Lets now jump to the present and look at the current road and
traffic situation.
I live only two blocks from King St. and perhaps might be considered biased in
my thoughts.
But it has been my neighbourhood since 1971 and it deserves better political
treatment.
To reduce some of the obvious personal bias, much of the
wording will be taken directly from official sources.
So lets a start our view of the current situation with a foreboding
quotation from research complete in 1974:
The need for a new Highway 8 route was confirmed as
a result of the first stage of this study. Without it, transportation needs by
1991 would clearly require widening of the present route through the city to
four and six lanes. Failure to meet these needs would lead to severe
congestions, the use of residential streets and intolerable levels of community
disruption. (p. 2 “Highway 8 Review Cambridge to Kitchener, August 1974)
Shantz Hill foundry- at Fountain Street intersection - 1949 2005 - looking southwards down Shantz hill towards Fountain St.
"Based on the technical assessment of existing conditions and the
input received from the public, the primary short-term needs were identified for
improving the transportation network within Cambridge. (p. 7) And guess what?
Our neighbourhood wins the "improvement prize". Cut through the staff jargon, and
what you get is a widening of parts of Fountain St. and King St. to 4 lanes ..... and
then squeeze the increased traffic from the new lanes into the existing 2 lane roads.
1. The congestion is created by non-residents!
2. Cambridge Council has for 30 years
voted down any road design that would move peak hour traffic flow to employment
away from King Street.
3. Cambridge Councils have fostered the creation of at least 7000
new jobs north of highway 401.
4. BUT Cambridge Councillors have NOT constructed a single lane of new roadway to
provide an alternative route around
Cambridge Mills.
According
to ROW "Re-urbanziation provides an opportunity to improve the social and
physical fabric of a community through the creation of a high-quality,
livable urban environment.
So what do residents get without consultation:
- historic bridges demolished for auto traffic
- access to cities largest park impeded
- increased levels of noise, smog and traffic
- increased population density
- with no rapid transit for new density
Below left is a view of the new apartment buildings situated at one of most
congested intersections in Cambridge.
Smart Growth? Less than .5 km from this intersection there is "brownfield"
project to create 200 housing units, with at least 260 autos ..... welcome to
high density in a traditional neighbourhood.
Below right is a map to outline the section of Cambridge being
reurbanized =
(population density increase)
If you read the previous page about Cambridge Mills, you will know that in 1990 Cambridge Council conducted a heritage study of the Cambridge Mills area. Then, the study was filed away and absolutely forgotten until October 2006 when Council for some strange reason (ha, ha, ha) asked for a report on the status of the study. Simple answer, is that it collected dust. But, the staff report to Council contains a critical 1990 clause dealing with the relationship between existing plans to deal with traffic congestion and our neglected and abandoned Cambridge Mill's heritage.
The original 1990 study included the following recommendation:
[3] The preparation and implementation of a landscaping scheme having
particular regard to: the anticipated widening/reconstruction of King Street;
the as yet undeveloped public streetscape of King Street and Fountain Street;
and the particular sensitivities associated with conserving natural areas
and the Speed riverscape in close proximity to the urban environs of Preston."
(Report P-81-06, 2006)
Conclusion:
[1] Since 1990 Cambridge Council has ignored the heritage of Cambridge Mills via
the forgotten study.
[2] As described above, traffic congestion in the Cambridge Mills area has
continued to increase.
[3] Cambridge Council rejected any long term planning approach (CARSS) to deal
with traffic congestion.
[3] Regional Council, with no reference to our abandoned heritage, will prepare
roadway construction plans for reducing traffic chaos in the Cambridge Mills
area. DTNR, the plan approved by Cambridge Council will provide local fixes
along Fountain St. and King St. On Jan 29/08 I made a presentation to the
Regional road's committee to cancel their project E-05-004 to "improve" King St
and Fountain Street ...... full copy of
presentation here. Click E-05-004 tab)
Perhaps, the neglect of Cambridge Mills was not so benign as it seems ..... deliberate?
go to www.bobmcmullen.ca for more details on both smart and stupid growth projects in the neighbourhood.