Raise the Hammer

Rusty and Ryan... first of all, Ryan, I know that highway design doesn't ever include the statement or what you call "principle" that "supply creates its own demand" since I've actually studied Highway Design. That's not to say that it doesn't happen. As far as planning goes, people have become much more dependent on the car than initially projected. Also, Hamilton mountain residents and especially Ancastervillians loves to drive, especially on highways (going slow in the left lane on the Linc when they're not passing anyone). The Linc isn't getting used properly. I have no idea whether or not the RHCE was built to promote residential development but I do know that the argument about environmental issues is moot. Building the roadway of course means that the road itself is there. However trees and other vegetations have been replanted with naturally occuring species at approximately 5:1 or more and the impact that the road itself has had is relatively minor. The Red Hill Creek, that you seem to think was doing great, STANK all year round because of the sewage that was being dumped in it. The sediment from the Mountain was starting to clog the creek at the mountain brow and it was inhabititable to fish. Now, with the natural concourse that's been built, fish can swim up the creek, live and spawn. They've done a fantastic job and it looks great. In a few years, you wouldn't know that it was built by humans except that you'll notice that the rocks are strategically placed to prevent erosion at dropoffs. It's absolutely amazing.

Rusty, building roads is also part of a forward thinking mentality. You somehow think that it'd be cheaper and smarter to attempt to develop downtown and ease congestion (thereby reducing emissions in a smog ridden city) without building adequate ways to go around the city? It's time to give your head a shake. Just because YOU don't want to drive doesn't mean that YOUR demands must be met. There happen to be a lot of people who HAVE to drive to get to work and it'd be assinine to assume that they won't simply because you don't want to.

Developing a city requires a broadbased approach throughout it and the RHCE although you may not ever travel it is necessary in order to facilitate through city traffic. If you ever want to ease congestion downtown, more roads must be built. BTW the RHCE is 2 lanes each direction with a third lane on the viaduct for trucks. Of course, if that was the only thing being done (Mayor DiAnni), then I'd be against it. However, in the past few months our mayor has outlined some fantastic strategies to enrich the downtown core and improve our transit system.

Finally, Rusty and Ryan, I'm not sure if either of you live anywhere remotely close to Hwy 20 and the RHCE but the effect it has on our community will be nothing but positive. I can't wait to be able to cross the street on Highway 20 without getting nearly run over by someone trying to get through the green into the line of traffic on the other side. Hopefully the city will be heads up and design a new cross section that includes sidewalks on both sides along the whole length of the roadway and build a new CNR bridge at the bottom. Also, since it seems that you don't like the housing developments going up on the mountain...what kind of fight did you put up for the housing complex being built right downtown southwest of Main and James? There's a nice empty lot where a medium sized footprint for a new apartment building could be built and the city approved a row house development! So much for intensification!

Centennial has been undersized for a long time and has long been slated for development and repair. One can only hope that the city will continue to move forward.