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HP OPINION LANCASTER STREET ON AND OFF RAMPS ARE BETTER OFF CLOSED a MIKE FARWELL Column If we built an express- way in our community to- day, would we build it dif- ferently than the one we built more than 50 years ago? Of course it would, so it of those Seoniee ol ap. roaches tc foday. ugh, let's pause a metus to acknowledge and out of the box," Thom- son told the Waterloo Re- Usit is cay WELLN gion Record in 2014, re- counting the days in the early 1960s that he spent fine-tuning the expressway concept. Without that out-of-the- box thinking — and the support it received from leaders at the time — Wa- terloo Region would be ina far different place today. Many consider the express- way, the University of Wa- terloo, and ION light rail as the visionary projects that have given our community acompetitive edge. Even still, there might be room for improvement. The University of Water- loo is already planning for its 100th anniversary, Phase 2 of ION light rail is in the works and, as for the xpressway, maybe don't need all those exits ae Specifically, the on and off ramps to Lancaster has region David Bebee / Waterloo Region Record The Region of Waterloo is studying the closure of the Lancaster Street ramps off Highway 85. launched a ramp closure study and is soliciting pub- lic feedback. Frankly, I think we could have simply closed the ramps without hearing an outery much above a whis| As the region nnotesi inits study, "the two Lancaster Street ramps carry rela- tively low traffic volumes that can be accommodated elsewhere on the transpor- tation network." Yet, despite those low Using the newest technology, this premium hearing aid delivers crisp natural sound and ed The world’s first waterproof * rechargeable hearing aid is here! Enjoy life, no matter where you go or what you do. From the north to south poles, outdoors to indoors, wet and dry, this premium hearing aid takes care of all your hearing needs. Not only that, it also offers health data tracking, universal connectivity to smartphones, TV, footh® and more! *up to 50 cm or 1.64 feet pable of being submerged in up to 50cm 0 168 feet of fresh, pool of alt water Serenity Hearing HEALTH & © 1144 Wilson St. W. Unit D203, Ancaster. © 350 Conestoga Blvd. Unit B3, Cambridg © 370 Winston Road, Grimsby..... ¢ 550 Fennell Ave. E. Unit 168, Hamilton .. © 723 Rymal Rd. W. Unit 500, Hamilton. © 168 Barton St. Unit 3, Stoney Creek.. © 570 University Ave. E. Unit 905, Waterl ESs traffic “volumes, just think nges those come cneuie.| on the ex- pressway itself. Merging onto the north- bound expressway from Lancaster Street puts you in the daily rush-hour bot- tleneck that squeezes you from Frederick Street to Lancaster Street from the southbound expressway is even worse. That off-ramp shares a Jane with the Bridgeport ith to- makes these areas safer for 5 people walking and riding bicycles. B | e1juo1y9 coperem | 6 ‘oad p and, wit an 's traffic volumes onthe expressway, it's a recipe for disaster. The region's study re- minds us that this "creates a weaving section known to havea high number of colli- sions. This condition re- duces highway speed, ca- pacity and makes for prob- lematic traffic operations. Removing the ramps will create safer, more smooth traffic operations on the highway in this area." And that's to say noth- ing of Lancaster Street it- self. Pedestrians and cyclists using Lancaster Street are forced into awkward and dangerous crossings with fast-moving traffic. It could be argued that closing the ramps is the so- called "nuclear option" and that the region could invest in infrastructure _ that HOLIDAY OFFERS ON NOW overlooks Bridgeport Road § z entirely. If we closed the Lancas- ter Street ramps, pedestri- jequieoeq “‘Kepsini er passage. And drive The cmpressway or on and 8 8 off ramps at Bridgeport Lancaster Street ramps to and from the expressway should be. Columnist Mike Farwell is a broadcaster, MC and advocate. Follow him on Twitter at @farwell_WR, or connect with him via Mike.Farwell@rci.rog- ers.com. pied ).\ a 8 3-5¥ BIG GIG UNLIMITED STARTING ; 5 /MO: freedommobile.ca Laurentian His Plaza Shops af Waterloo Stanley Park Mall 4 107 fa Needles Bd Uni'8 75 King Steet South Kichener ON Kitchener ON Vatetioo ON Kitchener ON NOE N2wIP2 N2ATH2 ef FA 519-579-8270 519-578-4606 519-860-9463 519-954-2923 mobile a Fy y ist | B to our Internet Policy, Fair g y mai Fa logos. i used under All rights reserved = 8