Congestion No. 1 concern of York Region residents

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 22, 2015
By Chris Traber

Citing traffic congestion as the No. 1 concern of York Region residents, the region is investing $1.5 billion in road construction during the next 10 years.

That includes $112 million this year.

Transportation and congestion remain a top concern for our residents, regional chair Wayne Emmerson said.

York Regional council is addressing these concerns and important regional road improvement projects in all nine area municipalities are underway to support the growing number of residents, businesses and visitors, he added.

Major regional road construction projects recently completed include:

• Bloomington Road from Bathurst Street to Hwy. 404 in Richmond Hill and Aurora;
• Ninth Line from Major Mackenzie Drive to Rupert Avenue in Whitchurch-Stouffville and Markham;
• Bathurst Street from north of Morning Sideroad to Hwy. 11 in East Gwillimbury and King.

Major road construction projects underway include:

• 2nd Concession/Main Street North from Bristol Road to Queensville Sideroad in East Gwillimbury and Newmarket;
• Major Mackenzie Drive from Pine Valley Drive to Hwy. 400 in Vaughan;
• Hwy. 7 from Town Centre Boulevard to east of Sciberras Road in Markham.

More money than ever before - $624 million - is being invested in regional road construction during this term of council from 2015 to 2018, the region said.

That is $157 million, or 33 per cent, more than last term’s council.

“The successful and timely delivery of road infrastructure is critical in meeting the needs of our residents and businesses,” Richmond Hill Councillor Vito Spatafora, chair of the region’s transportation committee, said.

Of the almost $1.5 billion being invested over the next 10 years, $1.2 billion will be spent on growth-related projects, while $270 will go toward maintenance and renewal, such as road rehabilitation, pavement preservation, rehabilitation of bridges and culverts and intersection improvements.