Region plans to spend $10B on public transit projects by 2031
Regional News
November 15, 2008 09:15 PM
By: David Fleischer
The car may always be king, but York Region’s new transportation master plan aims to make sure if you’re getting behind the wheel, it’s because there is no better way to get where you’re going.
By 2031, the region plans to spend nearly $10 billion on projects aimed at ensuring we are able to handle a population of 1.5 million and 800,000 jobs without creating new traffic woes.
Over the next few weeks, a series of public meetings give you a chance to look at the far-reaching plan and see what they got right, and what they missed.
“We’re trying to provide more choice and more sustainable choices for the travelling public in York Region,†infrastructure planning manager Paul May said.
The plan has a “transit first†philosophy with rapid transit expansions and road improvements designed to encourage transit.
It is an approach that strikes the right note for John Stillich, director of the Sustainable Urban Development Association.
Representatives from the non-profit group addressed council earlier this year, praising their efforts to date, and pointing out where more can be done.
If roads are going to be expanded with bike and carpool lanes, that’s OK, but a dedication to supporting transit is key, Mr. Stillich said.
Crucial to making a plan such as York Region’s work is ensuring transit is leading, not following development.
The 905 regions need to realize transit is a better long-term investment than roads, he said. Rapid transit, such as light rail and dedicated busways, forms the backbone of the region’s plan.
Overall, it dovetails nicely with Metrolinx’s recently unveiled plan for creating a rapid transit network over the next 25 years, Mr. May said.
However, he would like to see the transportation authority tackling improved goods movement which, in York Region, means prioritizing the Bradford Bypass.
Mr. May also said while Metrolinx sees a long-term need for rapid transit along Major Mackenzie Drive, the region would prefer that happens within the 25-year time frame.
In the meantime, talks are underway with the TTC about extending LRTs along Don Mills Road and Jane Street past their planned termini at Steeles Avenue.
“It’s a huge amount of work to implement all these rapid transit lines. It’s a challenge that I and others welcome,†Mr. May said.
In all, the region estimates it will need $7.1 billion for its planned transit network as well as a further $2.3 billion for road projects.
Road widening, particularly for HOV and transit lanes are also considered keys to reducing congestion across the region.
The plan also deals with everything from carpooling to cycling and walking.
“They’re perfectly right to focus on transit and bike lanes, but will it be enough?†Mr. Stillich asked.
“After all is said and done, are there going to be more vehicle kilometres and greenhouse gas emissions, or less?â€
All the maps in the world can’t make you trade your car keys for a transit pass, but Mr. May believes good planning can go a long way to making the plans become a new reality.
“The key is giving people good choices that fit in with people’s lifestyles,†he said.
He emphasized this is still a draft plan and, even with the public consultations to date, your input at this round of meetings can still influence the outcome.
* Nov. 18 Vaughan Civic Centre, 2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.;
* Nov. 20 Markham town hall, 101 Town Centre Blvd. Town of Markham;
* Nov. 25 Newmarket municipal office, 395 Mulock Drive and;
* Nov. 27 York Region South Services Centre (Rooms A,B,C), 50 High Tech Rd., Richmond Hill.
Key features to expansion
Here are some of the projects the region plans in its transit strategy:
* Expanding roads in the next two years, but only when no alternative exists, and only for HOV or transit lanes.
* Creating an integrated fare system and a parking authority within the next three to five years.
* Developing “mobility hubs†at major points in the next decade, and facilitating effective freight movement.
* Installing rapid transit along the Steeles Avenue corridor and extending the planned Don Mills LRT to Beaver Creek and the Jane LRT to Major Mackenzie Drive.
http://www.theliberal.com/News/Regional News/article/84519
