I recently attended the Public Information Centre # 2 in connection with the QEW Improvements from Evans Ave. to Cawthra Road

I recently attended the Public Information Centre # 2 in connection with the QEW Improvements from Evans Ave. to Cawthra Road Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Study.

I have been following this project for some time, with a strong appreciation for the quality of communications and community consultation associated with it. I attended the first Community Workshop, held in December 2012.

The Nov. 16, 2013 meeting went well, as did the December 2012 event. The events have been well organized. The quality of the facilitation of the meetings has been noteworthy. I was delighted to have the opportunity to participate at both events.

Ward 1 Councillor Jim Tovey was at the November 2013 meeting. He briefly shared information about a recent key step forward in the Lakeview Waterfront Connection Environmental Assessment project.

Brief background (from an Oct. 9, 2013 overview from McCormick Rankin) concerning QEW Improvements

• The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has retained McCormick Rankin, a member of MMM Group Limited, to undertake a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (Class Environmental Assessment) Study to examine rehabilitation and improvement needs for the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) from Evans Avenue to Cawthra Road. The study limits extend approximately 3.5 km through the City of Mississauga (Region of Peel) and the City of Toronto.

• Input on the study is being facilitated through a series of Public Information Centres (PICs), Community Workshops, and the study website (www.qewdixieea.ca). A number of alternatives were presented at the first PIC, which was held on October 11, 2012, and the first Community Workshop, which was held on December 8, 2012. The alternatives were refined based on the input received at the PIC and Community Workshop. The Project Team then undertook a formal assessment and evaluation process in order to identify a preferred alternative. The evaluation process considered a variety of natural, socio-economic, cultural and technical factors.