South York Greenway

The project team has advanced selected priority segments of the South York Greenway to the detailed design phase. Priority segments include V2 and V3 in the City of Vaughan; and M7, M8a, and M11 in the City of Markham.

City of Vaughan

City of Markham

The South York Greenway Cycling, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Corridor is an active transportation route, spanning across the entirety of York Region and crossing the Cities of Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham. The corridor will provide dedicated active transportation infrastructure for cyclists, pedestrians, and micromobility (e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, etc.) encouraging recreational, leisurely and commuter travel. [1]

Designed to serve users of all ages and abilities, the South York Greenway will primarily be in the vicinity of the Highway 407 Hydro Corridor, providing a secondary use to the currently under-utilized lands while also providing connections to existing trails, local communities and major mobility hubs and destinations such as the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Richmond Hill Centre, and Markham Centre.

This project will form a vital part of York Region’s active transportation network, providing alternative modes of travel, enhancing Regional road efficiency, and fostering a more sustainable future for the residents and communities of York Region.

[1] – Micromobility (e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, etc.) use on the South York Greenway will be subject to applicable Regional and/or Local Municipal by-laws.

The South York Greenway Pedestrian, Cycling, and Micromobility Corridor was originally identified in the 2008 York Region Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan and later incorporated in the 2016 York Region Transportation Master Plan and most recently the 2022 York Region Transportation Master Plan. The South York Greenway has also been included in other local municipal and stakeholder plans, strategies and documents such as the Toronto and Region’s Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) 2019 Trail Strategy and the City of Markham’s 2021 Active Transportation Master Plan.

In April 2022 York Region Council endorsed the preferred route alignment of the South York Greenway Cycling and Pedestrian Corridor. View the Council Report.

York Region completed a feasibility study of the South York Greenway Cycling, Pedestrian and Micromobility Corridor in December 2022, which identifies the preferred route for this trail with a 10% detailed design.

View the Feasibility Study

View the 10% Detailed Design

York Region is committed to working with residents and other stakeholders to ensure that everyone is informed about the key components of the project, including goals, objectives, outcomes and significant milestones. The South York Greenway, cycling, pedestrian and micromobility route will have a positive impact on the way you live and move around the Region. That’s why we want to hear from you, to better understand local opportunities, community priorities and expectations for the project.

As we move segments of the South York Greenway route into detailed design, we invite you to share your feedback on the features you would like to see included as part of the route.

Submit a comment

You can also share your feedback and comments by phone or email:
York Region, Public Works
Phone: 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75000
Email: @email

Public Information Centre #2 – April 7th, 2022

Below are links to information and resources from the second virtual Public Information Centre held on April 7, 2022. The second Public Information Centre was primarily an opportunity for the project team to present the revised route alignment of the South York Greenway. The presented route alignment was revised and refined with consideration to comments and feedback we received following the first Public Information Centre on December 2, 2021. 

• Recording of the live virtual Public Information Centre #2
• Presentation slides
• 12 maps outlining the proposed route alignment
• Video fly-over of the proposed route alignment
• Notice of Virtual Public Information Centre #2 

Public Information Centre #1 - December 2, 2021

Below are links to information and resources from the first virtual Public Information Centre held on December 2nd, 2021. The first Public Information Centre was primarily an opportunity for the public and other stakeholders to provide comments and feedback on the preliminary route alignment of the South York Greenway. 

• Public comments submitted using our interactive mapping tool
  The interactive mapping tool was open from December 2, 2021, until January 14, 2022.
• Recording of the live virtual Public Information Centre #1
• Presentation slides
• Notice of Virtual Public Information Centre #1

Will signage and wayfinding be included in the project?

As the South York Greenway project moves forward, opportunities for new wayfinding signage, including project branding and linkages to existing routes, will be considered.

Will there be any parking facilities or rest areas along the trail?

A more detailed amenities plan will be created as the project moves into the detailed design phase. These amenities could include parking lots, washrooms, bike repair stands, rest areas, water fill stations and supports for emerging technologies.

Will the trail be maintained during the winter months?

Maintenance considerations will be explored throughout the feasibility study and will determined in later phases of the project.   

How will the South York Greenway cross highways and roads?

Specific crossing facilities would be determined in the detailed design phase. Some may be grade separated (bridges and/or tunnels etc.) and some may use existing crossings and signalized intersections. Crossing treatments will be designed based on best practices and constructability. Specific crossing types will be determined based on available lands, drainage, traffic patterns and other considerations.

How will the South York Greenway provide improved safety for people on bikes along the highway corridor?

Any part of the South York Greenway that is adjacent to highways would be designed to improve safety and comfort for all users. This is likely to include wide setback distances, fences and trail facilities that are fully separated from traffic. These design details will be confirmed at a later stage of the project, and your comments are important for the project team to consider when making design decisions.

How would the South York Greenway interact with and build upon existing trails, such as the Rouge Valley Trail?

We will be working closely with our local municipal colleagues and residents to better understand community needs. In many instances we will be proposing enhancements or new infrastructure. This will be confirmed through the detailed design of each segment.

Will native plants and pollinator-friendly vegetation be included in this project?

During detailed design we intend to further explore elements such as material type, width of the path, environmental components such as the addition of plantings, amenities such as benches, bike repair stations, bike parking/lock stations, lighting as well as any form of historical acknowledgement along the route. This will be done in collaboration with conservation authorities where possible. 

Are there concerns with exposure to electromagnetic radiation coming from all the hydro towers?

The impacts of exposure to electro-magnetic radiation from Hydro Towers along trail corridors has not found any impact, especially since users are often moving through the corridor rather than lingering in the area for extended periods of time. The route will be planned to follow best practices for distances from towers and power lines. We have reviewed studies from other similar trails like the Finch Hydro Corridor Trail and the Meadoway in Toronto. Hydro corridor trails are a relatively common facility type in Ontario, and no adverse effects have been found.

Will the KML (Mapping) file be available?

The KML (mapping file) will be made available once the preferred route alignment has been finalized.

When are these trails planned to be finished?

A trail of this size and scale is a long-term project and this is just the beginning phase. Through the remaining phases of this study an implementation plan will be developed to assist in prioritizing segments for completion. The implementation of this route is subject to funding availability through the annual budget process.