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 Update February 5, 2008 - Hwy 7 and 9th Line Intersection

Update Nov 2, 2007: Background of the Traffic Study

  Update Nov 2, 2007: My Suggestions of a Solution

  Update October 31, 2007: Region's Meeting - 9th Line Widening.

  Update October 26, 2007: More Traffic on the 9th Line?

  Update February 28, 2007: Construction Begins!

  Update May 2007 9th Line Box Grove By-Pass Open by the End of July

ISSUE 3: Complete 9th Line north of Highway 7

After years of bureaucratic delay, the widening is finally underway. However, after co-operating up until now, suddenly the Province of Ontario refuses to give the permits for the intersection at Highway 7. As a result, the full project is halted at Rose Way.

• I managed to get the right turn lane built on a temporary basis. It’s allowing cars to turn right onto Highway 7, rather than blocking up the southbound traffic.
• I forced Riverlands to be extended to the old bypass to take some of the Cornell Traffic away from the 9th Line.
• The 9th Line bypass will open in December, allowing southbound traffic without gridlock at 14th. (This was held up by a private property issue that we worked hard to solve.)
• I will continue to keep the pressure on for completion by early next summer, depending on how fast the frost is out of the ground in the spring.

Construction Commencement

February 28, 2007

The contract for the widening of Ninth Line has been awarded to Elirpa Construction and Materials Ltd. of Pickering.  Construction is scheduled to commence in March of 2007, starting with the installation of temporary traffic signals and other preparatory works.  Full construction is expected to start on or about April 30 2007.  Completion is planned for late fall of 2007.

A general description of the work includes widening the existing 2 lane road to provide a 4 lane road with upgraded or new traffic signals, additional turing lanes at intersections, storm sewers, sidewalks and illumination.

Work is scheduled during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.  It is a a requirement of the contract that Ninth Line must remain open to traffic at all times; however, periodic lane closures with flag persons are permitted.  Every attempt will be made to keep inconvenience to a minimum, however should any occur I respectfully request you patience and understanding.

I am aware that children are attracted to heavy construction equipment and by the excitement in the area but I am extremely concerned for their safety.  If you observe children playing around the equipment, I request that you call one of the following numbers:

Contractor:  Elirpa Construction and Materials Ltd. - Superintendent, Danny Aprile, 905-622-5317.

York Region:  Contract Administrator, - John Ranta, 416-688-2485.

York Region Transportation and Works:   24 hour / after hours Dispatch, 1-877-464-9675.

If you have any questions regarding the work, please contact me, Councillor John Webster, or John Ranta of York Region at 905-895-1200 Extension 5928.

This news has been a long time in coming and it is exciting to know that by the end of this year, it will be completed.  I am continuing the pressure on the Provincial Government to get the intersection at Ninth Line and Highway 7 completed.

9th Line By-Pass around Box Grove by the end of July

May 2007

The Box Grove Developers Group have advised that the 9th Line By-Pass will be open to traffic (one lane in each direction) on or about the 3rd week of July including the extension of Rouge Bank Drive and traffic signalization at Rouge Bank Drive and at 14th Avenue.

Upon the traffic being diverted onto the By-Pass, the existing 9th Line is to be terminated and a new turning circle /cul de sac constructed at the north and south limits where it intersects with the By-Pass. Additional road works to complete the By-Pass to 4 lanes will also be completed at this time and prior to mid August.

Sidewalk works are scheduled to be completed by mid August and boulevard sodding, tree planting and landscape works are to be completed mid September.

Prior to the opening of the 9th Line By-Pass, the Region of York will need to pass the necessary by-laws to dedicate the road as a public highway. The Developers Group and the Region of York are currently working on all land transfer and road dedication issues to permit the road opening.

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Does the Region want 9th Line to be the Markham By-Pass?

October 26, 2007

Updated November 2, 2007

The Region of York has recently initiated a review of the 1999 Environmental Study Report for the Ninth Line between Major Mackenzie Drive and Main Street Stouffville. The purpose of the review is to determine if the recommendations presented in the 1999 ESR specifically the construction of the 9th Line as a two lane roadway and the elimination of intersection jogs at Major Mackenzie Drive and Elgin Mills Road, are still the preferred alternatives.

The Region has arranged for a Public Consultation Centre to be held at Latchman Hall in Stouffville on Tuesday October 30th between 6:00pm and 9:00 pm. The purpose of the PCC is to review the Study process and objectives and to present alternative and preferred design concepts for the roadway.

Engineering staff attended a meeting on Thursday, October 25, 2007,to review the information to be presented at the PCC and were advised that the Region is recommending a revision to the preferred design concept presented in the 1999 Study. In particular, the current EA review will recommend that the 9th Line be reconstructed as a four lane roadway from Major Mackenzie Drive to Stouffville rather than a two lane facility and that the intersection of 19th Ave also be reconfigured to eliminate the existing jog in this location.

The reason for these recommended changes is to deal with the anticipated significant increase in projected traffic volumes heading from Stouffville to Highway 407 resulting from revised growth projections for Stouffville which have increased from a 2021 population of 13,500 used in the 1999 EA to the current 20210 population estimate of approximately 40,000.

The engineers of the Town of Markham have advised the Region that, in our opinion, the widening of the roadway to four lanes between Major Mackenzie Drive and Stouffville may result in significant increases in traffic volumes traveling along the 9th Line south of 16th Avenue and have requested that the Region expand the scope of the EA review to include the 9th Line between Major Mackenzie Drive and 16th Avenue and specifically, to include a review of the 9th Line/Donald Cousens Parkway intersection to determine if improvements are required in this area to minimize any future increases to through traffic volumes on the 9th Line south of 16th Avenue.

We have requested that this change in study scope be confirmed by the Region prior to the Tuesday’s PIC and included in the materials to be presented at the PCC. We are currently awaiting a response from the Region and will advise of the outcome of this request. We will also circulate copies of the PCC presentation materials as soon as it is received from the Region. 

Please watch this space for more information as it becomes available, and mark your calendars for Tuesday October 30, 2007. 

I may need your support.  

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Report of the Region's Public Consultation

October 31, 2007

Updated November 2, 2007

The purpose of the meeting held by the Region of York in Latcham Hall in Stouffville, was to review the previous recommendations of the 1999 Ninth Line Environmental Assessment, and to confirm if the previous recommendations are valid.

In my opinion, while the meeting was handled correctly, most of the people in attendance went away thinking that they were not consulted, but were told what was going to happen.

The problem was stated and then the solution was given.  Their preferred option is to widen 9th Line to four lanes from just north of Main Street to meet with the four lane section in Markham.  The suggestions that were made from the audience were documented and will be looked at.

It is good that the Region is updating the infrastructure to stay in tune with changing times.  The big transportation headaches that we have are due to infrastructure lagging behind growth.  However, planning has to be done carefully and with all stakeholders consulted.  In meetings that I have had, and that our Town Staff have had with the Region, I have gone away without the confidence that the Study will be expanded to include the intersection of 9th Line and Don Cousens Parkway (the Markham By-Pass).  I can understand that, because the process to change the terms of reference of Class Environmental Assessment are tremendous.  The results of our meetings are that they will look at the ramifications of more traffic on our portion of 9th Line.  With diligent work we will be able to force a new Assessment of the 9th Line and Don Cousens Parkway intersection, and it may work to our benefit. 

Please click here for some background and details of how this will affect residents south of Major MacKenzie Dr.

Please click here to see my suggestion for a solution.

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