The Transportation and Works Committee has travelled a busy road in 2001. The draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP) was completed. It identified transportation improvements needed to help manage growth in the region to 2031. It also outlines short and medium-term priorities for road and transit improvements.

In the short-term, several major capital construction projects were completed. Projects such as the widening of Hwy 9, Hwy 27, Green Lane, Kennedy Road and McCowan Rd were finished with the guidance of the Transportation and Works Committee. As well, 35 traffic signals were added to a centralized traffic control system. In the long term the work continues. Several major road projects will contribute to the overall Transportation Master Plan. The widening of Rutherford Road from Weston Road to Hwy 27, the Markham By-Pass and the sections of Bathurst Street and Green Lane West to complete the Newmarket by-pass will be completed in the near future.

In the past year York Region continued to protect one of its greatest gifts – the environment. The Greening of York Region Strategy is a co-operative strategy with York Region’s Planning and Development Services and Transportation and Works departments. A wide range of greening projects are already underway. The Greenlands Studies/Natural Heritage Studies, a tree planting program, the Regional Forest Management Plan, Trees By-law, Streetscape Design Guidelines and the Corporate Clean Air Initiative all focus on preserving and enhancing our natural heritage. The Strategy focuses on practical steps that can be taken together with partners to protect our natural environment.

In 2001 the Region moved forward with a long-term Lake Ontario water supply agreement with Peel Region. The York-Peel Water Supply Agreement is an excellent example of how neighbours in the GTA can work co-operatively to solve mutual concerns.

Construction was in full motion in 2001. The Region started construction at Georgina’s new Lake Simcoe Water Filtration Plant. It began expansion of the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control plant to increase its capacity. In 2001 the watermains needed to extend Lake Ontario water supply to Aurora and Newmarket were constructed. And Water and Waste Water Services were reinforced to supply to the Oak Ridges community.

In 2001 the Region once again exceeded all Ontario Drinking Water Standards. Good quality water for today is essential. Water for tomorrow is equally important. Now in the fourth year of a six-year water use efficiency program, York Region has installed 62,000 low flow showerheads, and 111,000 early-closing toilet flappers in homes around York Region. Over 900 kilometres of watermain were leak tested. Currently, 7.6 million litres has been saved per day under the Water Efficiency Program – the equivalent of the water usage of 7,000 homes in the region.

The Keele Valley Landfill Site is scheduled to close at the end of 2002. Some financial pressures are anticipated because further royalties from the City of Toronto will end and replacement disposal capacity is expensive. Despite this York Region is prepared for Keele’s closure. The Region has awarded contracts for the long-term disposal of residual waste. It has also adopted a three-stream waste collection and diversion system to begin once the new Material Recovery Facility is completed. During 2001 a 12-month pilot program to recycle computers and electronic equipment was also introduced.

“Our philosophy is to go the extra mile for our customers.”