Local Council Candidate D'Arcy Keene’s fight against public transit

According to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, “Public transit is the backbone of livable cities. Better transit means less congestion, faster commutes, more convenience, higher productivity and lower emissions. Simply put: public transit builds better lives.” It has been a running joke for decades that Georgetown has lacked transit, especially compared to our neighbors like Milton. Georgetown is growing, and with growth comes change. With developments such as the McGibbon and Mill Street condos, hundreds of new residents would have no other option than to drive, no doubt congesting the streets. Georgetown needs to stay competitive with neighboring areas, and provide businesses with connections to more customers.

Georgetown is not very walkable. Steep hills and the spread-out layout of the town makes driving the only option for most citizens. Georgetown is growing rapidly, and it is important that our infrastructure is able to adapt to it. A Georgetown bus system would not only prevent congestion, it would also reduce emissions to help keep Georgetown green. It would also connect areas like Glen Williams, Georgetown South, Norval, the Go-Station, and the apartments of today and tomorrow. Quick in-town trips could be accomplished without a car, saving residents money on gas and reducing pollution from single person trips. With a simple bus stop at the Go-Station, residents could commute all the way to Toronto without ever needing to drive or park.

Local council candidate D’arcy Keene staunchly disagrees. As of May 09, 2022, he is the only candidate for Local Council in Ward 4. “There’s no need for a transit system in Georgetown,” Keene says. “People drive.” This attitude is not sustainable, and is not in the best interest of Georgetown in the long run. Imagine Downtown Georgetown 5 years in the future, with the current development projects finished, and ones of the future being erected. What would that look like with only cars available for transport? People drive because there is no other option available, public transport could keep the streets free and the town clean.

Keene says “Nobody wants to see a transit system.” This shows disconnect between the candidate and the wants and needs of the town he seeks to represent. It has been a subject of discussion for years, especially amongst younger people seeking mobility and freedom. Transit for residents would do wonders towards keeping Georgetown competitive with our neighbors and supporting local businesses, something Keene claims to support.

In conclusion, transit systems coming to Georgetown would reduce traffic, reduce emissions, and future-proof Georgetown’s infrastructure for the generations to come. Keene could not be reached for comment, refusing to answer questions without first seeing a published source. “Yeah, that's fine, I gave you the rules.” Keene retorted before hanging up. Roads like Main Street and Maple Avenue could not handle the stress condo developments would place on them. Public transit could take cars off the street, rather than expanding roads and surrounding the town in construction for years. Georgetown needs to take steps towards the future, and not fall behind our neighboring communities.