WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?: Tree removal on GO Stouffville corridor

Yorkrgion.com
Oct. 5, 2021

Metrolinx will clear, remove and prune designated trees and vegetation located within the Stouffville Rail Corridor beginning Oct. 4.

JUST THE FACTS:

The work -- scheduled to run seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Bethesda Side Road in Whitchurch-Stouffville to Hwy. 7 in Markham -- could take up to 16 weeks.

The vegetation removal is part of the GO Expansion Program and preparation for the future electrification of GO service, including the Stouffville line, which will allow faster trains offering all-day, two-way trips as frequently as every 15 minutes.

Once cleared, growth control zones will be established to manage vegetation inside the corridors over the long term.

Native trees removed as part of this work will be replaced within the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville and City of Markham through a compensation program based on the Metrolinx Vegetation Guideline.

Here's what residents and businesses can expect:

• locations near the corridor can expect to hear noise caused by trucks, chainsaws, woodchippers and other construction equipment

• dots on trees within the rail corridor identify trees marked for removal

• invasive tree species will be chipped on site, while wood from native trees may be taken off site for reuse

• work may be delayed or rescheduled due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances

For more information on the project, visit the Metrolinix website.