Tag Archives: St. Thomas and London Commuter Rail Association

03.20.10
by

Some choice … cut services or hike municipal taxes

city_scope_logo-cmyk
Hit taxpayers in the pocket or scour the corridors of city hall for cost-cutting opportunities.

That’s the options facing council and staff in the finals days before the 2010 operational budget comes under scrutiny a week from Monday.

Mayor Cliff Barwick has made numerous references to tough decisions that have to be made this year and in to 2011, so we went right to the source this week for a status report on the financial health of St. Thomas and the implications for residents.

“I think you’re in a situation where the taxpayer is going to be hit to some degree, but at the same time, we have taken a substantial number of items out of the budget,” Barwick told City Scope on Thursday.
Continue reading →

12.01.09
by

Will St. Thomas – London GO train service ever get on track?

A commuter train service between London and St. Thomas means a greener region: financially and environmentally.

That was the word from Rod Morley, vice chair of London’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, during a public meeting last week (Nov. 25).

Morley, along with John Lucas, Division Manager – Transportation Engineering for the City of London, and members of the St. Thomas and London Commuter Rail Association (STALCRA), discussed the initiative with the public during a meeting at City Hall.

Besides reducing car emissions and urban congestion, implementing the train service could stimulate economic growth in Southwestern Ontario, Morley said. It could create numerous jobs and attract more businesses to the region.
Full story

10.10.09
by

Do it right or remove all non-compliant crosswalks

city_scope_logo-cmyk
The brain trust at city hall has opted to wait until they receive a police report before examining the crosswalk where Harold Leslie Hill was killed last month.
A wise move at first glance. Except our municipal officials, and those who sat on the previous council, are well aware of the dangerous situation created by the questionable status of these crosswalks.
In fact, this corner clearly remembers a council meeting several years ago when the mayor and alderman were apprised of the fact a similar crossing on Fairview Avenue, between Wellington and Talbot streets, was not properly signed as per provincial regulation.
The addition of a yellow “stick man” sign at the hospital crossing merely indicates pedestrians are in the area. Continue reading →

05.16.09
by

This smoke signal is just blowing in the wind

city_scope_logo-cmyk
Hockey’s second season heralds the arrival of long hours spent in front of the telly as playoff games often require two or more periods of overtime for a winner to prevail (if you’re a Leaf fan you will not be able to relate to this, so just try to imagine).
City council could be faced with a similar information marathon Tuesday as they come to grips with a 113-page agenda stuffed with meaty matters.
Continue reading →