York Region takes $50M hit during COVID-19 pandemic

Unexpected costs and reduced revenues are costing more than $4M every week

Newmarkettoday.ca
July 2, 2020
Debora Kelly

York Region Administrative Centre in Newmarket. Supplied photo/Region of York
Unexpected costs and reduced revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic have cost the Region of York more than $50 million -- or about $4.2 million every week -- to date.

If the current situation and recovery period continue for another six months, it's estimated the financial impact could jump to about $129 million in 2020, according to a report to regional council on June 25.

Meanwhile, restrictions during the pandemic that saw the closure of non-essential businesses resulted in weekday traffic volumes being reduced by almost half, and weekend traffic volumes cut by 42 per cent, according to the region.

Daily heavy truck volumes increased from about three per cent to eight per cent, the report stated.

Ridership on York Region Transit has decreased by about 80 per cent. To address physical distancing requirements, only 30 per cent of available capacity is currently permitted.

With the reduction of traffic volumes, construction roadwork hours were able to be extended, so projects are being completed ahead of schedule, which will reduce delays when traffic volumes increase, the report states.