Hwy. 404 overpass impact studies questioned in Markham
Yorkregion.com
Feb. 19, 2015
By Laura Finney
An environmental assessment for a Hwy. 404 crossing between Major Mackenzie Drive and 16th Avenue is finished, but not all councilors are happy with the report.
York Region presented the environmental assessment for the mid-block crossing, which is a joint project between Richmond Hill, Markham and the region, at a committee meeting Tuesday.
Staff looked at a number of options for the crossing, which will connect Richmond Hill and Markham and alleviate traffic on Major Mackenzie Drive and 16th Avenue.
The span would connect Markland Street in Markham with Orlando Avenue in Richmond Hill, not far north of 16th Avenue.
All the routes had to cross over the highway and the Rouge River, so they made recommendations based on cost, the environment and other impacts.
The recommended route would connect Leslie Street to Woodbine Avenue.
But Councillor Valerie Burke disagreed with the outcome of the study.
“I see this as a symptom of urban sprawl,” she said and added we are just spending money to fix past design mistakes.
She questioned the validity of assessments like these. “In all my time here, I’ve seen so many environmental assessments go through and I don’t understand how they can,” she said. “It always seems to come out just fine but in the end it’s not fine.”
And she was concerned about the impact this project would have on the Redside Dace, a minnow-like fish native to this area whose habitat is endangered.
“How can they be protected from salt in river, heavy metals in river,” she questioned. “I don’t have a hope, not a hope with all of the runoff.”
“We don’t take biodiversity very seriously at all,” she said and added that these routes are designed for more cars.
But Salim Alibhai, who gave the presentation for the Region, said when designing the roadway and structure, they consult groups like the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
And they try to leave the site in better condition than when they started, he explained.
“What we try to do is minimize the impacts on natural environment where we can,” he said.
And the road design included sidewalks and room for cyclists.
But Burke remained skeptical.
Councillor Colin Campbell said he understood Burke’s concerns, but the reality is there are huge volumes of motorists who use the road, he said.
“They have to go somewhere,”
But he said he would like to see this project improved to help the traffic flow.
Deputy Mayor Jack Heath said this project would be an asset.
“If you are trying to get from Markham to Richmond Hill, this would be a tremendous way of escaping 16th avenue or even Major Mackenzie.”
The assessments were made based on a study in 2012 that confirmed the need for crossings of Highway 404.
“Conditions on 16th avenue and Major Mack are not good today, and they are going to degrade over time,” said Alibhai and he added that there are long delays in peak hours, and undesirable conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Without the mid block crossings these conditions will continue to degrade.”
This crossing will be one of four that will connect communities on one side of the highway to the other between Highway 7 and Elgin Mills.
The environmental study began last January and included two public consultation meetings. Stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and the ministry of natural resources, were also consulted.
The committee voted to endorse the project, which is estimated to cost about $35-40 million.
The finding will be split equally between the region, the City of Markham and the Town of Richmond Hill.
The Region will be funding 90% of their portion with development charges and 10% from the tax levy.
Markham will be funding their portion through development charges.
