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Aurora pedestrian underpasses to cost more than double original budget

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 7, 2016
Teresa Latchford

Some Aurora councillors aren’t keen on building a road to nowhere.

With York Region’s widening of Leslie Street between Aurora’s northern limit to Wellington Street East, town council approved two pedestrian underpasses. The original price tag to construct the two underpasses was $475,000 but since approval, staff have been back to the table twice asking for more.

The project cost is now $900,000 and even at that, there are potential future costs.

“It concerns me that we have been asked for more money twice for this project,” said Councillor Michael Thompson.

“I also don’t want to build an underpass that doesn’t lead to anything.”

While councillors around the table didn’t take issue with the approved underpass that would connect the existing trail just north of State Farm Way, there were a number who weren’t sure they supported the underpass approved at the northern border just south of Newmarket.

“There are just too many contingencies surrounding the trail on the other side of this underpass for me to be in full support of it and spending that kind of money,” said Mayor Geoff Dawe. “I’m just not convinced.”

There is the potential to secure land when the properties surrounding the proposed underpass are developed. More land for trails would have to be granted by the province due to proximity to Hwy. 404 and to avoid just a closed loop, another underpass under St. John’s Sideroad would have to be constructed.

Councillor John Abel confirmed that the project was being funded through development charges and that the region was charging 12 per cent on the project, a percentage that astonished Councillor Tom Mrakas, who called it “a hefty cost for the residents."

Parks, recreation and cultural services director Al Downey pointed out the contract is being controlled by the region. When requested, he agreed to report back to council with a refresher of what council previously approved, background documents and the possibility of connecting the trail system with Newmarket’s trails.

Council will give the final approval to refer background reports on the underpass in question to the town’s parks and trails advisory committee to discuss the underpass’s value within the trails master plan at the Oct. 11 council meeting.