GENERAL COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

same as above

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

February 20, 2006

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Hwy 407 Interchanges with 9th Line and Markham By-pass

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the February 20, 2006 report entitled “Hwy 407 Interchanges with 9th Line and Markham By-pass” be received;

 

And that the Ministry of Transportation letter dated January 16, 2006, be received;

 

And that the Region of York be requested to finance 50% of a traffic and financial model for the outstanding Hwy 407 ramps at 9th Line and Markham By-pass;

 

And that staff in conjunction with the Region of York be authorized to retain on a sole preferred supplier basis a consultant to undertake a traffic and financial model for the northbound access ramps to Hwy 407 for 9th Line and Markham By-pass;

 

And that the cost of the traffic/financial model be funded under the 2006 Capital Budget Project #7251 to the upset limit of 50,000;

 

And that staff report back to committee as to results of the traffic and financial model and negotiations with 407ETR to construct the outstanding access ramps;

 

And that B. MacGregor, Commissioner of Transportation and Works for the Regional Municipality of York, be advised accordingly.

 

PURPOSE:

To update Council on the status of the outstanding ramps to Hwy 407 at 9th Line and the Markham By-pass.

 

BACKGROUND:

Currently the 9th Line and Markham By-pass interchanges with Hwy 407 do not provide for northbound traffic to access either the westbound or eastbound lanes of Hwy 407.  This has resulted in northbound vehicles making U-turns on 9th Line to gain access to Hwy 407.   Although U-turn restrictions have been installed by the Region on 9th Line, vehicles continue to make this movement.   The Markham By-pass extension south of Hwy 407 to 9th Line is expected to be operational in 2007 and similar u-turns are expected.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

407 ETR staff have advised that their agreement with the Province does not require them to construct these ramps and their priority for future capital improvements is the expansion of the highway which is currently underway.  However they advised that they would be prepared to consider a business case which would outline future revenue from traffic utilizing the ramps and the payback period for the capital and operating costs associated with constructing each ramp.  407 ETR staff advised that the typical cost for a northbound to westbound ramp is ± $1.75 million and for a northbound to eastbound ramp is ± $2 million.  Engineering staff independently retained an engineering consultant to review if there are more economical northbound to westbound ramp access options.  Their analysis confirmed that there are 5 options available but the costs are still in the range from $2 million to $3 million for the northbound to westbound Hwy 407 ramp.

 

Staff submitted this report to General Committee on October 17, 2005 and Council as per Attachment ‘B’ deferred consideration of this matter until written confirmation from the MTO was received regarding 407 ETR’s obligations to complete the interchanges.  A copy of the Ministry letter regarding this is attached as Attachment ‘C’ which confirms that 407ETR is not obligated to complete the interchanges under their agreement with the Province.

 

In order to advance the resolution of this matter, the Region and Town would be required to undertake a traffic and financial model which would estimate future use of each ramp and revenue forecast.  The models would likely have to be undertaken by a preferred firm who is qualified to update past models completed for Hwy 407.  Approval to sole source this work is required from Council.

 

It is recommended the Region of York and Town of Markham cost share the model on a 50/50 basis for which Regional Council approval is required.

 

The likely outcome of this work and negotiation with 407 ETR is that the Region/Markham will be asked to upfront the cost for the ramp(s) construction until it becomes financially viable for the 407 ETR to justify the expenditure.  In this scenario, and given the potential of upfronting ± $2 million cost per ramp staff recommend the Region/Markham prioritize the ramps.  The northbound Markham By-pass to westbound 407 will likely be the ramp which will be justified at the earliest stage from a cost/benefit perspective by the 407 ETR.

 

Subject to Markham Council’s approval of this report and Regional Council’s similar approval Regional/Town staff will commence the process and report back as to the results of the model, negotiation with 407 ETR and recommendations.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Funding in the 2006 Capital Budget (Project #7251) in the amount of $50,000 is available to finance Markham’s share of the traffic/financial models.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Finance Department staff has reviewed and commented on this report.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment ‘A’ – Map

Attachment ‘B’ – Council October 17, 2005 resolution

Attachment ‘C’ – MTO letter dated January 16, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

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