Transforming Transportation in Vaughan
The City of Vaughan is nearing the completion of its Official Plan Review and with it, a Transportation Master Plan. The goal is the transformation in how people move around the City. A sustainable transportation network is critical to support the City’s continued growth and development.
A key component of the plan is public transit which will be the primary means for expanding Vaughan’s transportation network. Significant investments are being made through the Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan and the York Region Transportation Master Plan, including the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, which will be central to Vaughan’s future transportation network. Areas well served by transit will be the focus for growth and intensification, providing a higher density of residents, jobs and activities.
The existing street network will serve as the framework for enhancements to transit, walking and cycling systems, as well as making efficient use of existing and future infrastructure investments. Vaughan’s streets should be safe for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The street network will be designed to accommodate all types of movement safely and efficiently.
June 8, 2010 Update |
The Transportation Master Plan will ensure that new construction and street rebuilding will respond to Vaughan’s priorities, including better integration of transit, pedestrian and bicycle users, and enhanced streetscaping that will make streets enjoyable and safe public spaces.
Work on the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension continues to move forward. This $2.6 billion project will, for the first time, see the subway cross the City of Toronto boundary into Vaughan. The 8.6 km extension will have six stations along the route with commuter parking facilities and bus terminals, three of which will be in the City of Vaughan. An open house was held to view the preliminary design concepts for the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre Station, Highway 407 Station and Steeles West Station. More public open houses are planned to detail the architectural concepts for each of these stations. A final report is scheduled to be submitted for contract award approval in October of this year.
Vaughan Council has approved that the City enter into a Master Servicing Agreement to address the design and construction of all the municipal servicing works that are needed in connection with the subway project.
The engineering design submissions have identified the need to relocate or construct new municipal services to support the subway. These include relocating existing services, as well as designing and constructing new roads and storm management ponds.
Most of the infrastructure work will be done in conjunction with the main subway contract; however, there is a need to advance some of the work in order to facilitate the deployment of the tunnel boring machines and the staging for station construction. Completion of the Spadina Subway Extension is scheduled for 2015.