THE MOVE VAUGHAN PLAN

ADDRESSING THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM

We Need to Fix The Traffic Problem and Get Vaughan Moving Again:

THE PROBLEM


  • Driving in Vaughan can be incredibly frustrating at times. It seems as though everywhere you turn there is traffic.
  • Traffic is costing our businesses money, harming the environment, and wasting the time Vaughan residents have to spend with their friends and families.
  • I am a strong proponent of investing in public transit. The subway, for instance, will alleviate traffic in Vaughan. The Viva is also an important piece of a broader transportation plan.
  • The truth is, however, the public transportation system in Vaughan is many years away from truly being a solution to the traffic problem in Vaughan.

    • THE SOLUTION


  • I have a plan to fix the traffic problem by not just focusing on public transportation, but also taking steps to make cars move faster and more efficiently on our roads and to make sure new development does not continue to put pressure on our roadways;
  • If elected, I will continue take proactive steps to increase the capacity of our roadways while implement one of the most technologically advanced traffic systems for our Region to increase the efficiency of our roadways.
  • Reducing traffic will increase tax dollars as it will encourage more residents and business call Vaughan Home.
  • I will continue to seek innovative ways to recover the cost of implementing my Move Vaughan Plan through private partnerships and advertising opportunities. Including ads on mobile electronic signs and tasteful advertising along roadways much like you see along the Gardner Expressway in Toronto.

    • GETTING THINGS DONE (Accomplishments 2014-2018):

    I am proud of our accomplishments over the past 4-years to address The Traffic Problem.

    In 2014, I presented the residents of Vaughan with my Move Vaughan Plan which called for a mix of widening existing roads, the constructions of new roads, investments in technology, and investment in public transportation. I am proud of our accomplishments and I am asking for your vote to continue to implement by Move Vaughan Plan.

    1. WE HAVE WIDENED ROADS AND ADDED SEVERAL ROADS:

  • Many Regional roads have been, or are in the process of being, widened including Bathurst Rd, Dufferin Rd, Major Mackenzie Dr, Rutherford Rd, and Teston Rd
  • 140kms of new roads have been built over the last 4 years.

    • 2. MORE ROAD WIDENINGS COMING SOON:

  • Major Mackenzie from the CP Tracks to Islington Ave will be widened from 2-6 lanes commencing in 2018;
  • Rutherford Rd from Westburne Dr to Peter Rupert Ave (underpass) will be widened from 4-6 lanes in commencing 2019;
  • Rutherford Rd from Jane St to east of Keele St will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes commencing in 2020;
  • Keele St from Steeles Av to Highway 407 will be widened from 4-6 commencing in 2019;
  • Hwy 50 from Major Mackenzie Dr to Rutherford Rd will be widened from 4-6 lanes commencing in 2021;
  • Teston Rd from Pine Valley Dr to Weston Rd will be widened from 2-4 lanes commencing in 2021;
  • Rutherford Rd from Peter Rupert Ave to Bathurst St will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes commencing in 2022;
  • Hwy 50 from Major Mackenzie Dr to Albion-Vaughan Rd will be widened from 4-6 lanes commencing in 2022;
  • Bathurst Rd from Major Mackenzie Dr to Elgin Mills Rd will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes commencing in 2023;
  • Bathurst Rd from Hwy 7 to Rutherford Rd will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes commencing in 2023; and,
  • Bathurst Rd from Rutherford Rd to Major Mackenzie Dr will be widened from 4 to 6 lanes commencing in 2023;

    • 3. MORE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BEING STUDIED:

  • Dufferin Rd from Langstaff Rd to Teston Rd;
  • The Keele St and Cromwell/Field Gate Dr intersection;
  • Keele St and Dina Rd intersection;
  • Keele St and Langstaff Rd intersection;
  • Major Mackenzie Dr from McNaughton/Avro Rd to Keele St;
  • Major Mackenzie Dr from Hwy 400 to Jane St;
  • Teston Rd from Keele St to Bathurst St; and,
  • Teston Rd and St. Joan of Arc Ave intersection.

    • 4. WE CONTINUED TO INVEST IN TECHOLOGY TO IMPROVE TRAVEL TIMES:

  • Our road network, including traffic signals, are now managed by state-of-the-art technology to improve reliability of travel on roads;
  • York Region operates a 24/7 Traffic Management Centre to assist in controlling traffic to reduce travel times and to respond to road blockages and/or emergencies by taking immediate action to reduce travel disruption;
  • Deploy the York Regional Police unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to capture high-definition aerial images used in detailed electronic mapping of collision scenes to reduce traffic disruptions;
  • York Region App allows drivers to receive real time traffic reports – also integrated with GoogleMaps and Waze;
  • Residents can view real time traffic cameras online to see how busy roads are;
  • 400 Bluetooth sensors on Regional roads measure travel times to identify issues to be addressed;
  • Vehicle detector loops and video detection cameras are used to detect vehicles and control traffic signals;
  • Weather tracking systems and vehicle tracking applications are used during inclement weather to help road crews prepare and monitor progress; and,
  • Software systems are used to track lane and road closures and road permit information.

    • 5. MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT:

  • Opened the Vaughan Subway;
  • The Yonge Subway Extension is in the preliminary planning, design and engineering [PDE] phase; $91 million has been secured;
  • Purchased 37 conventional buses and 5 Viva buses in 2016 and 2017;
  • Approved the construction of the Major Mackenzie West Terminal at the Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital (construction in 2020);
  • Initiated the Transit Assistance Program (TAP) to help make transit more affordable for eligible residents;
  • Kirby Go Station Approved; and,
  • 1,200 new spots were approved/installed at both the Maple and Rutherford Go Stations.

    • If Elected I Will to Continue to Implement My 5-Point MOVE VAUGHAN PLAN:

    1. CURB THE IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE TRAFFIC PROBLEM

    New development brings with it people, cars, and more traffic. We are required by the Province to accommodate a large amount of new development in the coming years – but we have the power and authority to implement and enforce policies to curb (excuse the pun) the impact that development will have on our existing traffic problem.

    My priorities will be to:

  • Implement an Official Plan Amendment (and supporting guidelines) that sets out detailed traffic requirements for new developments including the maximum impact or traffic delay that can be generated by each development – if new developments cannot ensure an acceptable rate of traffic which the City/Region sets, then they cannot be approved or, the developer must increase road capacity; and
  • Make developers pay for roadway improvements required to ensure that the road network will operate safely and efficient manner.

    • 2. CONTINUE TO INVEST IN SMART ROAD CONSTRUCTION WITH REGIONAL TAX DOLLARS. WE NEED TO BUILD MORE LANES AND MORE ROADS TO PREVENT BOTTLENECKS AND ALLEVIATTE TRAFFIC NOW.

    I know it seems a little bit old school to address traffic issues by building new roads, but the reality is that we live in a suburban area where people need to drive to get to and from work for the time being at least. At the local level, we do not have the jurisdiction to build trains and subways, so we need to take proactive steps that are within our jurisdiction to begin to alleviate the traffic problem while we put pressure on other levels of government.

    My priorities will be to:

  • Add lanes to Major Mackenzie Drive;
  • Add lanes to Rutherford Road;
  • Link Dufferin Street and Keele Streets along Kirby Road;
  • Explore additional missing links and the feasibility of completing roads that now end at dead ends;
  • Look for opportunities to build ring roads around subdivisions so traffic doesn’t infiltrate through subdivisions; and,
  • Ensure that Highway 427 is expanded northward.

    • 3. CONTINUE TO INVEST IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND ENSURE THE PROVINCE DOES TOO. CREATE A MORE EFFICIENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT CAN ACTUALLY ACT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CAR. WE NEED MORE SUBWAYS, GO TRAINS, GO STATIONS, AND BUSSES.

    Investment in alternatives to using the car is important. If elected I will continue my support of VIVA, YRT, and other public transit initiatives.

    I will also work with Toronto City Council, Metrolinx, the TTC and other municipalities in York Region and Peel to make inter-City public transit more efficient.

    My priorities will be to:

  • Continue to fight to bring the Subway to Thornhill (Yonge Subway Extension);
  • Continue to fight to bring the GO Train service to Woodbridge;
  • Continue to fight to add more trains to the Keele Go Train Line to increase frequency of trips significant; and,
  • Continue to invest in adding more buses to Viva and YRT services to increase frequency of trips.

    • 4. CONTINUE TO INVEST IN COST EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT OPTIMIZE EXISTING ROADS.

    Optimization of traffic flows is a key to efficient roadways. New technologies can help us increase efficiency, usually with low costs.

    We need to continue to seek out and implement the best technologies the world has to offer to increase the efficiency of our road system and decrease travel times.

    My priorities will be to:

  • Continue to support the review new technologies that can optimize the use of the roads we already have; and
  • Implement an annual survey of available technologies to reduce travel times which shall include a cost/benefit analysis.

    • 5. SEEK AND SUPPORT COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS. CREATE A TRAFFIC REDUCTION TASK FORCE TO FIND SOLUTIONS FROM RESIDENTS.

    Carpooling, Safe Routes to School programs and the Walking School bus can help to alleviate unneeded trips. I will work with residents, community groups and schools to implement traffic reducing community driven solutions.

    My priorities will be to:

  • Introduce incentives by the Region for businesses throughout the Region who take proactive steps towards reducing traffic, such as encouraging carpooling, offsetting working hours, etc.; and
  • Strike a traffic reduction task force which will hold community forums to seek input on how to reduce traffic congestion.