kortright.
Now add several hundred cars trying to find parking and clogging the intersection at Gordon and Stone (with Stone going to one lane as it passes the university).
The other looming concern that Guelph experienced again this summer is a serious shortage of water. While city council has investigated a pipeline to Lake Erie, it showed no interest last month in considering curtailing its support of supplying Guelph/Puslinch bottled water worldwide.
A pipeline does not appear feasible to provide water, and a subway has not been proposed to manage transit and make our future sustainable.
Hedley Dimock
Guelph