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The region council's twice-repeated turn down of the regional transit concept amounts to a back- ward step away from what was an essential part of any move toward provid- ing better traffic solutions between York Region. Metro, Durham and Peel, he says. '53 Markham Vaughan and Richmond Hill Towns, along with the region, have been advocating for many months the consideration of alternâ€" atives to, the widening of Yonge Street from Steeles Avenue to Highway 7. VAUGHAN OPPOSED The other town directly affected by the Yonge Street widening is Vaughan. Ac- cording to the Vaughan planning committee chairâ€" man, Councillor Dave Fraser. if the town had its choice Yonge Street wouldn't be widened and would be re- constructed within its pres- ent confines. Mayor Roman and Coun- cillor Fraser were being questioned last week by this newspaper on the fate of a joint study of the province and region started last year to determine travel patterns between Metro and York. By HAL BLAINE Things like the proposed provincial widening of Yong‘e Street to seven lanes through 01d Thornhill Village are going to be pretty hard to stop unless a feeling of co-operation directs the councils of Metro and the surrounding regions of Durham, York and Peel. And the co-operation of the local towns, townships and boroughs is important too. So says Markham Town Mayor Anthony Roman, chairman of our York Region engineering committee. Mayor Roman sees the attitude of the majority of York Region’s municipal representatives as blocking any move toward achieving inter- municipal co-operation on such things as overall traffic solutions. TONY ROMAN Markham Mayor Markham Town planning staff recently provided coun- cil members with a report reflecting alarm and high criticism of the Yonge Street widening proposed through Thornhill by the Trans-por- tatlon and Communications Ministry. Donald Deacon MLA, York Centre, last week issued a press release stating num- bers of residents are inquir- ing about the fate of the joint Metro - York Region traffic study. Deacon also calls for larger solutions in- volving rail and road transit, not just for more and wider automobile routes. GUTS THORNHILL The Yonge Street widen- ing proposal as it now stands is one theoretically “gutting” the Thornhill community. Seven lanes is a lot of pave- ment and a pretty wide road. says Mayor Roman, noting there are two available al- ternatives. These are Bath- urst Street and Highway 404, both of which travel almost entirely through open fields past Thornhill and Richmond Hill. "It is the responsibility of the provincial government to hold hearings and get the feeling of the people. We in Markham have asked Transportation and Com- munications Minister John Rhodes for a hearing,” says Mayor Roman. He says it may come to the point where the region should get in- volved too. Roman says Yonge Street has to be improved and with the proper amount of lanes. But the problem is that everything is now being done on a piecemeal basis. "0dr region council does- n't seem to want to go along with the necessary things . . . in fear of the loss of power. We have to be in a position to work in a co- operative way . . . to plan for a long term solution for traf- fic. People are going to have to sit down around a table and hammer out solutions. If they don’t, then it just won't get done. Then the province is going to do it and there could be very lit- tle local input (as is the prospect now for Yonge Street in Thornhilll," the mayor said. TRANSIT STRUCK DOWN "If you strike down trans- it (as the region council did on two occasions in May), what else can you do?” Ro- man asks. “You've got to build more automobile lanes. People have to be moved." THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Wednesday JOHN RHODES Highways Minister “Here’s an opportunity for people at all levels to sit down and try to plan, to start to talk. The specifics can be worked out later. Perhaps our mistake (in the engineering committee re- port on transit to York Reg- ion Council) was that we came in with too specific 3 report from regional engin- eers without sufficient con- sultation with the local mun- icipalities and the province." “we tried again last week, but I don’t think we got the point across very strongly. The majority of the people on region coun- cil were still dead against it." said the Markham Mayor. “The region a year ago said the province should consider widening Bathurst instead of Yonge Street . . . there are some pretty devas- tating proposals being made (in the Yonge Street widenâ€" ing) regarding certain prop- erties . . . Markham cert- ainly will be making submis- sions on it . . . region in turn may have to get in- volved. 2 ALTERNATIVES “We have suggested con- struction of Highway 404 to four lanes should be immed- iate . . . this is an example of an alternative to widenâ€" ing Yonge. Part of the problem lies south of Steeles (the region-Metro boundary) . . especially south of Finch, Yonge Street has been wid- ened and there are highways plans to widen it all the way to Richmond Hill." said Markham Mayor Roman. He says Markham repre- sentatives are anxious to meet with Highways Minis- ter John Rhodes to discuss the Yonge Street widening before there is any final de- cision. Roman feels the Bathurst and Highway 404 alternatives should be con- sidered first. An interesting point brought out by the still unâ€" finished region - provincial study is that only 11% of the regular work force in York Region goes to the To- ronto core and would want to use the improved High- way 11 along Yonge Street. The rest would probably favor other routes to the east and west of Yonge Street. TRANSIT BLOCKED “We (York Region Coun- cil's engineering committee and staff) wanted to get started on Metroâ€"Regional transit . . . with everybody sitting down to decide what should be done," said Roman. But this possibility is now closed off at least for the time being, by the rejection of Metro - Regional transit proposals in both Durhan and York Region councils. Vaughan Planning Chair- man Fraser says his town council so far has taken no formal position on the latest provincial proposal for Yonge Street, although they previously joined with Rich- mond Hill. Markham and York Region in asking for consideration of the Bath- urst Street alternative. “They (highways officials) have showed the widening plan to us . . . said they were doing it. Vaughan council- lors don't particularly think highly of the parking lanes. The plan is actually for six ‘lanes (with a centre turning lanel with one of the six lanes painted out for park- ing on each side. SNOW PROBLEMS i "We would rather have the ‘curb moved out over this parking lane . . . we’ve al- ways had a problem with ‘snow ploughing. There has ‘never been a wide enough boulevard to hold the ploughed snow and still keep clear a sidewalk," said Councillor Fraser. “Vaughan. Richmond Hill and Markham have all taken the position Yonge Street should be a local road. That means it certainly shouldn’t be a six-lane highway. Fraser says the munic- ipal opinions sent to the province get what really amounts to the wastebasket treatment. They are fall- ing on deaf ears. "They were aware of that (the local wishes) before the design work (for Yonge wid- ening) was done. It's a ‘question of provincial pol- icy. I don't know what the region has done. if anything. “Surely Bathurst Street makes a better highway if you're going to move people. The Department of 'h'ans- port does own Bathurst from Steeles Avenue to Langstaff Road. It’s not generally known but that stretch was assumed by the province when the Highway 7 bypass was. built around Thornhill and up Bathurst." said the Vaughan councillor. Fraser says that in Vaughan there aren’t many ldirect problems for property lowners in the Yonge widen- ling design. There are almost mo properties affected on the ‘west side of Yonge through [Old Thornhill Village. Most of the properties hit are in Markham on the east side. There will be some taking of property and leasing back OWN BATHURST after construction is com- plete. York Region Engineering‘ Commissioner Robert Hodg- son says the provincialâ€"reg- ional traffic survey is fairly well finalized. But there hasn't been any report on it to regional council. The traffic statistics are only part of the information being studied. There’s go« ing to have to be involve- ment of other aspects. There have been meetings with the provincial ministry. The re- sult will be a determination of the role Yonge Street is going to have in the future, he says. , ___.._.-A‘. -_._, _ MAIN QUESTION Commissioner H o d g s o n says the question for Yonge Street is whether it will be A-) Utlvnu u, n..- V a local access road or a road for through traffic. He agrees the route is rather congested now at Thornhill, Richmond Hill and Aurora. But from the engineering standpoint, Hodgson sees the present proposed design for Yonge Street through Thorn- hill as being more a design for local access than for through traffic. “If we had a choice we would like Yonge Street reconstructed within the same confines as now. But the real effect of what they (the highways depart- ment) have said is that they're going to build it the way they want it," said Fraser. Asked if the region-pro- vincial study going on now indicates a Y'onge Street widened to six lanes will be needed in the long run, Hodgson says the study so far doesn't identify that par- ticular thing. "The study hasn't been re- fined down to say whether Yonge Street should be four lanes or six. That will be part of what is worked out in phase two of the study. We should get into that part during the latter part of 1974. We are planning for the year 2000,” said Hodg- SOl‘l staff have done a detailed study of the effects of the proposed provincial high- ways widening. The staff report was tabled at a recent Markham planning meeting and has thus become a public document on file at the planning office on Den- ison Street. The staff re- port includes drawings of every foot of Yonge north from Highland Park Boule- vard, showing existing and proposed future conditions. with comments on each sec- tion follows: EXISTING CONDITIONS As it presently exists Yonge Street is a 90-foot right-of-way and carries two lanes of traffic in each di- rection. Two of the most striking present conditions are visual aspects and park- ing. ‘ The key elements contrib- uting to the present state are signs, overhead wires and lack of landscaping. Parking conditions, on the other hand. are somewhat varied. “Older strip commerical areas (between Highland Park Boulevard and Wood- ward Avenue, also north of Colborne Street) would seem to be somewhat deficient in their provision of parking spaces along the Yonge Street frontage. All such commercial strips have areas available for parking at the rear of the site. “Poor accessibility has del- egated such areas to a very minor significance in terms of accommodating customer parking. The most striking parking problem along Yonge Street (in Markham) exists along the apartment strip between Clark Avenue and Elgin Street. None of the present apartment build- ings provided sufficient on site parking. PROPOSED WIDENING “As proposed, the widen- ing of Yonge Street will in- crease the width of the right-ofâ€"way (from 90 feet) to 120 feet. Within this right- ofâ€"way there will be a con- tinuous left turn lane, two northbound lanes, two south- bound lanes and a lane to accommodate parallel park- ing on each side of the .highway. The two parking *lanes could eventually be converted into traffic lanes. A total paving width of 81 feet will result. Markham Town manning “The anticipated impact is expected to affect a fairly wide range of existing condi- tions and uses Newly cre- ated problems include: a re- duction of existing front yard parking facilities in certain areas, the demolition of certain buildings, an in- crease in the volume of noise and fumes. as well as some awkward and undesirable traffic movements." says the‘ Markham Town staff report. ‘ The widening between Highland and Woodward will reduce existing parking by§ half. The front wall of the! plaza will be 25 feet fromI the edge of the new pave- L ment and only 10 feet from I'file report, in part, is as , June 12, 1974 the actual right-ofâ€"way Service station pump is- lands at Grandview Avenue, Doncaster Avenue, Clark Avenue will be only 10 feet, 15 feet and 1.2 feet respec- vivehr from the right-of-way; CROWDS APARTMENTS Apartment buildings should be set back 90 feet from major highways, ac- cording to Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation standards. But along Yonge, between Clark and Elgin, the setbacks will be between 45 feet and 85 feet. At Elgin Street, gas pumps will be only five feet from the righ of-way. An unfinish- ed apartment building next door will be only 56 feet from the right-ofâ€"way. North of Elgin the town staff feels demolition will be unavoid- able for a commercial buildâ€" ing and two single family dwellings, since their front walls will be right up against the new pavement. Both these homes are listend in the Goulding survey as his- toric sites. These demolitions are at variance with indications of nrovincial representatives at two public information hear- Green Circle Dominion Hardware PO. Box 46 Unionville ings recently held at Rich-1 mond Hill and Thomhill. A; reporter was told the widen-l mg would only involve demo- lition of one building, and this wasn‘t Of those three [own staff considers would have to be demolished bet- ween Elgin and John Streets. MANY DEMOLITIONS Actually. Markham 'Town planning staff expects nine dwellings and commercial buildings will have to be de- molished for the Yonge Street widening. Three of these buildings have historic signi- ficance. Demolition 0f se- veral other buildings is con- sidered a likely possibility. The plaza between John and Colborne Streets will lose 15 parking spaces. On the north side of Colborne the paint and wallpaper store is substantially within the proposed new pavement and almost all of it is within the right-of-way. Demolition will be inevitable for this building, says the staff re- port. with the building not being in the Goulding h‘isto- ric sites survey. But there is evidence this building dates back to 1843 and was part of the Gallanough family esta- tes, says the report. _ tca, cal.) uu, .-rv-.. Furt‘her north of Colborne the new pavement will vir- tually destroy the existing facilities for parking and the expanded right-of way would only be a foot or two away 297-1811 from the front wall. “Acces- sibility to a parking area at the rear of the property is very poor and the future of this plaza would seem high- ly uncertain,” says the re- port: _L The antique store at Yonge and Centre Streets would be partly within the new pavement and would have to be demolished. Demolition would also be certain for the insurance office to the north which would be partly within the pavement and probably en- tirely Within the right-of- way. The Post Office and ad- jacent plaza would be little affected, but demolition of the Single family dwelling north of the funeral home is considered a likely possibili- ty by town staff. .‘ ,,.1 t... y, .-H V D‘emolitio is considered‘ almost certain for two homes south of Royal Orchard Boulevard, the new right-of- way coming within five feet of the front wall of one and right along the front wall of the other. The shoe store and plaza north of Royal Orchard would lose eight and eight parking spaces respectively. #. ___ --.â€"--n‘vm The Markham Town staff sees merit in a Yonge Street improvement, without widen- ing, for the following rea- SOl’lS wag' wili fie improved u“; idisténcm through grade changes will be im- proved. _L ,-v.-_. 0 Left turning movements will be more safely accom- modated without impeding the flow of traffic. "Hoâ€"Illhe 7 general roadway, sidewalk and landscaping features will be improved. problem with the province’s proposed re-alignment of Elgin Street and Arnold Avenue to a single intersec- tion, finding the worries about this to he unfounded. HARMFUL WIDENING 'B-ut town staff opposes the widening of Yonge to seven lanes. favoring instead im- provements providing for four through lanes and a centre left turning lane. Staff also feels York Region should undertake stud'ies to idetermine if alternative ‘routes such as Bathurst FEVER ‘IMPROVEMENT . The quality of the road- The town staff sees no Alexander Dominion Hardware H d L l V c u. “a.” v. V..." Bathurst ment,what f u n c t i 3}: Maple Plaza Maple 832-1430 Street and Bayview évegpe could adeaugte'ly handlf‘ the t r a f f i c if ionge Street weren't widened. Staff says the widening as proposed will cause serious problems for a number of properties. “Although lost parking in part. will be re- placed by on-treet parking. it can only be assumed that this is temporary. Once the parking lanes are lost, there won’t be any legitimate park- ing for many businesses,” says staff. .L-L an; u an»--. “The other concern is that the province may turn Yonge Street over to the region, which will need to make the decision on converting the parking lane to traffic lanes. “The total pavement width [81 feet) is such as to make left turning movements out of businesses very hazardous. It will be necessary to cross‘ three lanes of one-way traf fic, plus a median lane which will h av e unpredictable movements, in order to get into the desired flow of traf- fic," says staff. FUTURE PROSPECTS “It is anticipated that de- velopment along Y o n g e Street will be considerable by the year 2000. Vaughan Town anticipates an additio- nal 50,000 people between Yonge, Dufferin, Steeles and Highway 7. “Richmond Hill expects an addition of 80,000 people in an area bounded by Highway '1, Elgin Mills Road, Bathurst Street and Bayview Avenue. In Mark- ham an estimated increase of 45,000 to 50,000 is ex- pected for a fully develop- ed Thornhill. The grand total of this acticlpated growth represehts a popu- lation increase of 160.000 to 165.000 by the year 2000. “In light of such develop- can Yonge Street be expected to perform. Can it serve as both a land use street and a through highway, and can both functions be fulfilled adequately?" asks Markham Town planning staff. "It would seem that regio- nal transportation strategies should seriously consider the development of similar alter- nate arterials along streets such as Bayview and Bath- tion should include rail, as well as bus and subway, and ensure all modes are co-ordi- nated. Unnecessary waiting at stops because schedules aren't posted. poor connec- tions. separate ticketing of bus and rail routes â€" these all discourage co-ordination of existing rail services. They are problems which could zfand should be quickby recti- ied. “It would seem that regio- nal transportation strategies should seriously consider the development of similar alter- nate arterials along streets such as Bayview and Bath- urst to create a road network to correspond functionally and hieracratically with a through highway. It is diffi- cult at the present time to determine if this particular alternative might be imple- manted as a long range re- gional strategih RICHMOND HILL CRITICAL “It should also be pointed out that Yonge Street at the prseeni time is seriously con- stricted in Richmond Hill and Aurora. Richmond Hill by far is the most critical (area) but it (Yonge through Richmond Hill) could never be more than four lanes in width. It would appear to be much more desirable to de- velop a network which doesn't result in the most heavily travelled road being restricted at given points," concludes the Markham Town planning staff report on Yonge Street widening through Thornhill. Local MLA Deacon of Unionville says the provin- cial-regional study of Metro- regional traffic patterns will be of great value if it isn‘t used to determine the need for wider and bigger road systems, but rather to find the most efficient way to satisfy traffic needs. TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES “This has to include public transportation as well as the needs of the private automo- bile, Aand public transporta- 6183 Yonge Street Willowdale Wib Smith Dominion Hudmn 221 -2522 “Hopefully Transportation Minister Rhodes will direct more attention and resour- ces to answer existing needs such as these, instead of building the experimental train project at the ‘CNE now to cost $30,000,000." said M-LA Deacon. In spite of all this local worry about the Yonge Street widenin g, indicatiom are that construction is imminent not only through Thornhill but all the way up to the Vaughan-Markham Roads in- tersection in central Rich- mond Hill. MINISTRY STATEMENT Several days ago an in- terview granted a Metro newspaper by an unidenti- fied spokesman for the Mi- nistry of Transportation and Communications said the Ontario government may widen five miles of Yonge Street from Steeles Avenue northward through Thornhill, Langstaff and R i c h v a le, right to Vaughan Road (Ma- jor Mackenzie Drive). Instead of describing the new widened Yonge Street as being proposed for seven lanes, the highways spokes- man talked of five lanes. He said the provincial Highway 11 IYonge Street) would be widened from four 10-foot lanes to four or five 12-foot lanes, one of the lanes to be designated as a left turn lane.