Don’t derail added train service, city staff says

Markham Economist & Sun
April 3, 2014
By Amanda Persico

Markham is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to Metrolinx and GO Transit’s plan for the Stouffville rail line, city staff said this week.

During this week’s development services committee, councillors received an update on the environmental assessment process for the Stouffville rail line between the Scarborough Junction and the Unionville GO Station that will allow for double tracking and all-day, everyday two-way service.

Throughout the process, the city has been asking for several items to be included in the scope of the project and studied under the environmental process, including anti-whistle requirements and electrification of the GO line.

Residents and local transit organizations have also called for an expansion of the environmental assessment up to Major Mackenzie Drive.

GO Transit has not addressed Markham’s issues and the transit agency is planning to submit its environmental assessment to the provincial environment ministry this spring.

That leaves Markham with two options: endorse the plan as is or request a project bump-up and the environment minister to hold an environmental assessment hearing, which could add further costs and delay the project.

City staff recommend endorsing the plan as is, but also included a few conditions.

“It would be strategic to endorse the project,” Markham’s engineering director, Alan Brown, said. “We don’t want to stall the project and another project get funding. My worry is this project is in competition with other projects to get funding. We need to keep this advancing.”

The city wants Metrolinx to commit funding to the Stouffville rail line in 2014/2015 and for GO Transit to establish a working group with Metrolinx, Markham, York Region and Toronto to look at transit services along the entire rail corridor, review electrification and anti-whisling.

Other projects, such as the downtown relief line, could take funding away from the Stouffville GO line expansion project.

“We don’t want to delay the project,” Mayor Frank Scarpitti said. “That will only be hurting ourselves. Then we would be doing what we complain other parties do to slow down a project.”

One major component that is missing from the equation is funding, argued Regional Councillor Jim Jones.

Mr. Jones pushed for the city to look at other funding options, such as a public-private-partnership.

“This EA will sit on a shelf for years,” Mr. Jones said. “We need proper transit and proper funding for this type of stuff. Otherwise, we will always be stuck in this political maze.”

Since this project has been on the table for more than two years, city staff also recommended Markham take the lead on establishing a working group for the future of the corridor.

“We are advancing solutions,” Mr. Brown said. “Metrolinx is not. Metrolinx has other priorities. So Markham should take the lead with Toronto and York Region and get everyone to the table, Metrolinx willing or unwilling.”