$6.5 million initially budgeted for upgrades at the Oxford Street-Wharncliffe Road intersection should instead be spent on London’s bus rapid transit construction, city politicians voted on Tuesday.
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City council members, meeting as the strategic priorities and policy committee, voted to shift the cash, coming from the federal and provincial governments, based on a recommendation from city staff that cited in part BRT’s cost overruns – though several expressed concerns about not overhauling the busy Oxford-Wharncliffe cross-streets.
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“It disrupts people every day, and it’s not just people in Ward 6 being disrupted, Coun. Sam Trosow said, referring to his nearby part of London. “It’s a major gateway to the university, to the hospital. Having this the way it is, it’s a danger to public safety.”
He called the intersection – which is a significant hub for Western University students – “totally dysfunctional.”
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Trosow said he understands the reason for the change, including the citywide benefits of BRT. He asked if there were short-term measures to ease concerns at Oxford-Wharncliffe, and city staff said they’re installing smart traffic signals, which use sensors and video cameras to improve traffic flow.
Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira, who represents downtown, agreed the intersection needs work. But he noted that moving the $6.5 million toward BRT and doing no Oxford-Wharncliffe work will ease some of the mounting budget pressure.
The bus rapid transit, which is facing a $174 million cost overrunis a mandatory expense for the city’s spending plans, as city hall legally must adhere to contracts that are already in place.
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West-end Ward 10 Coun. Paul Van Meerbergen called the intersection “horrendous” and said it needs to be “streamlined and improved, like, yesterday.” Doug MacRae, city hall’s roads director, indicated the Oxford-Wharncliffe work will be complex when it does begin.
“Anything we do at this intersection will be costly, require extensive property acquisition, and construction will be disruptive,” MacRae said. “We want to make sure that what is implemented, the design will fit in with any sort of broader improvements to the Oxford Street, Wharncliffe, Western Road corridors.”
City politicians voted 13-1 to shift the money to BRT. Van Meerbergen was the lone opposed, Coun. Steve Lehman was absent and all others voted in the majority.
The reallocation of funds will need to be approved by the Ministry of Transportation before it can happen.
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