Markham 'punches above its weight' for 2020: Gridlock main target

Gridlock main target in city's sights for 2020, but new tennis bubbles may garner all the glory

Yorkregion.com
January 9, 2020
Heidi Riedner

It's a good thing Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti is often quoted saying the city punches above its weight because there's some pretty heavyweight priorities coming down the pike in 2020.

Backed by a $522-million municipal budget approved in December, this year should wrap up some long-standing issues, set some new initiatives in motion, advance strategies already in play and, ultimately, provide enhanced services for residents who are always looking for a better bang for their taxpaying buck.

Of utmost importance for those living along the rail corridor, 2020 should be the year the train horns are finally silenced.

A contentious issue sparked by missed deadlines and exacerbated by the introduction of weekend service on GO Transit’s Stouffville line last November, a public meeting held by Metrolinx late last year promised completion at Bur Oak and McCowan crossings this month, followed by the last three rural crossings.

Metrolinx also reduced, removed or consolidated some bus routes for 2020.

Tackling gridlock and improving transit links throughout the city will be a key priority moving forward, so expect Scarpitti to keep the province’s feet to the fire over the extension of the Yonge subway to alleviate traffic congestion and expand transit options for area residents, although shovels won't be going into the ground any time soon.

More immediately on the docket is the widening of 16th Avenue to six lanes, including two HOV lanes from Woodbine to McCowan, as one of the region's proposed fast-tracked road widenings under a four-year, extra 1 per cent tax on its overall budget, approved in 2019.

Currently at the environmental assessment stage, the idea has already sparked fierce reaction from some area residents who say the concept does not reduce traffic congestion while the cost, disruption and negative effects on health, the environment and the community are massive.

Addressing gridlock, however, is “mission critical,” and failure to do so would be an injustice to “frustrated-as-hell” commuters and first responders reacting to emergencies, Mayor Scarpitti said at the time.

A final decision on whether York University's Markham campus has secured funding should also be coming down the pike.

Shovels were scheduled to break ground this fall for the total $252-million project before the Ford government axed the capital funding in October 2018.

While the city donated five acres of land worth between $25 million and $30 million, York Region pitched in $25 million, and other donors have made significant contributions, the university has been looking at different scenarios to allow it to build. Ultimately, however, the province will be on the hook for its operation, if and when it is fully occupied.

Scarpitti has also been quite vocal about bringing federal and provincial representatives to a housing summit he's hosting in early 2020.

"We need to create more supply and affordable housing options, but we can't do this alone."

Complete and livable neighbourhoods also include ample green space, parks and pathways.

The city's multi-year “greener future” program includes $22.1 million set aside in 2020 to create new parks including Box Grove, Cornell and the Wismer McCowan Woodlot, as well as $1.4 million invested in a new trail system from Markham Centre to Sciberras Road.

Fifty-five new parks to the tune of 128.35 acres of public space have been constructed in Markham since the inception of the program in 2014.

The city is also launching a new program in 2020 which, over the next eight years, will prune all street trees city-wide.

“The tree maintenance initiative will enhance the health of our urban forest and address a backlog of service requests related to street trees,” Scarpitti said, adding the program is a critical component of the city meeting its 30-per cent tree coverage target by 2050.

Approximately 24,000 trees will be pruned and assessed in 2020. In 2021, the city will undertake an Urban Forest Management Strategy, which will provide guiding principles, Scarpitti added.

Leveraging Smart City technologies and driving economic growth are also in the queue, including expanding digital access and literacy programs, as well as embarking on a new economic development strategy.

One of the most exciting for residents, however, may be the private/public partnership inked by council last month that will finally bring two tennis bubbles to Markham.

While the final details of the contract are still being worked out, the plan is for two bubbles over the six tennis courts at Reesor Park to go up in October 2020 and operate as a separate winter operation from the Markham Tennis Club's summer season from May 1 to Sept. 30.