Arvin Prasad, Commissioner, Development Services, addressed the Committee and provided a brief background of the Yonge North Subway Extension project. Commissioner Prasad introduced the agency representatives invited to participate in the evening's public consultation session, and welcomed the residents and stakeholders in attendance.
Darryl Lyons, Manager, Policy, delivered a presentation providing an update on the City's planning activities relative to the Yonge North Subway Extension, including an overview of the growth planning policy context in Markham as well as current development activity and development potential identified in the Yonge Street Corridor and Langstaff Gateway key development areas.
Mary-Frances Turner, President, York Region Rapid Transit Corporation, delivered a presentation on the Yonge North Subway Extension in context of the York Region Rapid Transit Network, identifying key opportunities and benefits anticipated from the project.
Phil Verster, CEO, Metrolinx, provided an overview of the work completed to-date on the Yonge North Subway Extension and introduced the Metrolinx project team. Stephen Collins, Program Sponsor, delivered a presentation on the project scope, including an overview of the proposed subway alignment in the Initial Business Case, alternate alignment options considered during review, preliminary strategies identified for minimizing potentially adverse community impacts, and next steps in the project timetable. Rajesh Khetarpal, Vice President, Community Engagement, discussed the project community and stakeholder engagement plan, including an overview of upcoming and ongoing public consultation activities.
Deputations were made by the following members of the public regarding the Yonge North Subway Extension Update:
- Rina Patel - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Dale Murray - expressing support for project and for the potential station at Royal Orchard Boulevard;
- Peter Palframan - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Atul Saigal - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Dev Chopra - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Lav Shelat - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Joan Klaassen - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Nilavanh Limsakoune - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Ian Reid - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Gordon Hewit - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Mike Kavouris - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment, and suggesting consideration of a modified Option 1 alignment reflecting a revised diversion from Longbridge Station through the Langstaff Gateway to the proposed Bridge Station;
- Farzad Tooryani - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Sam Cuda - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Bruce Drysdale - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Andrew Fitzpatrick - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- John Sherin - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Colleen Hua - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Tim King - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Peter Miasek - suggesting consideration of a modified Option 2 alignment reflecting a revised diversion from Longbridge Station through the Langstaff Gateway to the proposed Bridge Station;
- Evelin Ellison - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Paul Mills - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Harry Vizl - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment;
- Roza Roozbehan - expressing opposition to the Option 3 subway alignment; and,
- Hayden Poon - inquiring about the distance between the proposed stations at Bridge and High Tech, and about the integration of the subway extension with existing local and regional transit services.
Concerns expressed by members of the public in regard to the Option 3 subway alignment included potential disruption, displacement, and other adverse impacts to the Royal Orchard community as a result of tunneling under existing residential and other sensitive land uses, including those related to sustained noise and vibration, mental and physical distress, damage to property foundations, depreciation of property values, and environmental impacts.
The representatives of Metrolinx thanked residents and stakeholders for their feedback and responded to questions and concerns raised.
It was suggested that the representatives of Metrolinx be invited back to a future meeting of Development Services Committee to provide an update once work is completed to address concerns raised regarding potential adverse impacts to affected communities.