Transportation in King

Uploading 15^th and 18th Sideroads

On Oct. 19, Council accepted the Staff recommendation to upload 15^th sideroad (Bathurst to Keele) and 18^th sideroad (St Johns SDRD) from Bathurst to Dufferin on the basis that they would be reconstructed by the Region to standard two-lane regional road format. CCKT and several residents on the two subsections have argued against this action for three years as the heavy traffic on our local roads is a real threat to the rural nature of King. Creative proposals for addressing the problem without uploading and losing control of the roads were rejected by Council as being infeasible or inadequate

Road Projects of Concern

1. Moving 400/Lloydtown Aurora Rd. interchange south <1 km

We voiced these questions/concerns in December 2008; yet, the Master plan has not answered them.

What is the total plan? The need to build a new bridge due to the widening of Highway 400 is understood. If the interchange is to be south l km, what happens at the current location?

What is the “real” east/west corridor plan? It is not stated but it looks like there is a desire to create a straight east/west corridor from 400 to Bayview, at least, on the 18^th SDRD/St. Johns SDRD. Indications of this are the plans to improve 18^th from Bathurst to Yonge and to improve the interchange at St. John and Yonge.

With this new east/west corridor, what are the traffic implications? Residents on the strip between Jane and Dufferin already are nervous about the speed and level of traffic (both commuters and large trucks going to the gravel depot at Wellington and Dufferin).

How does this new east/west corridor “fit” with the East-West mid-York Study Area option identified at Keele and 17^th Sideroad? Said differently: is there the possibility of two corridors south of Hwy 9 in King Township? It is our understanding that the East /West corridor is to connect the urban centres identified in the Places to Grow Act. A east/west corridor through King Township is not consistent with the identified need. Further, if the objective is to link the movement of goods why not create a rail corridor for the east west area that connects to the intermodal rail yard near the 427.

If the plan is not to create a new east/west corridor, why is YR creating a new interchange unnecessarily? Having just observed the creation of the new interchange at Teston Road and 400, we are acutely aware of the amount of land that is paved (i.e. destroyed) by such initiatives and the cost to taxpayers. Why create a new interchange?

2. Bathurst Street North expansion

In the absence of clear definition of benefit or need, it is hard to accept a plan to make such a significant impact on the natural environment and to spend the current estimate of $17 million.

3. East-west mid York Transportation Study Area (the option north of 15^th SDRD.)

What are the terms of reference for this study? King Council has requested creation of King City By-pass and that it should be south of King Road. To that end, once the Teston Road interchange is on-line a new assessment of the need should be undertaken.

Why would you even start assessing the impact of the corridor being in the vicinity of the 15^th and 17^th Sideroads? Building a new east- west road down the length of the Moraine somewhere between the 17^th and 15^th Sideroads would cause major damage. It is true that infrastructure is permitted on the ORM but only if there is no reasonable alternative.

We encourage the Region of York to use its expertise and energy to find a solution off the Moraine: the value of the latter has already been proven and that is why there is the legislation to protect it.

4. King Road West

The master plan shows improvement of King Road west. As the details of what “improvement "means have not been identified, it is premature to protest; however, as its characteristic hills and valleys are likely to be affected we are concerned. Do we really want to encourage more traffic on King Road, or to encourage faster speeds? We would support the placement of turning lanes at intersections along King Road to reduce accidents.

Although much of this part of the Road is not on the ORM it is adjacent to it and therefore a significant construction project still presents environmental risk.

5. Keele Street-- King Rd north to 15^th improvement project

Why is an arterial road improvement for Keele being looked at now? York Region has just conducted an EA for the Keele/15^th SDRD intersection; surely the two should have been done together to properly assess the total/real impact of these changes. This appears to be another example of how impact of projects is minimized by piecemeal EA’s.

6. Other Projects

We believe that YR should be objecting to the termination of Highway 427 at Major Mackenzie, a regional road. It is YR tax payers who will pay for maintenance of traffic coming off the Highway 427. Whereas, if it terminated on another provincial highway it would reduce traffic on regional roads.

To conclude, we understand that the population is growing and that people and goods need to move efficiently. For King Township, the draft 2031 network plan indicates that there continues to be a priority on moving goods & services over transit and rail service and protecting that which cannot be replaced—our natural environment, a rural community. We encourage the Region to take a sustainable approach that protects the environment within sensitive areas like the Oak Ridges Moraine while providing transportation routes between urban centres. If we are to retain King's rural status it is necessary to reduce commuter traffic through our Township.

Background

An ongoing risk to our Township's rural character is the ever-growing number of commuters and trucks who pass through the Township. The consequences of this can be significant:

air and noise pollution for those living along what used to be "quiet country roads;"
applications such as road salt which pollute water wells, and nearby wetlands and vegetation;
more maintenance (i.e. spending tax dollars) to keep roads safe;
pressure to upgrade roads and facilitate more traffic at higher speeds.

Another risk is new road infrastructure, such as a possible new major highway cutting through the western portion of King: an extended 427. This represents a major assault on the Oak Ridges Moraine and will eliminate a number of productive local farms.

Another study, The GTA West corridor study is considering future transportation needs between Brampton, Milton, Vaughan and Guelph. Lower portions of King are in the study area. http://www.gta-west.com/

427 extension

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is working to provide for the efficient movement of people and goods within the context of the province's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe as released in July 2006. One of the critical identified problems is the existing and short-term transportation problems related to the current Highway 427 terminus, truck traffic accessibility to and from the CPR Vaughan Intermodal Facility, and their impact on inter-regional traffic in the Peel-York boundary area.

CCKT has been participating in the 427 study from the beginning as potential "solutions" have included extending the highway north, as far as Highway 9. There are numerous routes for this extension but invariably each one traverses the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM). Such a project would have a disastrous impact on Ontario's rain barrel as the aquifers of the Moraine provide drinking water for 250,000 people.

We believe other solutions must be considered including separating the routing of goods and services, alternative routes and widening existing highways if necessary. CCKT's 427 Committee is composed of individuals who are landowners and business owners in King's threatened area. Together they have created a compelling map of what is there to counteract the foolish comment we have heard at meetings that "nothing is there."

What you can do to help:
Come to our next public meeting.
Join the 427 Committee.

To learn more, visit www.427corridor.com

GTA West Project

Province of Ontario has launched this project as part of overall effort to address transportation issues for the defined growth centres in central and southern Ontario. The solutions identified includes more highways and possibly a rail corridor. Choices could also have an impact on the 427.

To learn more visit www.gta-west.com

York Region Road Projects

15^th sideroad Environmental Assessment
York Region has undertaken an Environmental Assessment on the 15^th sideroad; specifically the intersection of Keele and 15^th . The notice of completion is posted on their website, at this time there is a 45 day period for comments to be heard.
www.york.ca/...Notice+of+Completion+-+Class+EA+Keele+and+15th+Sdrd.pdf

Do you want to know if York Region has started a project or when there is a meeting about a regional road? Go to www.york.ca/Public+Notices/Public+Notices_Roads.htm

Transit

To find our about transit options in King, visit: www.yrt.ca , or for transit to the city www.gotransit.ca

To participate in a study looking at transit options for the GTA please visit www.metrolinx.com



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Home About Us King Today News & Alerts Natural Heritage & Agriculture Transportation Communities: King City Nobleton Schomberg Hamlets King Speaks Poll Results King Tomorrow Sustainability Vision Resource Links Contact Us	Transportation in King Uploading 15^th and 18th Sideroads On Oct. 19, Council accepted the Staff recommendation to upload 15^th sideroad (Bathurst to Keele) and 18^th sideroad (St Johns SDRD) from Bathurst to Dufferin on the basis that they would be reconstructed by the Region to standard two-lane regional road format. CCKT and several residents on the two subsections have argued against this action for three years as the heavy traffic on our local roads is a real threat to the rural nature of King. Creative proposals for addressing the problem without uploading and losing control of the roads were rejected by Council as being infeasible or inadequate Road Projects of Concern 1. Moving 400/Lloydtown Aurora Rd. interchange south <1 km We voiced these questions/concerns in December 2008; yet, the Master plan has not answered them. What is the total plan? The need to build a new bridge due to the widening of Highway 400 is understood. If the interchange is to be south l km, what happens at the current location? What is the “real” east/west corridor plan? It is not stated but it looks like there is a desire to create a straight east/west corridor from 400 to Bayview, at least, on the 18^th SDRD/St. Johns SDRD. Indications of this are the plans to improve 18^th from Bathurst to Yonge and to improve the interchange at St. John and Yonge. With this new east/west corridor, what are the traffic implications? Residents on the strip between Jane and Dufferin already are nervous about the speed and level of traffic (both commuters and large trucks going to the gravel depot at Wellington and Dufferin). How does this new east/west corridor “fit” with the East-West mid-York Study Area option identified at Keele and 17^th Sideroad? Said differently: is there the possibility of two corridors south of Hwy 9 in King Township? It is our understanding that the East /West corridor is to connect the urban centres identified in the Places to Grow Act. A east/west corridor through King Township is not consistent with the identified need. Further, if the objective is to link the movement of goods why not create a rail corridor for the east west area that connects to the intermodal rail yard near the 427. If the plan is not to create a new east/west corridor, why is YR creating a new interchange unnecessarily? Having just observed the creation of the new interchange at Teston Road and 400, we are acutely aware of the amount of land that is paved (i.e. destroyed) by such initiatives and the cost to taxpayers. Why create a new interchange? 2. Bathurst Street North expansion In the absence of clear definition of benefit or need, it is hard to accept a plan to make such a significant impact on the natural environment and to spend the current estimate of $17 million. 3. East-west mid York Transportation Study Area (the option north of 15^th SDRD.) What are the terms of reference for this study? King Council has requested creation of King City By-pass and that it should be south of King Road. To that end, once the Teston Road interchange is on-line a new assessment of the need should be undertaken. Why would you even start assessing the impact of the corridor being in the vicinity of the 15^th and 17^th Sideroads? Building a new east- west road down the length of the Moraine somewhere between the 17^th and 15^th Sideroads would cause major damage. It is true that infrastructure is permitted on the ORM but only if there is no reasonable alternative. We encourage the Region of York to use its expertise and energy to find a solution off the Moraine: the value of the latter has already been proven and that is why there is the legislation to protect it. 4. King Road West The master plan shows improvement of King Road west. As the details of what “improvement "means have not been identified, it is premature to protest; however, as its characteristic hills and valleys are likely to be affected we are concerned. Do we really want to encourage more traffic on King Road, or to encourage faster speeds? We would support the placement of turning lanes at intersections along King Road to reduce accidents. Although much of this part of the Road is not on the ORM it is adjacent to it and therefore a significant construction project still presents environmental risk. 5. Keele Street-- King Rd north to 15^th improvement project Why is an arterial road improvement for Keele being looked at now? York Region has just conducted an EA for the Keele/15^th SDRD intersection; surely the two should have been done together to properly assess the total/real impact of these changes. This appears to be another example of how impact of projects is minimized by piecemeal EA’s. 6. Other Projects We believe that YR should be objecting to the termination of Highway 427 at Major Mackenzie, a regional road. It is YR tax payers who will pay for maintenance of traffic coming off the Highway 427. Whereas, if it terminated on another provincial highway it would reduce traffic on regional roads. To conclude, we understand that the population is growing and that people and goods need to move efficiently. For King Township, the draft 2031 network plan indicates that there continues to be a priority on moving goods & services over transit and rail service and protecting that which cannot be replaced—our natural environment, a rural community. We encourage the Region to take a sustainable approach that protects the environment within sensitive areas like the Oak Ridges Moraine while providing transportation routes between urban centres. If we are to retain King's rural status it is necessary to reduce commuter traffic through our Township. Background An ongoing risk to our Township's rural character is the ever-growing number of commuters and trucks who pass through the Township. The consequences of this can be significant: air and noise pollution for those living along what used to be "quiet country roads;" applications such as road salt which pollute water wells, and nearby wetlands and vegetation; more maintenance (i.e. spending tax dollars) to keep roads safe; pressure to upgrade roads and facilitate more traffic at higher speeds. Another risk is new road infrastructure, such as a possible new major highway cutting through the western portion of King: an extended 427. This represents a major assault on the Oak Ridges Moraine and will eliminate a number of productive local farms. Another study, The GTA West corridor study is considering future transportation needs between Brampton, Milton, Vaughan and Guelph. Lower portions of King are in the study area. http://www.gta-west.com/ 427 extension The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) is working to provide for the efficient movement of people and goods within the context of the province's Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe as released in July 2006. One of the critical identified problems is the existing and short-term transportation problems related to the current Highway 427 terminus, truck traffic accessibility to and from the CPR Vaughan Intermodal Facility, and their impact on inter-regional traffic in the Peel-York boundary area. CCKT has been participating in the 427 study from the beginning as potential "solutions" have included extending the highway north, as far as Highway 9. There are numerous routes for this extension but invariably each one traverses the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM). Such a project would have a disastrous impact on Ontario's rain barrel as the aquifers of the Moraine provide drinking water for 250,000 people. We believe other solutions must be considered including separating the routing of goods and services, alternative routes and widening existing highways if necessary. CCKT's 427 Committee is composed of individuals who are landowners and business owners in King's threatened area. Together they have created a compelling map of what is there to counteract the foolish comment we have heard at meetings that "nothing is there." What you can do to help: Come to our next public meeting. Join the 427 Committee. To learn more, visit www.427corridor.com GTA West Project Province of Ontario has launched this project as part of overall effort to address transportation issues for the defined growth centres in central and southern Ontario. The solutions identified includes more highways and possibly a rail corridor. Choices could also have an impact on the 427. To learn more visit www.gta-west.com York Region Road Projects 15^th sideroad Environmental Assessment York Region has undertaken an Environmental Assessment on the 15^th sideroad; specifically the intersection of Keele and 15^th . The notice of completion is posted on their website, at this time there is a 45 day period for comments to be heard. www.york.ca/...Notice+of+Completion+-+Class+EA+Keele+and+15th+Sdrd.pdf Do you want to know if York Region has started a project or when there is a meeting about a regional road? Go to www.york.ca/Public+Notices/Public+Notices_Roads.htm Transit To find our about transit options in King, visit: www.yrt.ca , or for transit to the city www.gotransit.ca To participate in a study looking at transit options for the GTA please visit www.metrolinx.com Home Contact Us back to top design partnership cm@filamentgraphics.ca and www.webertise.ca Contact Webmaster In order to view all site content, a recent version of the Flash player and Adobe Reader are required