General Committee

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Ralph Ehlers, Capital Engineer

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-May-16

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Highway 48/Main Street Markham Transfer of Jurisdiction

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the staff report entitled “Highway 48/Main Street Markham Transfer of Jurisdiction” dated May 16, 2005 be received;

 

And that the Town of Markham reaffirm its acceptance for the transfer of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive and that the Town of Markham reaffirm its request to cancel the September 21, 1964  Connecting Link Agreement for Main Street from Princess Street to 16th Avenue;

 

And that Council acknowledge the potential future non growth tax cost of approximately $2.0 million for improvements to Highway 48/Main Street Markham from Hwy 407 to Major Mackenzie Drive, and continue to request that the Ministry commit to compensate the Town for a portion of the cost of the required road improvements identified prior to the road transfer and cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement;

 

And that the Mayor write to the Minister of Transportation requesting a commitment for funding for the non growth share of the future road improvement;

 

And that Mr. R. Hanmer, Regional Director Central Region, Ministry of Transportation, and Mr. K. Schipper, Commissioner of Works, Region of York, be advised accordingly.

 

BACKGROUND:

 

On June 24, 2003 Council requested as per the enclosed resolution (Attachment ‘A-1’) that the Ministry of Transportation transfer Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to the Markham By-Pass and cancel the Connecting Link Agreement for Main Street (Hwy 407 to 16th Avenue) upon completion of the Markham By-Pass in 2005. This request was to enable the Town of Markham to impose heavy truck restrictions, apply Markham standards for abutting development and construct road improvements in keeping with Markham’s objectives for this area.

 

In January 18, 2005 Markham Council requested staff as per Attachment A-2 to consult with the Ministry of Transportation and the Region of York regarding the restriction of heavy truck traffic on Main Street Markham. An update on the status of the truck restrictions on Main Street Markham was provided to the Transportation Committee February 28, 2005 (Attachment A-3).

 

In subsequent meetings with the MTO and the Region of York on February 7, 2005 and March 23, 2005 the MTO requested the Region of York formally decline the transfer of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive and the Town of Markham reaffirm its commitment to accept jurisdiction.

 

The Region of York’s Transportation and Works Committee at their March 16, 2005 meeting, have issued a resolution as per Attachment ‘B’ declining the offer of the transfer of Highway 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive and supported the transfer of this section to the Town of Markham. The Region also requested that the Town of Markham consider designating the section of the existing Markham By-Pass between 16th Avenue and Highway 7 as a truck route until the new section of the Markham By-Pass is completed by the Region in 2006. The Town does not designate truck routes on Town Roads, but does issue truck restrictions. As there are no truck restrictions on the Markham By-Pass between 16th Avenue and Highway 7 there is no action required.

 

Also discussed in the meetings was the revoking of the Connecting Link Agreement on Highway 48 between Princess Street and 16th Avenue as well as a request for funds from the Ministry to the Town for accepting the transfer of the Highway 48 and Main Street.


Although the Region is not willing to enter into a new connecting link agreement with the Ministry for the Markham By-pass from Hwy 48 to Hwy 407, the Region will designate the Markham By-pass as a truck route providing comfort to the MTO that there will be a truck route once they transfer Hwy 48 to the Town and cancel the Connecting Link Agreement.

 

As per the June 24, 2003 resolution staff requested the MTO to fund $540,000 out of the $5.4 million total for future Hwy 48 improvements from Major Mackenzie Drive to 16th Avenue. The $540,000 is the non growth cost associated with the improvements for this section of Hwy 48 currently in the Town’s Development Charges By-law. The MTO was also requested to fund $810,000 out of the $9.56 million total for future Hwy 48 improvements from Hwy 7 to Hwy 407.   The $810,000 is the non growth cost associated with the improvements for this section of Hwy 48 currently in the Town’s Development Charges By-law.  The MTO advised they would not commit to any funding for transferring Highway 48/Main Street to the Town, but would transfer the balance of the $120,000 collected from the Wismer Group for the traffic signal power supply charges on Hwy 48.

 

In addition the Town’s Operations Department has submitted a 5 year Connecting Link Program to the MTO for $650,000 funding for road resurfacing and intersection improvements.  This requested funding will also be unlikely with the cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement.

 

The Ministry has also confirmed that setback requirements on development applications currently with the Town for Hwy 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive will be lifted after transfer of Hwy 48 has been completed.  The Ministry advised that the planning for these developments based on municipal standards may proceed after Markham Council (via a resolution) accepts the transfer of Hwy 48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive.

 

Truck Prohibitions

 

The 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 is as follows:

 

1.   Regional Council issues 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 issues a resolution to reaffirm the transfer 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 Resolution UNDERWAY)

3.   Markham’s request to MTO for financial compensation for road transfer and cancellation of Connecting Link Agreement for Main Street. (March 23, 2005 MTO responds negatively).

4.   Negotiations with the MTO, 407ETR, Region of York and the Town to provide directional signing on 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 – July 2005).   

5.   MTO process to revoke the Connecting Link Agreement with the Town and transfer Highway  48 from 16th Avenue to Major Mackenzie Drive to the Town (May to November 2005)

6.   Establish an interim alternate truck route for those heavy trucks that access south Markham/Toronto. (Fall 2005)

7.   Establish signage program. (Fall 2005)

8.   The Town to pass By-laws restricting heavy trucks on Hwy 48/Main Street from Hwy 407 to Major Mackenzie. (December 2005 to commence)

 

 

Financial Implications

 

There are financial implications resulting from the transfer of Highway 48 from Major Mackenzie Drive to Hwy 407 and the cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement. The growth related portion of the future capital cost for the road improvements is included in the Development Charges By-laws. The cost apportionment is typically 90% growth and 10% non growth. The 10% non growth share will have to be financed from the tax rate as the $1.34 million requested from the MTO to cover this cost has been rejected to date.   In addition Markham would not be eligible for future MTO subsidy (±$650,000) for intersection improvements, nor resurfacing works for Main Street (Hwy 7 to 16th Avenue) with the cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement.  Therefore there is a potential $2.0 million non growth tax cost associated with the transfer of Highway 48 to the Town of Markham and the cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement.

The Town should continue to request MTO for compensation for road transfer and cancellation of the Connecting Link Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A, June 24, 2003, January 18, 2005, February 28, 2005 Town of Markham Resolutions

Attachment B, April 21, 2005 Region of York Resolution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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