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DEPUTATIONS REGARDING MOTION 18-G-143, ALLANDALE MOBILITY HUB FEASIBILITY STUDY
PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.16 OF PROCEDURAL BY-LAW 2013-072, CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERED A REQUEST BY MS. BARBARA MACKIE TO PROVIDE AN EMERGENCY DEPUTATION IN OPPOSITION TO MOTION 18-G-143, ALLANDALE MOBILITY HUB FEASIBILITY STUDY. UPON A VOTE OF CITY COUNCIL BEING TAKEN, MS. MACKIE WAS PERMITTED TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL.
1. Ms. Cathy Colebatch
Ms. Cathy Colebatch provided a deputation in opposition to motion 18-G-143 concerning the Allandale Mobility Hub Feasibility Study. Ms. Colebatch explained that she is a long-term resident and member of the Allandale Neighbourhood Association. She advised that she was disappointed that such a significant matter was passed on consent without any discussion by General Committee.
Ms. Colebatch discussed her concerns, as follows:
• Ms. Colebatch noted that while the concept design is attractive she felt that if approved, the building should be in keeping with the character of the Historic Train Station building.
• Ms. Colebatch expressed her concerns associated with the accuracy of traffic analyses data from February 2018, as she noted that she does not believe that it is representative of the actual pedestrian or vehicular traffic. She further expressed her concerns associated with the impact of the additional bus traffic in and out the station and that she felt there is a need for traffic signal optimization to improve traffic flow.
• Ms. Colebatch discussed her concerns associated with potential parking strategies not being addressed and the area possibly becoming a parking lot. She discussed her observations associated with the logistics of the passenger pick-up and drop off.
• Ms. Colebatch discussed her concerns associated with the potential expansion of Go Service and the additional buses that may be required to accommodate additional trains. She questioned the modes of transportation and locations train commuters travel.
• Ms. Colebatch expressed concerns associated with public safety with the proposal. She noted that pedestrian safety features are addressed within the hub, but she noted her concerns associated with the safety of pedestrians at the surrounding intersections.
Ms. Colebatch questioned the possibility of trial runs of additional bus traffic to the hub during peak and off peak times. She also questioned if the new hub would become a gathering place similar to the existing terminal in the downtown.
Ms. Colebatch discussed her concerns associated with the project costs and potential operating costs as she felt these were unknown and noted that she hoped that other funding sources including federal and provincial funding would offset some of the City’s costs. She also noted concerns associated with the percentage of responses received during the public consultation process.
Ms. Colebatch commented that there are current synergies with the Go service and she noted that she hoped that there will be buses to connect to the downtown. She indicated that she felt that the Downtown terminal could potentially handle increased traffic by reconfiguring and adding additional platforms and indicated that the proposed number of platforms for the Hub currently exist at the downtown terminal.
In closing, Ms. Colebatch requested that Council give consideration to July and August 2018 traffic analysis that covers both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, pedestrian safety outside the hub and traffic signal optimization, now rather than later to improve traffic flow.
Members of Council asked questions of Ms. Colebatch and received responses.
2. Ms. Barbara Mackie
Ms. Barbara Mackie provided a deputation in opposition to motion 18-G-143 concerning the Allandale Mobility Hub Feasibility Study. She advised that she has been a City resident for 18 years and has lived in the Allandale area for 6 years. She expressed her concerns associated with the increase in the number of buses that will be coming to the proposed Allandale Hub, the security at the station, the costs associated with proposed station and the impact on home values in the area.
Ms. Mackie commented that the proposed Allandale Hub would not have the amenities required for a main mobility hub. She also noted that the Allandale residents have not had enough time to review and comment on the proposal. She noted that she felt the consultation focused on amenities associated with the hub, but not the proposed location. Ms. Mackie expressed her concern about security downtown and her thoughts on the requirements for security at the proposed location. Ms. Mackie advised that the traffic increase in the area will create safety concerns for residents and pedestrians. She expressed her concern that the traffic study was completed in February and would not be reflective of intensification projects, summer events and the increase in bus traffic.
In closing, Ms. Mackie questioned whether relocating the transit hub is the best option for the City and for the Allandale area.