[getsmart-l] Highways: Re: FW: GTTA Board Meeting - Friday Sept 28-07

[Gloria Boxen]

Some of the highway updates around the GTA.  My comments are in blue.   Gloria Boxen

Hwy 407 is on track for extension
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/06/25/c8759.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

Recommended Highway Route Ready To Be Presented For Public Comment

   DURHAM, ON, June 25 /CNW/ - The Ontario government has reached the next
milestone in its environmental assessment study to extend Highway 407 east to
Clarington, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield said today.
While we were vacationing, MOT was busy.  Some highways have been revived in time for the election


http://427corridor.com/background.shtml
http://427corridor.com/

 As part of the policies in the Growth Plan, the GTA North Transportation Corridor across and north of the Oak Ridges Moraine is not identified as an initiative. As such, the former GTA North Transportation Corridor Study is no longer active.

 
 MTO has initiated a new study to support the vision identified in the Growth Plan. This new study is entitled the 427 Transportation Corridor Environmental Assessment Study.  
 July 17, 2007

http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/08/23/c9450.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html

McGuinty Government Moving Forward With Highway 410 Extension  

    Completion Of 410 To Ease Congestion Woes

    BRAMPTON, ON, Aug. 23 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is committed to
extending Highway 410 north to Highway 10 in Caledon to relieve congestion and
get commuters home to their families, Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield
announced today.

Is the Bradford Bypass is on again?  This is a letter from Dec 12, 2006 from Minister Caplan saying the first priority is transit and the Bradford Bypass is not on the schedule.

http://gilford.county.simcoe.on.ca/ClearFrame/Production/eGenda/eGenda.nsf/0/b8b8e358d9d5685c85257258004ba864/$FILE/Minister%20Caplan%20re%20Bradford%20Bypass.pdf

At a York Region public consultation meeting last night, (Natural Heritage, part of Stainability Strategy) along with the 404 and 407 extensions, the Bradford Bypass was on the map.

http://forums.canadiancontent.net/ontario/64971-hwy-404-extension-last.html#post854298

I noticed they're breaking ground at the north end of Hwy 404 in Newmarket. It looks like the long awaited 404 extension and Bradford bypass may be on their way.  I sure hope so, because every new leg they build makes my drive to work a faster one and increases my property values.
  
 I can't find any recent press releases on it though...maybe they're trying to sneak it in before the enviro-faction gets wind of it...
  
 Personally, I'd just as soon see some EFFECTIVE form of public transit instead, but they seem to think we can somehow do without both...
  
 Anyone seen anything "official"?    posted  July 17, 2007


Here it is & they certainly got to work fast, before the press release.

http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/08/24/c9370.html?lmatch=&lang=_e.html


EAST GWILLIMBURY, ON, Aug. 24 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is
delivering on its commitment to extend Highway 404 and improve safety and
traffic flow for drivers in York Region, Transportation Minister Donna
Cansfield announced today.

The reaction to the Hwy 404 extension was typical with some of the usual beliefs being voiced, but there was a new one for me from MPP Julia Munroe.


http://www.yorkregion.com/News/Regional%20News/article/45246
Aug 29, 2007 11:53 PM      
                                                                                            Northbound bridge at Green Lane will be first phase            
By:  Sean Pearce            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             With a provincial election around the corner, the Dalton McGuinty government is building bridges, quite literally, and commencing construction on the long-awaited extension of Hwy. 404 to Georgina.

The extension will gradually become a reality over the next five years, Ontario Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield has announced. 
Some details still need to be worked out, but Ms Cansfield said the project is moving ahead.“The next five years, it will be extended right up to Ravenshoe (Road) from Green Lane,” she said. 

‘Oh, sure, it would help... Anybody travelling down Woodbine (Avenue) knows it’s a nightmare.’ “The environmental assessment has been done, we’ve got the acquisitions and it will be built along the preferred route.”

For their part, Georgina residents were cautiously optimistic about the highway headed north. 

Robert Caldwell, who has lived in the area for 40 years, said it would help with his daily commute, but he has heard this song sung by many successive governments. As a result, he’ll believe it when he sees it.

“Again?” he said with a laugh. “Oh, sure, it would help... Anybody travelling down Woodbine knows it’s a nightmare.”

Glenn Grosskurth, also of Keswick, said he travels extensively for work and often ends up south of Hwy. 401. As such, the extension would be a big bonus.      “It would muchly improve my drive,” he said. “I’ve been waiting 20 years for it.”         

And you will play a large role in choosing that route, Ms Cansfield said, adding input will be solicited from residents. 

The extension from Green Lane to Ravenshoe will extend the highway by 13 kilometres. The first phase of the construction will be a new northbound bridge at Green Lane. The $2.6-million project will be built by Toronto Zenith Contracting Limited of Concord and construction of the bridge is slated to be completed by year’s end. 

...

The extension of Hwy. 404 has been a long time coming,  but Ms Cansfield said, until now, the money just hasn’t been there to make it a reality.   “There was a huge deficit in infrastructure in the past,” she said.

The news was met with enthusiastic approval from Georgina Mayor Rob Grossi, who said the highway extension will complement much of the planned commercial development in the area, but added the five-year time frame is a concern.

“The sooner it happens, the better,” Mr. Grossi said. “We are happy and excited to see the construction begin at Green Lane, however, we do think the province should, perhaps, fast-track the project so that it arrives in this community sooner as opposed to later.” 

East Gwillimbury Mayor James Young was also pleased with the announcement and said he expected the highway extension to bring a number of bonuses to the community, not the least of which would be a reduction in traffic congestion.

The extension of the highway will not only get people around faster, but also improve safety, Mr. Young said, but he cautioned some concerns need to be addressed.

“We still have to be cognizant, because there is still agriculture going on,” Mr. Young said. “We don’t want to hinder that or growth overall in East Gwillimbury.”....


(York North Conservative MPP) Julia Munro said the highway extension should do wonders to help ease traffic congestion and will likely improve the mental and physical health of area residents. 

Timing has little to do with it, Ms Cansfield said, adding the Hwy. 404 project is just one of many infrastructure upgrades to which the McGuinty government has committed.

“The important thing is we need to do our work because there’s been such a deficit,” she said. “Road users are going to be annoyed with some of the construction around the province, but it needs to be done.”
  

Janet May <janet at smartgrowth.on.ca> wrote: GTTA Board meeting Friday Sept 28 in Hamilton

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Schulz [mailto:bn903 at torfree.net] 
Sent: September 27, 2007 3:47 PM
To: Janet May "
Subject: GTTA Board Meeting - Friday Sept 28-07

Agenda - GTTA Board Meeting -Sept 28-07

Please find attached the Agenda for the GTTA Board meeting on Sept 28, 
2007. I have also included directions to the Hamilton Convention Centre.
Materials for this meeting will be posted on our website on Tuesday Sept 
25th. Please let me know if you have any difficulty accessing these.

Greater Toronto Transportation Authority
AGENDA
Board of Directors
Meeting #6
September 28, 2007
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Hamilton Convention Centre - Webster Room, Salon B & C
1 Summers Lane
Hamilton

       
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