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8- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 6, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Lakeshore Road may expand to three lanes in west Oakville By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Carnival time Town Council has paved the way for a $6.9 million facelift for the Lakeshore Road West corridor between Burloak Drive and Mississaga Street. On Monday, councillors accepted an Environmental Assessment Study Report that recommended the changing of the corridor to a three-lane platform. The report, which was presented to Oakville's Community Services Committee last week, also recommended the improvement of intersections including the adding of a westbound right turning lane to the intersection at Burloak Drive as well as to the intersection at Great Lakes Boulevard. The introduction of on-street bike lanes with trail/sidewalk improvements or off-street bike paths and sidewalk improvements and a continuous centre turn lane or an intermittent centre turn lane with median treatments was also recommended, as were additional pedestrian crossings including traffic signals at Stevenson Road, Chalmers Street and a pedestrian underpass at Sheldon Creek. The Environmental Assessment Study Report also made an inventory of trees that could face disruption through the urbanization of the Lakeshore Road West corridor, listing 30 trees that stand in the way of proposed sidewalks and trails. Dave Johnson of the Town's Engineering & Construction Department noted that where possible the proposed facilities would be diverted around any significant trees. "Every effort will be made to protect or relocate existing trees," he said. The report found that the corridor not only suffers from poor pavement conditions, but that its current two lane operating capacity does not meet current or future requirements needed to accommodate pedestrian, vehicular or cycling traffic. East-west cycling and pedestrian facilities were also found to be discontinuous. The cost of this project is estimated to be approximately $6,975,000 with improvements from Burloak Drive to Great Lakes Boulevard costing $2,667,000 while the improvement process from Great Lakes Boulevard to Mississaga Street will cost $4,308,000. Ward 6 Regional and Town Councillor Tom Adams, speaking at last week's committee meeting, expressed displeasure over how much of that total must be funded by the Town alone. "When I look at the funding for this project I understand that 90 per cent is going to come out of the taxpayer's pocket and only 10 per cent is coming out of development charges," he said. "There are enormous amounts of new development occurring all around this project and it just burns me that we're paying for it." Adams wondered what degree the work proposed for the Lakeshore Road West corridor was being undertaken to accommodate new development. The Town's Commissioner of Infrastructure and Transportation Dave Bloomer responded that the road is in need of reconstruction and work on it would have to take place regardless of development in the area. Lakeshore Road West resident Laurie McGinn also voiced concerns about the project and in particular about her displeasure with the proposed traffic light at Stevenson and Lakeshore Road West. "Contrary to what the project team has indicated to you, slowing down a high volume traffic area, which they indicate this is, may not be a good thing. I think you want to get a high volume of traffic through there in a reasonable way and not keep slowing it down at traffic lights," she said. "We do not want to have gridlock and that is what too many traffic lights in this area could cause." Another resident raised concerns about Bronte losing a piece of itself because of the Lakeshore Road West urbanization. "One of the reasons we chose to move to Bronte was because of its eclectic blend of old roads," she said. "I'm afraid we're going to lose what makes Bronte, Bronte." The committee's recommendations left the door open to discussions on the signalization of the intersection at Stevenson and Lakeshore Road West and the location of bus bays to the design stage meetings of this project, which will occur at a later date. Oakville's Engineering & Construction Department is hoping to begin construction on the Lakeshore Road West (Burloak Drive to Mississaga Street) corridor before the end of 2008. RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER WELCOME BONHOMME: Ecole Forest Trail School jesters (clockwise from the bottom left) Alex Montminy, Erica Maringka, Curtis Kohler, Vaughan Hachey, and Clayton Meyrick) welcome Bonhomme Carnaval) to their school's Winter Carnival last Thursday. Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada TAKE PART IN THE 2008 BUDGET PROCESS! Please note that all questions, comments and Town responses (if required) will be posted to the Town of Oakville website for public review. All meetings are held at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Visit www.oakville.ca for more budget information. Oakville's Budget Committee meetings can be viewed live on Town TV at www.towntv.ca. The 2008 Budget process is underway. Oakville residents are invited to take part in the budget process to help Oakville attain its vision of being "the most livable town in Canada." Share Your Comments and Get Involved The 2008 Budget Committee will consider all submissions, whether in person, writing or email as part of their budget deliberations. UPCOMING BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING DATES February 11 February 19 February 22 February 25 February 26 February 27 March 3 1 ­ 4 p.m. 1 ­ 4 p.m. 1 ­ 4 p.m. 1 ­ 4 p.m. 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 7 ­ 9 p.m. 7 p.m. Committee Rooms 1 & 2 Committee Rooms 1 & 2 Committee Rooms 1 & 2 Committee Rooms 1 & 2 Committee Rooms 1 & 2 Council Chambers Council Chambers Operating and Capital Summary and Release of Budget Documents Staff Presentations Staff Presentations Staff Presentations Public Delegations and Budget Deliberations Public Delegations and Budget Deliberations (if required) Presentation of Budget Committe Recommendations and Final Budget Approval by Council · · · Residents who wish to appear before the Budget Committee as a delegate should register with Nancy Fiorentino, Committee Coordinator at nfiorentino@oakville.ca or 905-338-4179. Written comments for the Committee can be sent to Nancy Fiorentino, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6J 5A6. Residents can also email their comments to budget2008@oakville.ca or fax to 905-815-2004.