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Project Niagara opposition considers traffic study ‘first step’ only Posted 10 hours ago

A traffic study conducted by Delcan detailing the effects a world-renowned music festival will have on Niagara-on-the-Lake doesn’t look at some of the underlying issues, says the Harmony Residents Group.

At Monday night’s council meeting, Randy Busbridge spoke to councillors about the concerns his group has regarding Project Niagara.

He claims the study was only a first step, and that there are more questions that need to be answered.

“Unfortunately, the study has been misrepresented. Communications leading up to the publication of this study set an expectation that this study would be comprehensive–the final answer,” said Busbridge.

The report as discussed at the July public meeting by Project Niagara supporters and as covered by the local press was also presented as a complete answer, he said.

But the report only analyzed access to the Parks Canada Lakeshore Road property by the main routes. It didn’t look at or analyze exits after the concerts, when everybody would be leaving at once, or traffic on secondary routes, Busbridge said.

It also didn’t deal with traffic and parking in the Old Town, or the impacts from shuttle parking lots at locations that have yet to be identified.

“To understand the full impacts of Project Niagara traffic, we need a comprehensive traffic management plan,” said Busbridge.

“Since some of the possible strategies – such as barricades and speed bumps – will have an impact on our quality of life, we should debate them.”

Busbridge told councillors they should create more of a plan to answer critical questions regarding access to the property.

“Neither the businesses nor the residents of this community can afford to be wrong. We cannot risk waiting until after opening day to discover problems or costs.”

He questioned how the park-and-ride will work and if it is realistic to assume, as the traffic report does, that 37 per cent of concert goers would arrive by bus or shuttle.

He added he also wants council to lay out approval criteria in order for the process to be completed.

“The study clearly states that emergency services need to be addressed, that traffic infiltration is a potential problem, and that traffic management plans need to be developed,”said Busbridge.

“So much work remains to be done.”

Councillor Jim Collard said some of the recommendations should fall back onto the Harmony Residents Group’s shoulders.

“You continuously ask council to move forward. Shouldn’t you at some point be saying do this and that and then ask if we are okay with it?”

Collard went on to say Busbridge’s group needs to “do some homework as well” and mentioned that Lewiston’s Art Park concert series runs all summer long with no major disruptions.

Busbridge replied that traffic problems are already here in NOTL and will continue to get worse even with No Parking signs and barricades.

“There’s not many days, including winter, that people don’t ignore the No Parking signs in front of your house and mine,” said Busbridge, who is one of Collard’s neighbours.

“We want to be reasonable and create a plan that has opportunity to create some dialogue.”

He said he has conducted a petition which shows there are 659 residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake opposing Project Niagara as it currently stands.

Another 300 people outside of the town have signed it as well, from the region and across Canada, he said, saying they were opposed to the festival at the proposed site. He estimated those figures to keep growing.

“We are not opposed to music and we understand that tourism is vital to our local economy. But, especially at the location proposed, we see problems,” he said.

“(Council) has the opportunity to show leadership by becoming proactive, by laying out a plan, by setting conditions. We understand you can’t be cheerleaders for either side in this debate, but you can act as referee.”

Chamber of Commerce executive director Janice Thomson, a Project Niagara supporter, noted that Busbridge said there would be no grounds for opposition to the project with satisfactory answers to three issues: that there will be no effect on the municipal tax base; there will be no impact on the quality of life for residents from traffic, parking or noise; and there will be no negative impact on the environment.

These are the issues that are the focus of the professionals who are examining the feasibility of the project, she said.

“The fact that Project Niagara is being developed by professionals seems to be overlooked. The items that Harmony is asking be addressed are basic elements that have been noted by Project Niagara since day one—there is no argument that those points need to be addressed,” said Thomson.

“By establishing a liaison committee between the Town, the Region and Project Niagara, the local and regional Council members are ensuring that due process is followed and that their professional staff members have every opportunity to review, comment and influence any plan to move forward.”

Council should be given credit for the steps they have already taken to ensure adequate oversight, she said.

Project Niagara is a joint initiative by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Ottawa's National Arts Centre Orchestra to create an international summer music festival on a portion of the Parks Canada Lakeshore Road property.

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