Just keeping track of all the YR road projects is a challenge…let alone trying to understand and assess the implications. A mid York east-west corridor was the focus on Monday at Council:  first  a deputation by YR Engineering Infrastructure Planning Branch; then a report from our Staff.  You can read the latter here. 

My take on the current state is that it is still very unclear as to where the mid York east-west corridor is going to be and what options will be ultimately assessed & compared under an Environmental Assessment.   Below key points are reviewed.

As one would expect/hope, if the mid York E-W corridor is to be in the area of Kirby Rd or King-Vaughan it will be planned in conjunction with the Province’s GTA West corridor which is to connect with the 400 in that vicinity.  But, as the latter may not be determined for 3 years, this means that the EA for the mid York one cannot be done until then as that area is the southern border of the study area for the mid York and both those roads are deemed to be possible options of the Engineering Study.  Upon questioning the YR speakers indicated that land is reserved, so speak, for the mid York east-west corridor in that area.  (I asked this as I could see that the more northern options could end up being selected because there was no open area in the south.)

When conducting the Engineering Study, the team determined a rough alignment for the 15^th north of its current route which they believe would address the concerns of Kingscross residents.  I asked that the public be given more information about this new possible alignment as there are significant concerns about the 15^th being the selected route.  The existence of those concerns was reinforced Monday by the submission of a petition with 134 signors requesting that the 15^th SDRD be dropped as an option because of environmental and socio-cultural impact (specifically endangering local wells, Oak Ridges Moraine and introducing noise & pollution to community.)  I don’t believe “dropping it” is a solution at this point; what is critical though is to ensure that the environmental and socio-cultural impact of such is properly assessed.

The 16^th SDRD has been eliminated as an option because of most significant environmental harm.

The 17^th SDRD has been eliminated as an option as the socio-cultural impact has been assessed to be unacceptably high as houses would need to be removed.

The 18^th SDRD continues to be a possibility if there is opportunity to collaborate with the Province on its rebuilding of the current bridge (Lloydtown Aurora Rd over the 400) to facilitate widening Hwy 400.  As reviewed YR has been told it is too late; but they are checking.

I was stunned to hear that ultimately YR may select sites for two corridors!

It was reassuring to hear that there is intent to be taking into account all the various projects in process; but we clearly need to be vigilant to ensure that indeed all the projects are being considered.   Mayor Pellegrini’s query about the intersection improvements at Keele/King Road indicated that this was not being included in traffic studies; as we are expecting this small project to improve transit through that intersection its absence is worrisome.

Township Staff have been authorized to participate on the Technical Advisory Board and will report back to Council as work progresses.  And in parallel King will continue to encourage YR to increase public transit choices.