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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDAC 2011-04-11JOINT DOWNTOWN ADVISORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES A ril 14 2p'I'I Ci of Kitchener The Downtown Advisory Committee met this date, Chaired by Mark Garner with the following members in attendance: Councillor Paul Singh, Alan Doherty, Lawrence McNaught, Lisa Polonaski, Glenn Scheels, Councillor Dan Glen- Graham, Tania Benninger, Cory Grossman, Amino Gilani, Cameron Deerlove, Michael Falcone The following Economic Development Advisory attendance -Glen Koehler, Steven Voll, Darrin Councilor Bil loannidis, [an Cook, Brian Bennett, Ashley Reid, Don Zehr The following members were absent: Committee members were in Snider; Councillor Scott Davey, Darren Shaw, Peter Benninger, Staff in attendance: Grant Murphy, Carla Ladd, Siobf~an Delaney, Cory Bluhm, Sandy Curzon, Rod Regier, Kim Feere, Dorothy McCabe, Tracey DeVille, The following Council members were in attendance: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Councillor Yvonne Fernandes, Councillor Zyg Janecki and Mayor Carl Zehr Discussion Items Mark Garner invited everyone to the joint meeting and introduced Thomas Schmidt. Mr. Schmidt, provided the committee with background information as well as a summary of the recent public consultation process an rapid transit. He touched on the goals of rapid transit, advised on the urban boundaries and future growth and how this will help provide a transportation method that will assist in developing this for the future. Mr. Schmidt advised on benefiits and ridership impacts of the various options. The Committee posed the following questions: • What are the time savings wi#h #his type of transit system? • Will there be electric overhead wires? • Is the tax increase jus# for construction or does it include operating? • When are you breaking ground? • If nothing was done with transit, would the province and federal governments still provide funding for road expansion? • Will extending the service to Sportsworld and Conestoga College increase ridership? • Why was there no dedicated cane for the BRT? • Have you looked at the full battery electric bus solution? • Has the region designed a marketing campaign -which provides understanding far the proposed system? • How is the expansion and creation work going to be coordinated with GO Transit? • Have there been any consultations on student campuses? • What happens over the next 7 years? • There are areas that are already lacking service, haw is rapid transit going to benefit those areas? • What is the decision process and what impact will it have on traffic with dedicated lanes? • If rapid transit development was delayed, would the transportation hub still proceed? • How much do 1 have your studies and consultations taken into account the environmental issues surrounding greenhouse gases? • Communication to the entire community seems to be an issue, have you considered newsletters? • Have you considered using the Auditorium as a stopping paint for the system? • In terms of the decision making process, once it goes to Council what are the next steps? • What does the business community think of the plan and has zoning been reviewed to allow for new businesses that may ft along the route? • Has the region had conversations with the universities and college for student passes? Mr. Schmidt responded to all questions. Highlights included: • Ridership on ixpress has been growing dramatically • Riders prefer trains and the LRT will result in higher ridership • Bus rapid transit will be at capacity in 20 years and will be very difficult to replace with LRT at that time • Expert review pane! identified LRT as the preferred option and people who attended the public open houses • If we don`t develop RT the region will have to expand the road network • LRT is a powerful tool to achieve urban intensification and slaw suburban expansion of ttte city. The Committee.~asked for any background information that the Regian may have in terms of information handouts. Mr. Schmidt advised he will fonrvard those to City staff for distribution. Mark Garner thanked Mr. Schmidt for his presentation and advised that the Committees will be kept informed of the development of the system.