General Committee

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Ralph Ehlers, Capital Engineer

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-Oct-17

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Highway 48/Main Street Markham

Transfer of Jurisdiction Update

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Highway 48/Main Street Markham Transfer of Jurisdiction Update” dated October 17, 2005 be received;

 

And that the Mayor’s office arrange a meeting with the Minister of Transportation, Markham’s MPP’s, interested Councillor’s and senior staff to finalize the outstanding issues regarding the transfer of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to the Markham By-pass and cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement;

 

BACKGROUND:

The transfer of Highway 48, cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement and prohibition of heavy truck traffic on Main Street Markham has been following an action plan as set out in the Transportation Committee’s reports of January 10, 2005 and February 28, 2005.  An update to this action plan was submitted in a report dated May 16, 2005 (Attachment ‘A’) and is subsequently updated as follows:

 

 

Status

1.   Regional Council issued a resolution declining the transfer of  Highway 48 from 16th  Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive from the MTO and designates the Markham By-pass as a truck route.

April 18, 2005 – COMPLETED

2.  The Town of Markham issued a resolution to reaffirm the transfer from the MTO to Markham of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive and the revoking of the Connecting Link Agreement on Main Street Markham from Princess Street to 16th Avenue.

May 16, 2005 - COMPLETED

3.   Mayor requests MTO for financial compensation for the road transfer and cancellation of Connecting Link Agreement for Main Street.

June 13, 2005 letter - COMPLETED

4.   MTO responds to Mayor’s letter of June 13, 2005 requesting funding commitment.  Decision to be forwarded to the Town “shortly”.

Minister’s August 18, 2005 letter

5.   MTO to confirm position on funding regarding the transfer of Highway 48 and request of funding from the Town.

September 27, 2005 verbal position from MTO that there will be no compensation

 

6.   Negotiations with the MTO, 407ETR, Region of York to provide directional signing of Hwy 48 and Hwy 407 to direct truck traffic away from Main Street Markham as an interim solution until transfer of Highway 48 and cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement is complete

May – December 2005 - Delayed

7.   MTO proceed to revoke the Connecting Link Agreement with the Town and transfer Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive to the Town.

November 2005 to Spring 2006 - Delayed

8.   Establish an interim alternate truck route for those heavy trucks that access south Markham/Toronto.

Winter 2005/2006 – Ongoing

 

9.   Establish signage program.

Winter 2005/2006 – Ongoing

 

10. The Town to pass By-laws restricting heavy trucks on Hwy 48/Main Street from Hwy 407 to Major Mackenzie

Spring or Summer 2006 – Delayed

 

The Mayor wrote to the Minister of Transportation on June 13, 2005 (Attachment ‘B’) requesting the Minister to commit $2 million dollars for future operating and capital obligations the Ministry would have to occur if they kept ownership of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive and maintained the Connecting Link Agreement of September 21, 1964 for Main Street, Markham from Princess Street to 16th Avenue.

 

The Minister wrote back to the Mayor on August 18, 2005 advising the Mayor that the Minister will provide a decision shortly on the transfer of Highway 48 and the cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement.

 

Recent inquiries to the Ministry regarding the status of the transfer revealed the Ministry will not make their original schedule (November 2005 to Spring 2006) due to internal policies in relation to disposition of assets.  Ministry staff advised the provincial policies established late 2004/early 2005 place an asset value for provincial properties including right of ways.  Disposition of such assets require either financial compensation or budgeting approval to write down the asset.  In the Hwy 48 case, Ministry staff advised they are attempting to acquire approval to transfer the right of way without financial compensation.  Budgeting approval if granted is not expected until Spring 2006 at which time Ministry staff will start the process and not complete any transfer until late 2006 at the earliest.   Ministry staff are currently reluctant to proceed with the process if Markham insists on financial compensation.

The CAO wrote to the President of ORC on October 11, 2005 requesting that the Ministry revise their current policy with respect to the transfer of roads so that their financial analysis includes the significant cost savings to the Province.

 

The Region of York has been in discussions with the Ministry to agree upon signage plan to divert heavy truck traffic currently using Main Street Markham onto the Markham By-Pass. The Region has prepared a plan showing an Alternate Truck Route and signage. The Ministry responded in an  e-mail of June 15, 2005 (Attachment ‘C’) indicating that they would prepare a design of the signage for Highway 48 and Highway 407 and that the cost of all manufacture and installation would be borne by the Region.  Region rightfully requires an estimate for such work for review and approval which has not been provided by the Ministry to date.

 

In order to achieve Markham Council’s objectives for the transfer of Hwy 48, cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement and restriction of heavy truck movements on Main Street Markham in 2006, staff recommend a meeting with senior politicians and staff from the Province and Markham to finalize the issues and obtain a commitment from the Province on the transfer.

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A, May 16, 2005 report and resolution

Attachment B, June 13, 2005 letter to the Ministry of Transportation

Attachment C, June 15, 2005 e-mail response from the Ministry of Transportation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

 

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

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2004\May\Region of York 2005 Capital Program.doc