Discusses improvements, expectations from Province
Sep 18, 2008 - 02:22 PM
By Kristen Calis
PICKERING -- Durham wants the same opportunities as other municipalities in the GTA to become a complete community and provide local jobs, says the Regional Chairman.
Roger Anderson made his annual address to Pickering Council Monday night, and one of his top issues was the Province's Growth Plan.
"Improved transportation will be vital to delivering the Growth Plan," he said, adding the Province has helped with transit capital when it provided money for new accessible buses and funding from the gas tax.
Durham is also doing its part, with ongoing investments for transit and roads, including additional buses, and Durham Region Transit extending the Taunton and Rossland routes from Oshawa to Ajax and Pickering.
The Province has to invest in extending highways 407 and 404, widening highways 407 and 7 and adding more interchanges, he said.
The draft Regional Transportation Plan and Investment Strategy are scheduled to be released after Friday, Sept. 26, and Mr. Anderson encouraged submissions to Metrolinx, which is developing the strategy.
"We know we can count on Pickering as a partner in that effort," he said.
He also updated Council on the progress of the energy-from-waste facility. Studies such as health and ecological risk assessments still have to be completed, and the final decision by Regional Council, on whether to proceed, should occur by mid-2009. If the Region approves it, the ministry of the environment will review the environmental assessment and give its decision.
"Our residual waste solution has to be sufficient for the waste we have in 2010 and for the next 25 to 30 years," he said. "It has to be safe, affordable and realistic and has to accommodate growth."
Ward 2 City Councillor Doug Dickerson asked if the Region is willing to apply to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Green Municipal Fund to get a loan to create dedicated bike lanes.
Mr. Anderson said "the Region isn't rushing out to build bicycle lanes" but thinks the best bet is for Seaton developers and the Province to explore such initiatives.
"They have an opportunity to really make Seaton green," he said.
Ward 2 Regional Councillor Bill McLean asked about a couple of business owners who lost power for two days on Bayly Street due to road construction by SR and R Bay Ridges Ltd. for its development of San Francisco By the Bay. Since it wasn't the Region doing the work, Mr. Anderson said that's the responsibility of developers.
"If they were smart they'd probably settle out of court very quickly," Mr. Anderson said.
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