February 17, 2005 Renewed emphasis on capital projects included as Regional Council approves 2005 Bu

NEWMARKET – As part of the 2005 Business Plan and Budget approved by York Regional Council today, York Region will embark on $546 million in Transportation and Works capital projects.

The budget includes a major emphasis on road widening and maintenance, transit and rapid transit services, as well as major water and wastewater construction projects.

"Roads, transit, water and wastewater continue to be high priority items for York Region and this budget reflects the strong emphasis placed on capital works," said Richmond Hill Mayor Bill Bell, Chair of the Region's Transportation and Works Committee. "We have heard the concerns of our residents for less congestion on our roads, and servicing growth continues to be a deciding factor in our budget decision-making process. Overall, I think this budget is responsive to our residents' needs and expectations."

"This year will continue to be significant as the Region continues to delivery major capital works projects," said Kees Schipper, York Region's Commissioner of Transportation and Works. "We are looking forward to moving ahead with needed infrastructure to service our growing community, and meet the current needs of our residents."

Among the capital works highlights for 2005:

Roads:

• Improvements to 29 intersections
• Construct 90 new lane kilometres of roads
• An additional $2 million for resurfacing improvement to 60 lane kilometres of roads
• Nine new major road improvement/widening projects

Water:

• Construction of 64 km of additional water transmission lines
• Construction of a new 76 ML water storage facility
• Completion of York-Peel Feedermain
• Construction of King City Sanitary Servicing York Durham Sewage System hook-up

Wastewater:

• Construction of 20 km of additional sewers and forcemains

Solid Waste Management:

• Opening of Bales Drive Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in East Gwillimbury
• Roll-out of Source Separated Organics (SSO) program
• Site upgrades to Georgina transfer station
• A new public drop-off facility in southern York Region

Transit and Rapid Transit:

• Nearly $70 million to be spent on rapid transit
• Launch of Viva rapid transit system in September
• 11 new York Region Transit conventional vehicles
• 3 new York Region Transit specialized vehicles
• New terminals and bus shelters

Media Contact: Michael Kemp, Corporate Communications, York Region
- (905) 830-4444 or 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1232
- Email: michael.kemp@york.ca

Fact Sheet

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Transportation and Works capital infrastructure projects approved in 2005 Business Plan and Budget

NEWMARKET – The following Transportation and Works capital infrastructure projects and milestones are scheduled for 2005:

York Region Transit (YRT) / Viva Rapid Transit: 2005 Capital Budget - $91 million

Water and Wastewater: 2005 Capital Budget - $319 million

• Construction of 64 km of additional water transmission lines
• Construction of a new 76 ML water storage facility
• Completion of York-Peel Feedermain
• Begin construction on King City Sanitary Servicing project
• Begin construction of two new pumping stations
• Construction of 20 km of additional sewers and forcemains
• Begin construction of PD6 Major Mackenzie Watermain
• Begin design of Aurora Sewage Equalization Tank
• Begin construction of Newmarket Sewage Equalization Tank
• Begin construction of 19th Avenue Interceptor Sewer
• Begin construction of Leslie Street Lower Trunk Sewer

Roads: 2005 Capital Budget - $134 million

• Improvements to 29 intersections
• An additional $2 million for resurfacing improvement to 60 lane kilometres of paved regional roads
• Begin 19th Avenue/Gamble Sideroad widening – Bathurst Street to Leslie Street
• Begin Bayview Avenue widening – St. John's Sideroad to Mulock Drive
• Begin Markham By-pass Phase III construction – Highway 7 to 16th Avenue
• Begin Warden Avenue widening – McPherson Street to Highway 407
• Begin Warden Avenue widening – Highway 407 to Apple Creek Boulevard
• Begin Weston Road widening – Major Mackenzie Drive to Teston Road
• Begin Teston Road widening – Weston Road to west of Jane Street including Highway 400 interchange

Solid Waste Management: 2005 Capital Budget - $2.2 million

• Opening of new Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Bales Drive in East Gwillimbury
• Roll-out of Source Separated Organics (SSO) program
• Expanded Blue Box program to accept plastics #1-7
• Site upgrades to Georgina transfer station
• A new public drop-off facility in southern York Region

Media Contact: Michael Kemp, Corporate Communications, York Region
- (905) 830-4444 or 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1232
- Email: michael.kemp@york.ca

Renewed emphasis on capital projects included as Regional Council approves 2005 Business Plan and Budget

Fact Sheet