Regional News
September 18, 2008 08:57 PM
Not 100 per cent happy, Markham regional councillor says of capacity of proposed stations
Caroline Grech and David Fleischer
It was once a pie-in-the-sky idea but a subway extension going north up Yonge Street on the western edge of Markham is finally becoming a reality, councillors found out this week.
A preliminary plan complete with six stops, five of which would be in York Region, was presented to Markham council yesterday.
Mary-Frances Turner, vice-president of York Region Rapid Transit, discussed the preferred plan that would see stops at Steeles Avenue, Clark Avenue, Royal Orchard Road, Bunker Road and Richmond Hill Centre.
After working on the project with the public, Ms Turner and her colleagues are outlining their future plans for the new transit system for area politicians.
Each terminal will house large bus terminals.
A park-and-ride with 1,900 parking spaces is planned for the Bunker station, just south of Hwy. 407.
The parking lot will be in the hydro right-of-way and the Langstaff Road East industrial lands on the other side of Yonge are set for redevelopment, eventually housing up to 30,000 people.
“I’m not 100-per-cent happy,” said Markham Regional Councillor Jim Jones, a strong proponent of the subway extension.
He expressed concern that neither the Bunker station nor Richmond Hill Centre would adequately serve the future Langstaff community.
The key is to integrate transit so riders can easily get between GO trains, buses, subway and their homes, he added.
Town planners hope to see 50 to 80 per cent of new residents using transportation other than their cars and that goes out the window if they have to walk 700 or 800 metres to the nearest subway, Mr. Jones said.
Traffic infiltration — cars cutting through Thornhill to get to Finch Station — has been a major concern and Mr. Jones is optimistic the extension would ease traffic and make life liveable in that area.
Overall, he expressed satisfaction with the plans.
“It’s moving, it’s happening and I think a lot of the new planning is going to help on (Yonge) Street,” he said.
“We’re ready to go.”
Vaughan Regional Councillor Mario Ferri was pleased with the proposed plan.
“It really is amazing. We always like to throw darts at the provincial government, but this is one of those situations where we say, good job,” Mr. Ferri said, adding he thought there wouldn’t be a Yonge subway in his lifetime.
One of the six stops is at Cummer Avenue in Toronto. The Steeles Avenue station is on the York Region border and the other four are entirely in York Region, though the TTC will operate the system.
As part of the subway construction, a bridge will be constructed spanning the Don River valley north of Centre Street.
Its design is expected to be in keeping with the neighbouring heritage district and the river below will be naturalized.