Correspondence Request Item 3

From: Joe Arruda [Sec. 14(1) M.F.I.P.P.A.]

Sent: Wednesday, April 6, 2016 10:44 PM

To: John Henry; John Aker; Dan Carter; Bob Chapman; Nancy Diamond; Rick Kerr; Amy McQuaid-England; Nester Pidwerbecki; John Neal; Doug Sanders; John Shields

Subject: Motion to Endorse MTO Letter for Safe Cycling and 407

Hello Mayor and Council

I am a Oshawa resident and a member of the Durham Region Cycling Coalition.

I am attaching a letter from the Region of Durham, Town of Ajax and Town of Whitby that was sent last Friday April 1st to the Minister of Transportation for .

I am asking the Oshawa Council send a letter as well or add their name to this letter for the safety of cycling and walking over the 407 bridges which effect Oshawa at Thornton, Simcoe and Harmony Road.

If a letter can not be sent I ask that council endorse this letter from the region chair and the 2 town Mayors.

I hope that you can do this at the next council meeting on April 11th.

Thank You Joe Arruda

Please Share The Road

Bike lanes increase ridership. Ridership increases awareness. Awareness increases safety.

Correspondence Request Item 3

The Regional Municipality Town of Whitby Town of Ajax of Durham 575 Rossland Rd. E. 65 Harwood Avenue S . 605 Rossland Rd . E Whitby, ON L 1N 2M5 Ajax, ON L1 S 2H9 Whitby, ON L 1N 6A3

April 1, 2016

The Honourable Steven Del Duca Minister of Transportation 3rd Floor, Ferguson Block 77 Wellesley Street West , Ontario M7A 1Z8

Dear Minister Del Duca:

The Region of Durham and the Towns of Ajax and Whitby as well as the other local municipalities within the Region· are looking forward to the opening of the Highway 407 east extension and Highways 412 and 418. These new transportation routes are much needed and will provide commuters with an alternative to Highway 401.

It is vital that safe cycling and walking connections are provided at the new interchanges from the outset. It is our understanding that the new 407 and 412 bridge deck designs include dedicated cycling infrastructure, however, the bridge approaches do not. Dedicated cycling facilities must be provided on both the bridge decks and bridge approaches.

The over and underpass facilities at these new highway interchanges are critical to advancing the Regional Cycling Network and will have a significant and lasting impact on the cycling connectivity throughout the Region and more specifically between Ajax and Whitby with the opening of Hwy 412.

If this situation is rectified now, while construction is in process, safe cycling connections can be created at a fraction of the cost needed to retrofit these interchanges at a later date. As you know, efforts to create new safe cycling facilities must compete for limited funding and as such we need to plan accordingly to ensure a safe cycling environment.

The Region of Durham, in co-operation with the eight municipalities, are working collectively to create a multi-modal transportation network. This is in line with the Province's increased interest in promoting a multi-modal approach and a safe environment for all road users including specifically cyclists.

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We appreciate the continued investment from the Province and look forward to your response and the opportunity to discuss this matter with you further.

Sincerely,

Roger Anderson Regional Chair and CEO, Region of Durham ~kid~ Don Mitchell }T~Whitby

Steve Parish Mayor, Town of Ajax

c:

Eleanor McMahon, MPP, Burlington Paul Allore, Director, Planning and Development Services, Town of Ajax Elysia Leung, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, Town of Ajax Susan Siopis, Director of Transportation and Field Services, Region of Durham Ajax Transportation Advisory Committee Durham Cycling Coalition Marlaine Koehler, Executive Director, Waterfront Regeneration Trust

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