Corp Comm Connects


$10.6 M Main St. project begins in Stouffville this year

Yorkregion.com
April 1, 2016
By Ali Raza

Your Main Street is getting a major makeover during the next four years, Stouffville.

Town council last week formed the Steering Committee for the Main Street Reconstruction project set to take place between 2016 and 2019.

Since the project affects the busiest street in Stouffville, several business owners, residents and GO train commuters, reconstruction has been split into phases.

The first phase - starting this summer - includes the main drag from Stouffer Street to Tenth Line.

In 2017, construction will continue between Park Drive and Stouffer Street, in 2018, between Albert Street and Park Drive and finally in 2019 between Ninth Line and Albert Street.

The $10.6-million reconstruction project aims to improve roads and transportation infrastructure. It will upgrade pedestrian safety near the GO train station, upsize water mains and sewers and improve drainage. Street lights will be replaced and other streetscape improvements made to “enhance the visual aesthetic of Main Street,” according to a council report.

Town council decided on the steering committee that includes three members of council – Rick Upton, Iain Lovatt and Rob Hargrave of wards 4, 5 and 6, respectively.

CAO Marc Pourvahidi, Director of Public Works Rob Flindall and Director of Development Services Steven Kemp are also included in the committee.

The Downtown Stouffville Working Group, the Heritage Advisory Committee, the Accessibility Advisory Committee and the Stouffville Chamber of Commerce are each represented by one member.

Four members of the public will be added. Council will review applications from the community to decide who that will be.

At 14 members, Councillor Hugo Kroon expressed his concern that the committee may be “bogged down” and inhibit progress.

“I find smaller groups are more effective,” he said at council.

“I rather see the committee populated with professionals, stakeholders and people with experience, a lean committee that can move more quickly,” Kroon added.

Pourvahidi responded by saying town staff finds the size to be “relatively good” and “functional” to move forward. Council decided to place its three members on rotation to strike a balance with the committee size.