Niagara Region Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan Online Consultation Survey #1 – Summary of Comments Received Table of Contents 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 Priorities and Strategies ....................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Travel to/from Niagara Region .................................................................................. 2 2.2 Travel within Niagara Region .................................................................................... 4 2.3 Healthy Communities ................................................................................................ 6 2.4 New Technology ....................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Business Transportation Needs ................................................................................ 9 2.6 Partnerships ............................................................................................................10 3 Opportunities .......................................................................................................................12 3.1 Transit .....................................................................................................................12 3.2 Driving .....................................................................................................................15 3.3 Walking/Cycling .......................................................................................................17 3.4 Environment ............................................................................................................19 3.5 Development ...........................................................................................................20 3.6 Other .......................................................................................................................22 Appendices Appendix A: Comments received on Priorities through MetroQuest Appendix B: Comments received on Strategies through MetroQuest Appendix C: Comments received on Opportunities through MetroQuest and Accessible Online Survey Online Consultation Survey #1 –Summary of Comments Received 1 Introduction As part of the Niagara Region Transportation Master Plan (TMP), an online survey was conducted in March 2016. The purpose of the survey was to gauge public opinion on the overall transportation vision for Niagara Region, and obtain input on the transportation priorities and strategies. Understanding the public’s priorities early in the development of the TMP will ensure that the outcomes and recommendations reflect the needs of the community and that the plan is a truly made-in-Niagara solution. Through the online engagement survey, users had the opportunity to provide comments. This report summarizes the comments received. A total of 3,791 comments by 1110 respondents were received through the MetroQuest survey and Niagara Region’s accessible online survey, organized in three groups: Priority Ranking: 332 comments were received on the six priorities presented. Strategy Rating: 902 comments were received on the strategies presented. Opportunities: 2,557 comments were received, with specific marked descriptions of problems and/or opportunities facing Niagara Region residents, and what category they fall under (driving, transit, walking/cycling, environment, development, or other). 28 of the comments were from the accessible online survey. The comments are described in more detail in the following sections: Section 2 summarizes the comments received with regards to Priorities and Strategies. Section 3 summarizes the comments received with regards to Opportunities. May 3, 2016 HOW WE GO 1 Online Consultation Survey #1 –Summary of Comments Received 2 Priorities and Strategies Respondents were asked to rank their top three transportation priorities from a list of six priorities. For each priority selected, respondents were then asked to rate the importance of potential strategies on a scale of one to five, with one being the least important and five being the most important. The results of this exercise are included in ‘Online Consultation Survey #1 Summary: Shaping the Transportation Vision in Niagara Region’ report. Users had the opportunity to provide a comment for any priority or strategy presented to them. A total of 302 comments were received on the priorities (included in Appendix A) and a further 902 comments received on the strategies (included in Appendix B). These are summarized in the sub-sections below. 2.1 Travel to/from Niagara Region There were 94 comments received on this priority area. Comments focused on expanding options for residents to travel to/from the Region especially for employment. In particular, many comments demanded GO Train service to access work in the GTHA. “Large number of Niagara residents work in Toronto. There needs to be something done to provide good and frequent transportation” “It takes so long to get with Go Bus and Go train to Toronto and not just that's it's not like real experience traveling only short with the train ... We need some also faster and full experience of the train” “I travel to Hamilton and Toronto quite a bit. If the Go Train comes to Niagara it will help with my commute and make my life a lot easier...and quicker!” Respondents also wanted to see more travel options, including a highway corridor, for travel to/from Niagara Region to places outside of the GTHA such as Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, London or Windsor. “We need improvements to transportation to/from Niagara that does not need to go through Toronto. For example, going directly to Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, or London.” “A mid-Niagara corridor would be very helpful. Travel to Kitchener, London and Windsor should not include a trip to Hamilton from Port Colborne.” “Need to have easier ways to get from Niagara Region to other parts of Ontario.” Some respondents suggested that external connections are required to provide residents access to jobs and opportunities in growing industries such as technology and are needed to retain young talent within the Region. “Personally, I can't find a decent tech job in Niagara. I don't own a car, and my family lives in Niagara.” May 3, 2016 HOW WE GO 2 Online Consultation Survey #1 –Summary of Comments Received I am not the only person in this situation, and it would help out younger generations, to help them stay in Niagara.” There were 319 comments received for strategies within the Travel to/from Niagara Region priority area. Of these, the majority of comments were directed towards extending year-round daily GO Train service to/from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area, and improving travel to and from Niagara Region by building a new Niagara to Greater Toronto Area corridor. Strategy Number of Percentage of comments travel to/from received Niagara Region comments Extend year-round daily GO Train service to/from the greater 99 31% Toronto and Hamilton area Improve rail, road and water access to the United States 32 10% Improve travel to and from Niagara by building a new Niagara 90 28% to the Greater Toronto Area corridor. Develop transportation hubs in the Region that connect multiple 32 10% transportation options like buses, trains, cycling, etc. Encourage air travel for the movement of people and cargo 52 16% Suggest another item for future consideration 14 4% Examples of comments include: “As a daily commuter into the GTA I would love to have the opportunity to ride a go train into work.” “This opens up more opportunities for our local people to find work elsewhere yet still call Niagara home.....and allows more tourists to come into Niagara.....this is a no-brainer.” “Go transit to the GTA is less convenient than greyhound or megabus with the change over in Burlington so I avoid it when the train isn't running.” “This (mid-peninsula corridor) would benefit our economy greatly. By making commuting easier it will allow employment within the GTA and surrounding areas more attainable.” Approximately half of the comments regarding the NGTA corridor voiced concerns over the impacts of such an undertaking and suggested alternatives, such as shifting private vehicle demand onto transit to make room on the QEW. “The QEW has grown well beyond its intended (and appropriate) capacity, but unless a new mid-peninsula corridor initiative was accompanied by an equivalent attempt to reduce traffic flow in sensitive lands below the Escarpment, there is no need to invest so heavily in infrastructure which will degrade other areas on Niagara with auto-induced urban sprawl.” “It will take years to build a new highway. Train should be the priority and work towards a new highway.” “Don't build more roads for people they won't use public transportation. Get the cars off the road.” May 3, 2016 HOW WE GO 3 Online Consultation Survey #1 –Summary of Comments Received “Where would this be and how much tender fruit land would be destroyed? To start with the QEW should have been above the escarpment not in the middle of some of the most fertile land in Canada!” 2.2 Travel within Niagara Region There were 93 comments received on this priority area. Most of the comments focused on transit service within the Region, including cost, improvements to service in areas already served by existing transit, and new routes to areas and municipalities that currently lack connections to the