Proposed LRT route in Cambridge a no-go for Preston residents

Concerned Cambridge residents are raising the red flag or, rather, red and white lawn signs about the proposed LRT route through Preston.

They say the route, which would travel over greenspace behind homes, is just not right for the area.

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"It's a quiet, residential area. The majority of the people that live in that area have lived there, a lot of them, most of their lives," said Lee Ann Mitchell in an interview with Craig Norris onThe Morning Edition.

Mitchell willaddress regional council Wednesday night to express her concerns about the route.

"There's some original farmhouses through that area, heritage buildings, pedestrian traffic because of the trail that runs behind the houses. [Residents] don't feel that it's the best location."

Mitchell said her neighbour's home would be one of close to 100 that would need to be expropriated by the region for the route.

When she and other concerned residents began discussing the proposed LRT route, they realized many of their neighbours were unaware of the plans. She said they started the lawn sign campaign to educate the others.

"I don't think Cambridge residents as a whole, especially Preston residents, knew what was coming," she said.

No action yet

Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig, who sits on regional council, said he agrees with Preston residents, as do his fellow regional councillors Karl Kiefer and Helen Jowett.

"We will not be supporting the preferred route. There is no question about that," he said.

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Regional chairman Ken Seiling said an environmental assessment of the proposed route is underway.

"We are now gathering public input to a suggested route. No action is being taken at this time and no decisions are being made at this time as we are still gathering input," Seiling said in an email to CBC News.

"All input will be considered by staff who will then report back to council. Council has no role at this time but will consider the staff report at a later date. This is standard practice under the Environmental Assessment legislation."

Want to inform regional councillors

Some people have told Mitchell that speaking up won't do much, but she disagrees.

"I think a voice has an opportunity to change things," she said.

In the coming months, other residents will also address regional council to give their perspective on the project.

Mitchell said their Cambridge representatives onregional council are aware of their concerns and agree with them, but the remainder of region council may not be aware of what their vote will do to the community.

"We want to make sure that they are fully informed so that they can make the appropriate decision for an area of the region they may not be familiar with," she said.