I believe that no one is posting on the Smart Moves forum anymore because we as Londoners feel that we cannot bring change to the pre-determined plans of London Transit. It has been said by other posters here that London Transit has their plan in place and they are going to stick by it no matter what. Almost everyone on this forum has said that London needs to do more - much more with our transit system. Londoners on here have said they want light rail now while the provincial and federal government is supportive. Smart Moves reply is this: we are happy with our plan which is "more of the same".

London needs a visionary at London Transit, not the old boys network doing the same thing. We really need fresh blood in our city to make change. I can only hope we get someone to run for mayor who has some vision and that we have the courage to vote someone new in. It will be a tough job, but the first step would be replacing the old boys network and thinking that has kept this city in the stone ages for the last 30+ years. I would start by replacing the president and planners at London Transit and trying to hire some management from cities that have implemented what we need to implement.

As an addendum to to GreatTallNorth2's post above, I am left to wonder whether the traffic planners at London Transit even speak with the urban planners at City Hall. How is it in 2010, in one of the larger municipalities in the country, that we are witness to urban planners identifiying potential corridors to which to drive density and transit planners at London Transit identifying significantly different transit corridors, both within the context of the same municipal transportation master plan?

For transit (including light rail) to have a real chance of working in this city, as in all others, it has to be concentrated in areas that have sufficient density to make it efficient. And it has to be wielded as a tool to further increase density in these areas, thereby reinforcing its own usefulness.

I support light rail for London in principle. But I don't buy the argument that if only the city would build decent and efficient transit systems, residents would use them. If people are spread too thinly to be served by an effective and cost-effective rail and bus system, and if driving remains a palatable alternative, I simply don't believe that the transit system can ever become sustainable.

Transit cannot be viewed outside of the context of the urban form of the city, and it is urban planners who should be determining this, not traffic planners.

Its clear that people are hoping for some real change, but deep down, they fear that this exercise will just result in another round of putting lipstick on a pig. The City needs to make some bold decisions for transit and for urban design that caters to bicycles and pedestrians; the City needs to stop dedicating the lion's share of our public space and budgets to automobiles. It seems that they are scared to do this.

I agree with the general statements here. The people in control in London are way to conservative to make any good change in the city...this is true in all areas. London is doomed to remain the city build like a town if new life isn't brought to its tired old ways.

I share your views here, London, unfortunatly will continue to lag if it doesn't shape up and do something about their transit issues. The problem i see with any sort of "major transit project" to further its "status" is the question that arises when you think geographically about London..

Question that arises..
London:Surrounding Area?
The surrounding area of London (or if you'd like to put it into Toronto terms, the GLA) is very, very small. If you simple type into Google Maps: London, Ontario you see that London, unfotunatly is surrounded by nothing..a few minor towns, or "big towns" here and there is pretty much the make up of the encasing area. With respects to another thread about Kitchener-Waterloo-and Cambridge, those cities have a valid reason for wanting major projects done within their centers. When you look at K-W-C on the map, you see Guelph, Hamiltion, Burlington, Milton, Oakville..ect to the East, and within those centers you have rapid transit zipping around everywhere, most popular of those from my experiences is the GO System..but, in order to have that system put in place, you would figure the city's surrounding area has to be a certain size (population-wise),K-W-C has that "luxury" if you will, due to the eastern/south eastern populations of those cities listed. London, the city itself would be able to support such a thing, but, i can't see anything really rising up due to the fact that really, there is nothing to reach/branch out to..where would it go to? the large town of Strathroy?..no, it'd be a waste of resources/tax money..

suggestion..
London should stretch its arms out a bit further (in all directions) and grab some of those smaller towns, pump money into moving outwards, not upwards. Yes, this will take time (years), but unless some random major development happens (doubtful), London will just be that city (or town you could say) in the middle of that large corn field with nothing around it.

to:GreatTallNorth2
I totally agree when you state "London needs a visionary at London Transit, not the old boys network doing the same thing. We really need fresh blood in our city to make change". It needs to happen...one way or another.

My apology for not being here lately. The fact is, I forgot about it.

The TMP review has been largely invisible, and I think that's the way that some people want it. They don't want too much citizen participation, lest it become clear that the vast majority want something different than what they've got planned for us.

How long has it been since we had a roundtable meeting? A public meeting?

I understood that I would get email notification whenever somebody posted to this board. Now that I look at that again, it appears that I can only choose to select that option on a post-by-post basis. Which is a real pain if you've got more than a passing interest.

I'm strongly motivated to agree with those who've suggested that SmartMoves is just window dressing and that the important decisions are already cast in stone. I've previously voiced my opinion about the way that BRT is being shoved down our collective throat. Now witness the way that the issue re Colborne Street bike lanes was just dealt with by Council. Somebody try to justify to me why such an important transportation decision was not referred to the TMP Review, other than the fact that this is an election year and members of Council didn't want to upset the vocal minority too close to voting day?

No offense LDNIK, but your thinking that "London needs to stretch it's boundaries" is the exact opposite of what needs to happen. High density makes transit work the best, not low density, spread out communities. K/W/C is spread out, but their population is close to the transit corridor they plan to build. When you draw a line from Cambridge/401 to Waterloo, you will have a lot of people that live close to that line. Any transit planner (even London transit planners) will tell you that you need density to make transit work. Also, each community has significant population. All the Tri Cities have at least 100,000 each.

You also have to see that there is a big difference between a regional rail system (GO Transit) and a city's transit system. London has no real need for a regional rail system, but a better rapid transit system cannot come soon enough. London's transit planners and our government officials think that light rail or "real" bus rapid transit is something far fetched, but what they don't think about is the fact that these systems take years and years to plan and get government funding. London's attitude has always been - wait until London is big enough and then we will start to plan. It's this attitude that has kept our city back for so many years. It's this attitude that stopped us from having a good in city highway system.

Vision is not something that our mayor or something that politicians will "develop". Anne Marie won't go from being a "non leader, non visionary" and develop into a great leader with vision. We need someone new with ideas of what London could be (obviously Kitchener's mayor has this type of vision.) We need someone who can sell his or her vision to the citizens of London and to higher levels of government. If we don't get someone new with these qualities, London will continue to fall behind in every area - transportation, jobs, housing values, etc., etc.

Yes the BRT is being shoved down our throats, I believe this AECOM is behind this not the LTC or the CofL.

We do need a visionary, and someone with new ideas. I was at the Smart Moves meeting last year. I had a chance to speak with the Senior Transit Planner for LTC. She is does not look like one of the "good ol' boys" and I could tell she was quite intelligent but she had absolutely no passion or vision for the LTC. This brief conversation tells us how the corporate culture operates at the LTC and the strike shows us there are serious problems with the LTC operation internally.

But this means we need to stand up and try MORE not LESS, to show the people of London that we can have better transit. I am currently working on a new plan for the LTC -- the emphasis being on common sense and using what we already have (bus fleet) and building a new downtown terminal for the DRIVERS as much as the PASSENGERS.

My plan will be released in MAY, please visit my website in May http://ltc.perrystewart.ca (it is not ready yet). I will have videos, new brochures, and maps. I really look forward to your comments.

Please do not give up, these recent events mean we should be trying harder, keep posting !!

You've hit the nail on the head here. Leadership is clearly at the core of London's economic and other problems, and the city desperately needs a leader who is dynamic, forceful, and willing to take a few bold risks. Not someone who is willing to maintain the status quo, and jump only when developers speak.

No question that a lack of vision is one of several things that has gotten London into its current predicament.