comment by Anissa

To whom it may concern, I struggle with this bridge concept for two reasons: 1) It seems to have limited utility. It connects the shiny new Metalworks development to the Downtown over the Speed River. Is there not already a functioning bridge with sidewalks over the speed river connecting the ward to the downtown just mere meters away? This bridge seems to benefit private interests by allowing more shoppers to flow from downtown Guelph to the Metalworks with ease. The location of the bridge seems to benefit only small number of residents in the ward (such as those who can afford to live in the Metalworks). For the remainder of longtime residents of the neighbourhood, the three other exiting bridges ( plus the covered bridge) will continue to be our primary routes. The bridge seems to serve a narrow set of interests and not the City as a whole. 2) As a pedestrian/bike facility, the bridge design seems not to have considered the connectivity City's active transportation network. The bridge feeds into the southern extension of the Trans Canada Trail, which directs pedestrians/cyclist to cross MacDonnell street a very dangerous and disorganized intersection. I understand from conversations with local avid cyclists who reside in the Ward that they would rather ride with traffic across the Macdonnell street bridge than try to navigate the Macdonnell/Wellington Street intersection from the south west side where this pedestrian bridge would "spew" users out. If the below comments are correct, and the construction of this pedestrian bridge as proposed will impede the future construction of an efficient and separated crossing for users of the TCT ( via underpass or otherwise), then this design MUST BE reconsidered. Safe crossing of cyclists and pedestrians at McDonnell street on the beloved Trans Canada Trail is of the upmost importance. Consideration must be made to the increased pedestrian traffic that this bridge may generate for the pedestrian crossing of Macdonell as part of the TCT and the increased safety risk and pressure on a highly congested road. Overall I would argue that constructing a safe north-south connection as part of the TCT over MacDonnell road for pedestrian and cyclists is of greater importance then an additional bridge to the Ward. Please reconsider your priorities. I look forward to your response. Thank you. Anissa Mcalpine