More bike lanes proposed to promote active transportation in Newmarket
The town recently held a public information session to educate residents and collect feedback on the proposed 5-kilometre cycling route

Yokregion.com
March 15, 2017
By Teresa Latchford

Bike lanes are in the works to help cyclists safely travel east and west in Newmarket.

The town recently held a public information session to educate residents and collect feedback on the proposed 5-kilometre cycling route that was first endorsed by council in 2015. The intention of the new active transportation infrastructure is to increase safety as cyclists avoid travel on Davis Drive and rather make their way across the east-west corridor from the GO Transit bus station on Leslie Street via Eagle Street, Millard Avenue, Park Avenue, Main Street, Timothy Street, Prospect Street and Srigley Street.

“Newmarket residents have long enjoyed using our award-winning trail system, specifically the Tom Taylor and Nokiidaa trails, which run north to south and connects to Aurora and East Gwillimbury,” Mayor Tony Van Bynen said. “Building on that success, the Town of Newmarket will embark on a new cycling project that will connect residents in the east and west parts of town and will help to get people out of their cars.”

While there are a few bike lanes that already exist on Newmarket streets, such as the dedicated cycling lane on Woodspring Avenue in the northwest quadrant, the aim is to connect the networks across town, Development and Infrastructure Commissioner Peter Noehammer said.

“We are working toward building a more complete community,” he added. “That includes means for active transportation and a network of trails and bike lanes for people to use, get around and to connect.”

In 2016 the Ontario government announced the availability of grants to help municipalities fund these types of projects to a maximum of $325,000. Newmarket was successful with its application and will receive the maximum grant, which will cover half of the estimated $650,000 project cost.

Several designs are proposed including lanes buffered with planters, painted solid line lanes, signed bike routes, multi-use pathways and two-way cycle tracks.

If approved, the construction of the bike lanes could begin as early as this summer and complete by the fall.

Residents who wish to provide comment or suggestions to the proposal but could not attend the meeting are welcome to send comments to Senior Transportation Co-ordinator Bill Gould at bgould@newmarket.ca.