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My Suggestion for a Possible Solution

November 1 2007

The projection of the growth of Stouffville has increased from the 1999 estimate of 13,500 people to 39,462 people by the year 2021,  This means a steady rise in the amount of traffic each and every year for the next 13 years.  That traffic has to go somewhere.

The ideal solution would have been for the the design of the intersection of 9th Line and Don Cousens Parkway (Markham  By-Pass) to have been configured to direct traffic preferentially to the by-pass.  Click here for past history.

The next best solution would be for the current Environmental Assessment to include the intersection in the study area and to decide that widening 9th Line from Stouffville is inappropriate.  However, from my discussions with the Region and with the Consultant, it is difficult, if not impossible, to change the Terms of Reference of an Environmental Assessment once it has started.

I also listened closely to the information at the Region's meeting on October 30, 2007.  it is my understanding that the requirement is 2 more lanes of traffic.  That doesn't mean one more lane north and one more lane south.  That means 2 more lanes north and 2 more lanes south.  Therefore, the plans shown for adding one more lane each way on the 9th Line, to a total of four lanes is not enough!  I can see us doing this all over again in another few years.

It would be good to have highway 48 widened, but that is under the jurisdiction of the Province, and look at how long it takes to make progress with the Ministry of Transportation.  There is nothing about Highway 48 in the Province's long term capital budget.

The other alternative would be the 10th Line, Reesor Road, but that runs through the Rouge Park wilderness area, and Transport Canada Lands.  That will not be a quick or easy solution.  We need to stop the traffic before it gets accustomed to tearing through our neighbourhoods.

Local Arterial Roads for Local Traffic

The Town of Markham staff has formally asked the Region to include the area south of Major Mackenzie to be part of the study.  We should continue and encourage that.  However, we need to be prepared with another solution.

The figures were correct in 1999 that current design for 9th Line would be able to handle the local traffic.  There is no way in can or should be able to now handle the increase of traffic from Stouffville.  9th Line will become the route of choice, not only for cars, but for the trucks rolling to the south.  The Region has spent millions of dollars to construct the Don Cousens Parkway (Markham By-Pass) to divert through traffic from our residential streets.  When that traffic comes to Major MacKenzie, and they get the green light, they will barrel right on through, clogging our neighbourhood and forcing infiltration on the residential streets.

The intersection of 9th Line and Don Cousens Parkway (Markham By-Pass) needs to be reconfigured to stop through traffic.

My suggestion is to have 2 southbound lanes of 9th line forced to make a left turn on a long green arrow, so that the traffic must go on the by-pass.  The difficulty will be emergency vehicles going to the hospital.  Therefore, we need one southbound lane permitted on the right side, to go south on 9th line.  If you need an example, look at the intersection of 16th and Markham Main Street. (Formerly Highway 48)

Following is an outline of a critical path to follow.  I'd appreciate your thoughts as we move forward.  Click here to e-mail me.

1. Support Town of Markham Staff in their consultation with the Region.

2. I am organizing a strategy meeting with the Ratepayer's Groups and Councillors and Town Staff.

3. We need to continue being involved in the Assessment process in Stouffville.

4. We need to set up a Task Force to look at the feasibility of other solutions, such as the one I suggested above.

5. We need to alert the public of what we are doing with fact, so we don't permit rumors to undo our credibility.

I will update this page as more becomes available.  Please come back often and leave your name, address and e-mail so I can let you know as we call for support.  Please click here for the contact page.

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