Bradford Bypass urgently required to support forecasted growth, Region says

York Region will be asking the province to include the Bradford Bypass in its plans as a critical infrastructure investment.

The Region wants it included within the 2031 timeframe of the Growth Plan, which had omittedit.

"Based on provincial growth forecasts alone, the need for the Bradford Bypass is greater now than it was even a decade ago, not to mention 30 years ago when the highway was first introduced as a necessary solution," said Regional Chairman Bill Fisch. "The rapid, ongoing growth in our communities and the accompanying necessity for economic development make the demand for this provincial infrastructure stronger, not diminished, and the timeline earlier, not later."

The province had identified the need for a highway linking Highways 400 and 404 in the northern part of York Region in the late 1970s. It approved environmental assessments and protected the route from development, but omitted the Bradford Bypass from recent plans. Now, increased residential growth in Simcoe County and severe traffic congestion on the 404 have resulted in large volumes of cars and trucks using alternate routes on Regional and local concession roads that were not built to handle such traffic.

To address the situation, Regional council last week authorized the Region to request the Ontario government to: • Include the approved Bradford Bypass alignment in provincial plans prior to the 2014 review date specified in the enabling legislation. • Direct provincial staff to work with York Region and other municipal jurisdictions to incorporate the Bradford Bypass into Regional and local municipal Official Plans. • Develop and commit to a schedule to move the Bradford Bypass towards implementation.

"Moving ahead on the Bradford Bypass will allow the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Town of Georgina and York to prepare more complete and effective plans for future growth," said Councillor Tony Wong of Markham, chair of the planning and economic development committee of Regional council. "Industrial and commercial developments can go ahead, creating jobs, and more complete community plans can be developed in Holland Landing, Sharon, Queensville and Georgina."

By facilitating development of employment lands, this provincial infrastructure will enable York to attract more investment and nurture economic development that is necessary to sustain the additional population growth that is forecast for the region.

"Building a new highway lessens the need for residents to travel long distances to employment areas because it will improve the opportunities for residents to live and work locally," added Fisch.

A lack of a 400-series bypass will maintain inefficient travel patterns, placing a great burden on Regional and local municipal roads.

Left unchecked during the coming decade of planned growth, this situation will lead to added traffic pressures. It will result in more traffic congestion on Regional and local municipal roads in Newmarket and East Gwillimbury and be a detriment to economic development in the communities.