1. 1. Introduction Today: Markham’s traffic problem
Two basic and obvious principles in planning
This will be a common sense presentation covering huge issues so
5 minutes is very short!

2. 2. The problem
2016 York Region Transportation Master Plan (TMP): Markham already has “some of the highest travel time indices in the GTA”
But more massive developments are planned
York Downs - 7,500 people
Future Urban Area - 45,000 people
Can only make the traffic problems much, much worse

3. 3. Obvious Principle 1 – land use planning and transportation planning should be completely integrated
Planning 101
York Downs is due for completion in 2026
But will the transportation infrastructure be adequate?
York Downs is miles away from any decent transit facilities
Appears to be no progress on Principle 1 although the planners are aware of it

4. 4. Obvious Principle 2 – high density and good transit go hand in hand
See Downtown Markham/Viva/GO (and the huge car parks at the GO and around the employment areas . . .)
But York Downs (and Future Urban Area) are isolated with no good transit at all
The new residents will own and use cars just like the rest of us
Walks, waits and one or more transfers are major no-nos in transit planning
Clearly, Principle 2 is still being ignored

5. 5. York Downs: High density is totally inappropriate
Density on rest of 16th Avenue does not support transit (even half hourly buses are nearly empty)
A patch of high density at York Downs will not change that
How can 16th Avenue be a genuine part of the TMP’s proposed “Frequent Transit Network”?

6. 6. Widening 16th Avenue
2016 TMP admits that: “Expansion of Regional roads alone will not solve congestion issues.” Some jurisdictions no longer widen roads.
Conservative estimate of peak hour trips from York Downs = 2,000
Traffic Impact Assessment: 93% of York Downs trips will go west and south from York Downs
Around 90% are likely to use 16th Avenue
Thousands of cars from York Downs will be added to 16th Avenue
Additional lane on widened road is for transit and high occupancy vehicles
So how does widening 16th Avenue help???

7. 7. We need to face reality: Roads
Council planners say 16th Avenue and other roads will cope
Very vague and misleading and just not good enough

8. 8. We need to face reality: Transit on 16th Avenue
Densities along 16th Avenue do not justify investment in proper transit
In the TMP, phasing and other details of the “Frequent Transit Network” are vague
Frequent buses will not be justified within 10 years, but York Downs development will be there
Frequent buses are unlikely to be justified even in the 2041 plan (more than 20 years away)

9. High-density and infill development sound good, but there are limits
  9. Final comments
High-density and infill development sound good, but there are limits
Roads have finite capacities and so do transit systems
Let’s stop pretending can get a gallon into a pint pot
Future infrastructure appears totally inadequate for the scale of development proposed

10. We owe this to the residents of the future
  10. Conclusion
Let’s be honest and stop fooling ourselves that it will somehow all work out
We need a complete reassessment of York Downs and the traffic problems and liveability issues already facing Markham
We owe this to the residents of the future    
A transcript of this presentation will be available on