Greater Sudbury lays out road map for transportation in 2031

Sudbury city council took their first run at the long-awaited transportation master plan last night and several were unhappy there wasn't more focus on getting around Sudbury without a car.

The plan is meant to map out what Greater Sudbury's transportation network might look like in 2031.

Ward 9 citycouncillorDebMcIntoshfound the plan too car-centric.

"There's nothing driving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, even transit infrastructure, to where it becomes a priority," she said.

"It seems to be very cars first."

But consultant Brett Searssaidhe is a proud of how the plan helps moreSudburiansbecome pedestrians and cyclists.

Hiscompany,MMM Group, was paid $176,000 by the city for the study

"Any road project that's in here, has an active transportation project with it," Sears told city council Tuesday night.

"We're providing people options, we're providing people choices."

When it comes to city buses, the new transportation master plan suggests that the city needs to commission a separate master plan for transit.

Ward 3 city councillor Gerry Montpellier said he wants to make sure that plan looks atextending transit service to the parts of his ward currently not on a bus route, including Dowling, Onaping and Levack.

There were several dozen people in the council chambers for last night's meeting, but most ofthem were there for a very specific stretch of road.

People who live offMontroseAvenue in New Sudbury are concerned by city plans to extend it north to link up with theproposedMaleyDrive Extension.

Ward 12 city councillorJoscelyneLandry-Altmann represents the neighbourhood and fears"a direct connection" to Maleywould turn the residential street into a busy thoroughfare.

"The direct connection fromMaleytoLasallewill destroy a very, very attractive neighbourhood," she said.

The new transportation plan isn't set in stone.

A public consultation meeting is being scheduled for the coming weeks to be held in the council chambers, so it can be livestreamed on the city website.

A modified version of the master planwill come back to council for final approval.