Richmond Hill wants to hear your vision for future of transportation

Richmond Hill is inviting the public to voice their opinions on the ways they travel around town

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 12, 2018
Sheila Wang

The Town of Richmond Hill wants to know what residents expect for their future transportation.

Richmond Hill is updating its Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to the year 2041 as part of the strategy to prepare for future growth, and reflect on new priorities and emerging trends.

This strategic document is expected to guide Richmond Hill in planning for transportation infrastructure and develop policies for improving the way people travel around town.

And the town wants to make sure public opinions are involved in the decision-making process that will shape Richmond Hill’s roads, walking paths, cycling networks and trails in the decades to come.

Richmond Hill residents get a closer look at Yonge Street rapidway project
Residents, visitors, technical agencies and local advisory groups -- or anyone who has something to say about the transportation in Richmond Hill -- are invited to a series of public information centre events on Nov. 15, 16, and 20.

“Public engagement is important to this project and we want to hear from everyone in our community,” said Lynn Chan, Richmond Hill spokesperson.

The Transportation Master Plan, last updated in 2014, is going to be different from the previous ones which consisted of three separate documents: the Transportation Master Plan (2014), the Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan (2010) and the Trails Master Plan (2004).

“This time, we are taking an integrated and multimodal approach which will consolidate the three previous master plans all under the umbrella of one comprehensive Transportation Master Plan,” said Dan Terzievski, director of development engineering and transportation.

Terzievski said the town would like to hear from the community on a wide range of topics, in particular: suggestions related to improvements on the existing transportation network, gaps in the network and where the town should focus on given the limited resources.

As a commuter town, Richmond Hill has been mired in traffic woes for a long time. There has never been a lack of complaints about the traffic jams, prolonged commuting time and insufficient public transit.

"I don't take buses," said Tom Masona, a 50-year resident of Richmond Hill, who primarily drives and walks to get around. He said the traffic problem has deteriorated over the years.

For Charlene Hall, a Richmond Hill native, who takes buses four or five times a week, public transit is her only choice, but it certainly needs improvement.

"I don't have access to a vehicle," Hall said. "I wanted to see it more frequently, especially during rush hours."

More than 70 per cent of Richmond Hill residents travel out of town to work every day, and a majority of them spent at least 30 minutes on the road, according to the 2016 census profile.

The town has been working to change that -- from the construction of the rapidway project along Yonge Street to the planned Yonge Subway extension -- which are part of a rapid transit network expected to connect York Region’s urban centres.

The Yonge street transformation is now 36 per cent complete and is expected to be complete by December 2020.

By updating the Transportation Master Plan, Richmond Hill is ready to move beyond that and, at the same time, to accommodate the future needs with the anticipated population growth.

Richmond Hill’s population is expected to reach 277,900 by 2041, more than doubling its population in 2001, according to the town’s economic development strategy, which was updated January 2017.

Here is a list of public information centres:

Oak Ridges Community Centre

12895 Bayview Avenue

Thursday, November 15, 6 - 8 p.m.

Richmond Green Sports Centre

1300 Elgin Mills Road East

Friday, November 16, 6 - 8 p.m.

Elvis Stojko Arena

350 16th Avenue

Tuesday, November 20, 6 - 8 p.m.

Online Survey

As a key component to public consultation, the town is hosting an interactive online survey at RichmondHill.ca/MovingRH.

Richmond Hill encourages the public to get involved by filling out a short and interactive online survey, which will be launched Nov. 15. The survey will be open until mid-December.

Responses to the survey will help the town understand residents’ interests and their feedback on the proposed improvements to the road, walking, cycling and trail networks.

For those who do not have access to the internet or are unable to complete the survey online, paper copies will be available at various public facilities throughout the town