Ajax residents must get out of cars or face congestion

AJAX -- Ajax residents should prepare themselves to cut back on the car over the next two decades because local roads simply won't be able to support current habits as the town's population grows.

Senior transportation planner Angela Gibson looked at the expected growth numbers through 2031 as part of the Town's process to update its official plan.

"We don't have enough road and infrastructure to support the potential growth locally and within the Region," she said.

That's because there's only so much space to expand roads. For example, Hwy. 2 can be widened to six lanes in some parts of Ajax, but that's it.

"There's nowhere else to add lanes, that's the case in most places in Ajax," said Ms. Gibson. "It's a problem throughout the GTA."

The solution is to get more people out of their cars.

Right now, about seven per cent of trips by residents are made by walking or cycling, said Ms. Gibson.

"Fifty per cent (of those trips) are less than five kilometres," said Ms. Gibson. "Those are cycling trips, those are walking trips, those are trips people can take without getting into a vehicle."

The Town's goal is to shift a third of car trips to other modes of transportation. This includes residents making 25 per cent of trips by cycling or walking and doubling the rush-hour trips via public transit from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

"Right now, it isn't convenient to take transit, it isn't convenient to walk, it isn't convenient to cycle," said Ms. Gibson.

To change, the Town's planners have presented a plan called Ajax Forward: Vibrant Streets. It calls for better road planning in new subdivisions that support alternatives to the car and including space for walking and cycling when upgrading existing roads.

The plan suggests weekend car-free streets in Ajax on roads such as Harwood Avenue in the downtown and creating plans for safe routes to Ajax schools. It also includes making streets more enjoyable for pedestrians by adding things like benches where people can stop and have a conversation.

Ajax will also continue to work on completing its sidewalk system, including sidewalks on both sides of roads where possible and creating a pedestrian environment on Kingston Road where any future widening is for public transit only. Seamless connections along the Town's system of trails are also part of the plan.

"If we don't embrace this, what's going to happen is we'll have a standstill and we're not going to be able to move vehicles effectively in Ajax," said Ms. Gibson.

Currently, Ajax Forward: Vibrant Streets is a draft plan and the Town is looking for public comment. Residents can do so online at townofajax.com/ajaxforward or through the Town's facebook page. There will also be a public open house on Nov. 19, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Main Branch Library (55 Harwood Ave. S.).