The City of Portland optimized traffic signal timing at 135 intersections on 16 streets in Portland. This optimization work has resulted in saving motorists over 1,750,000 gallons of gas each year. This reduction in gasoline consumption is equivalent to 15,460 tons of CO2 each year.

I wonder how much gasoline we waste idling at horribly timed traffic lights and Milton’s aversion to right-turn-lanes (seriously, why do we not have dedicated right-turn lanes?)

As if it wasn’t bad enough to have major arterial roads where traffic doesn’t flow, neighbourhood roads like Scott Blvd have no traffic calming devices whatsoever.  When taking a neighbourhood road, like Scott Blvd, from Derry to Main is faster than traveling on major arterial roads then we know that planners messed up.  After two close calls on Scott Blvd I now drive my children to village square, which kills the purpose of having village squares that people can walk to.

I have been asking for traffic calming devices and signalled crosswalks near schools and parks.  Recently a 7 year old boy was hit by a vehicle while he rode his bike (and the vehicle promptly fled the scene, shame on the driver).  Fortunately the boy’s injury was not major but Scott Blvd is a disaster waiting to happen.

I went up to the council on May 10th asking for different things.  One of them were traffic calming devices.  We must figure out how to make traffic flow on major roads (by synchronizing traffic lights and putting dedicated right-turn-lanes) and we must figure out how to make neighbourhood roads pedestrian friendly (by adding traffic calming devices and signalled crosswalks).  It is borderline criminal to build high-density neighbourhood with busy roads and put parks and schools next to those roads without doing anything to make them safe for pedestrians.

Driving on Scott Blvd, with no traffic calming, is noticeably faster than driving on major arterial roads.  People should leave Scott Blvd to drive on Derry and Bronte, not the other way around.  I truly believe that we’ll have a pedestrian death on Scott Blvd unless something is done to control traffic. 

One of the first things I intend to do if I am elected is to make neighbourhood roads like Scott Blvd safe for pedestrians and to make arterial roads (like Derry) better for traffic flow. 

As I knock on doors I have been pleasantly surprised by how many looks of recognition and words of support I get.  Someone actually thanked me for fixing an issue I did not fix.  “It wasn’t me”, I clarified.  “Oh”, he added, “they just came and fixed it so I thought you had something to do with it”. 

I am grateful for your support and am honoured to be a part of this community.  It’s more tight-knit than people realize.  I’ll take a break from meeting people and will hang out at different village squares with my kids.  If you see me then come say hi. 

[Aside: someone asked about my opponent. His name is Jeff Belo and he lives close to Thompson.  He doesn’t have a website as far as I can tell].

I was at the Town Hall for a meeting when I noticed a board for Parks Public Info session.  Design concepts will be there for these parks:

• Coates Neighbourhood Park South
• Harrison Neighbourhood Park
• Scott Neighbourhood Parks (both of them)
• Community Park
• Jaycee Trail (by Mill Pond)
• Brian Best Park

For those who don’t know, Harrison Neighbourhood Park and one of the Scott Neighbourhood Parks will include nice splash pads. They are loads of fun.  Oh and my kids enjoy them too.

Please visit this link for more information.

I recently watched a documentary on ancient civilizations.  One conclusion I walked away with is this: take a community’s people away, and its buildings and infrastructure will turn into ruins.  Leave its people and they will build another town, often better. 

Municipalities spend a lot of time talking about infrastructure.  But what about its people?  Economic growth (and resulting property values) is directly tied with a community`s ability to retain its residents.

Are people paying a premium to move into your community or are they there because they cannot afford a home anywhere else?

One of my main goal is to make Ward 8 (West Milton) the most desirable part of Milton.  People should not move here for cheap houses, they should be willing to a premium to be here.

My list of what makes a community great place to live, work and play. 

Milton’s Negative

• Can those with skills and education find well-paying jobs within the community? 
• Can the community retain young people by providing them with adequate job opportunities?  Living quarters?  
• Does the municipal council represent the diversity of its citizens?

Milton’s Neutral / Mixed

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