Working on the Railroads
I’ve lived in London for more than 20 years. That whole time, city councils have been discussing ways to fix traffic woes presented by CP and CN railways that run through the city. Sometimes it seemed they were planning on a hope and a prayer that CN and CP would magically stop sending trains through London (and remember many of the traffic problems are the results poor planning decisions by the city as it grew around the tracks).
I have a lot of respect for Councillor Jesse Helmer. He and I don’t always agree, but he was absolutely correct when he told the London Free Press this week that it is time to stop “stringing people along” on the idea that city hall can convince CP and CN to share tracks, or do anything else that will cut the train traffic in London (see: http://lfpress.com/news/local-news/rail-relocation-dreams-dashed-in-london-for-now).
It is time face facts: Continue Reading
Better Transit, a To-Do List that isn’t all about BRT
Let’s be honest eliminating poverty in a generation. Not something a City Council can do by itself. Bringing more jobs? Well, a city council can create a good environment for that to happen in again not something a city council can do on it’s own.
But fixing transit…that folks is something that with leadership at City Council and through it at the London Transit Commission, that is something that can be done! Transit is something wholly under the city’s control. Continue Reading
Bus Rapid Transit, an Argyle Neighbourhood Viewpoint
As chair of the Argyle Community Association, I have been pressing the City of London to hold public information sessions on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) plan outside of the Central Library and in neighbourhoods where people live. This week, BRT information FINALLY came east of Highbury, when the Argyle Community Association hosted city staff at an information session at Clarke Road Secondary School.
What I learned in trying to get people to attend was that people feel that this is a done deal, that there is nothing they can do to stop, change, or improve it. They feel nothing they have to say is genuinely going to be listened to. Continue Reading
AM980 Roundtable, featuring Caranci, Caranci, and Lewis
From today’s AM980 London News Roundtable…with 2x the Caranciness as both former City Councillor Roger Caranci & his son, former Conservative MP staffer Nathan Caranci were on the air with me and London’s best talk radio host Craig Needles, talking downtown development, BRT and whether or not police should be welcome at Pride.
AM980 Roundtable with Craig Needles & Jeff Preston
Talking City of London Noise By-law appeal, Health Unit cancelling dental clinic, and high school student busing:
Urging Council to Connect Argyle to BRT
Members believe the college is too isolated and would prefer the transit hub be located at Argyle Mall, or close to it.
“People want to see transit improved,” association chair Shawn Lewis told AM980.
Full story and audio clip:
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If London’s Doing BRT, Argyle Wants to be Included
“The Argyle Community Association asks council to reconsider the eastern route,” the group writes in a letter sent to council, signed by board chair Shawn Lewis. “It is our position that the eastern transit village should be located at Argyle Mall.”
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