Bradford considering new roads over Holland River, canal, says mayor

From cannabis, to new recreational facilities, Bradford West Gwillimbury Rob Keffer outlines top plans and priorities for council in 2019

Bradfortoday.ca
January 4, 2019
Jenni Dunning

To alleviate traffic congestion, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury plans to spend this year investigating possible new routes in and out of town, including over the Holland River or canal, said Mayor Rob Keffer.

“There are ideas out there. We’ll have to see if they’re workable,” he told BradfordToday, adding the town will confirm whether any routes over local waterways would meet environmental assessment requirements.

With the Highway 400-404 Connecting Link likely years away, Keffer said the creation of other routes to help traffic flow in the short term is a top priority for town council and will involve consulting King Township, York Region, and the County of Simcoe.

“The 400-404 link is still very much a big piece of the puzzle (and) a big part of the overall plan,” he said. “We have to get an underlying … commitment from the province on how soon the 400-404 link will be moving forward.”

With the long anticipated opening of the Line 5 interchange off Highway 400 in BWG in December, Keffer said that will help drivers get in and out of town easier.

“I drove over it. It was very busy. It’s being used more every day,” he said. “It’s another entrance into town. We don’t have to rely on the County Road 88 interchange.”

Keffer was one of the first people to drive on the Line 5 interchange, which had been in the works for more than a decade and had a total budget of $54 million.

“It’s probably the largest capital project our town has ever spearheaded,” he said.

Part of the town’s plan to improve traffic flow will also include the creation of a transportation master plan, Keffer said.

“We’ve got to get it in the works to decide how we can move traffic more efficiently,” he said.

Before the town goes ahead with any of its traffic initiatives, however, council must approve its 2019 budget, which could be done by the end of January, he added.

“It’s an important part of our decision making for this year and term of council. That sort of sets the stage for moving forward,” Keffer said.

During budget talks is when council will decide on programs and how the town will fund its five strategic priorities for the next four years, which it selected at a meeting in November:

• Transportation and traffic congestion
• Economic development and jobs
• Community and traffic safety
• Housing affordability and more variation in housing
• Community centre master plan

Council is also expecting construction to begin as soon as possible at its employment land at Highway 400 and County Road 88, starting with a MiTek Canada manufacturing facility, and a 95-room Hampton Inn and Suites and a standalone drive-thru restaurant.

“Because of the poor weather in November and December, it has delayed the start. They’ll be staring as soon as possible,” Keffer said.

Along with commercial construction, BWG residents should also expect more recreational facilities to be completed in 2019, he said.

This includes a new baseball diamond at Joe Magani Park, pickleball courts at Danube Seniors Leisure Centre, and the continuation of parkland development in the newer parts of town.

Also this year, town council plans to make a decision on whether to opt in to allow retail cannabis stores.

Council deferred a decision until its Jan. 8 meeting to allow for more time to get feedback from the public on the issue. It released a survey and will be hosting an open forum at the meeting, which is at 7 p.m. in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library.

Ontario municipalities have until Jan. 22 to make a decision.

“It’s an important issue and, yet, I think that because of the direction of the province lately, only municipalities (with populations) over 50,000 will be having retail stores in the new year,” Keffer said. “We’ll see what the residents (say and) how they’re feeling.”

For now, any residents who want to meet or talk to members of council can celebrate the new year with them at the annual Mayor’s New Year’s Levee this
Sunday, Jan. 6, from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the BWG Leisure Centre.

There will be refreshments, free skating between 12:25 p.m. and 2:10 p.m, entertainment by local musicians, and socializing.