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Te Canadian Champion, Tuesday, October 5, 1999 - Move over motorists -1i won 't be the more the merrier when it cornes to traAffie congestion A transportation crisis is hitting southern Ontario and experts say it could have a dramatic affect on the GTA 's economie prosperity By KIM ARNOTT Special ta The Champion Think Halton's traffie congestion is bad today? Well, prepare to yield while 650 new cars merge onto the highways in October atone. Another 650 are expected to join you in November, and in every other montb fromn now until the year 2016. In fact, tbe transportation crisis in soutbemn Ontario is so bad- tbat we're going to have to start spending twice as mucli money as we do today, just to keep the roads at their current leveis of congestion. The situation truly is a crisis, and one that, if flot addressed over tbe next few years, wili bave a dramnatic impact on the economic prosperity of the GTA, according to staff with the Region of Haiton. The'depressing statîstics were outiined at a breakfast meeting recentiy hosted by the Oakviiie and Buriington Chambers of Commerce. Haiton's population is expected ta grow by about 200,000 peo- pie between now and 2016. Ail those new residents wiii mean that the number of cars on tbe regional road system wiil increase fromn about 201,000 to 324,000. Littie planning bas been done, says McCleary Despite that, there is little in tbe way of planning, iùnding or politicai wili aimed at dealing witb tbe încreasing traffic conges- tion, said David McCleary, senior policy advisor witb Halton Region. I.This is positioned to be tbe major ur'oan problemn at tbe tum of tbe century," lie said. "If we don't act, we're going to have a con- gestion crisis that gels out of control." Wbile traffic backlog bas a substantial impact on tbe quality of life for commutera, who find their work days ie.ngtbened by hours, it aiso adds to air pollution problems, creates difficulty for emergency vehicies responding to cails and encourages drivers ta seek out rural and suburban roads as aitemate routes. But perbaps the most signifiçant impact is tbat tbe gridlock damages tbe area's economic well-being, said Kate Jobnston, director of the regional business development department. And since the GTA and Hamilton-Wentwortb areas are tbe economic enginea of botb tbe province and the country, it'a time for federal and provincial governments to wake up and provide tbeir share of funding to solving the transportation criais, she added. New roads not the only answer About 50 per cent of tbe groas provincial product and output is generated in tbe GTA and Haniilton-Wentworth regions, wbile the two area accounit for about 21per cent of the groas national product. "Its clear that the factors that binder economric development in tbe GTA bave a provincial and national effect too," said Ms Jobniston. -If Our centres cannot move people and goods and services on that higbway, tban the economic engine of Ibis province is run- ning on tbree cylinders, not eiglit," added Oakvilie Mayor Ann Mulvale. speakers at the breakfast meeting emphasized that new roada aren t the oniy solution to the transportation criais. FEMALE VOLUNTEERS FOR A MOTIVATIONAL STUDY We need 50 femnale volunteers to parlicipate in a fourteen day fitness improvemnent study. You do not need to be a member of Goodlife Fitness. Clubs and there is no cost ta participate. Goodife CAls 876-3488 855 SM"lu Ave. E. Milton Visit the dut, or oeil us on or betoreOctober 15, 1999 Public transit commuter parking lots and higb occupancy vebi- cie lanes also bave a role to play in ensuring traffic movea smootbly tbroughout tbe arcs. But wbile over 70 per cent of Halton residents commuting to downtown Toronto use GO Transit, commuters to many otber areas of the GTA have no acceas ta public transit. Savoline oeils on the province structure in the ares. Ms Savoline suggested tbat an investment of 80 per cent of the revenue collected would solve the area's transportation criais. Strangely enough, deapite sitting in hours of gridlocked .traffic, local residents don't realize tbe extent of tbe criais, Mr. McCleary told tbe audience of about 50 people. "They, in fact, think someone bas a plan and someone's solving Halton regional Chair Joyce Savoline echoed the caîl to get the issue," lie aaid. other levels of government involved in providing funding forT transportation infrastructure. She urged the Chambers of Commerce to lobby political repre- Randy Eccles, a sentatives for more funding, and said the Haitun regional council admitted lie wasc would like to sce thc provincial governhient inveat a portion of meeting, as weîl as trsnsportation-related revenues collected in the area back into the ing the criais. transportation syatem. As a national In 1997-98, Uic provincial and federal govemmients collected Cnutns i about $1.95 billion in gas taxes and vehicle and driver fées in th osutntbee GTA and Ham-ilton-Wentwortb areas, said Ms Savoline. number of tripa th None of the federal mornes, and only 20 per cent of provincial and therefore, on d revenues collccted were reinvested in the transportation infra- "Our drivers say acking conspany cosncerned repoesentative fromn a Burlington trucking firm, oncemed by the information presented at tbe the apparent lack of a cohesive plan for solv- accounts manager with Specialty Freight îid the traffic congestion is impacting on the at the company's fleet of-trucks can achedule, îe profitability of tbe company. it's constantly getting worse," bie said.