Newmarket Mayor John Taylor welcomes your questions, to which he will personally write the responses in this candid monthly column. Send your questions to [email protected], with the subject line UpFront Question.
Q: Can you please tell me why the town buses do not use the centre bus lane on Davis Drive ? — Valerie Powell
A: This is a great question, it’s one I asked myself when the rapid transit lanes were first being built.
Rapid transit lanes are designed to move rapid transit buses (Viva) on the surface similar to how subways move underground — quickly, and with no other users in the way. If York Regional Transit (YRT) buses were also using the rapid transit lanes, they would need to stop at every corner, which would slow down the Viva buses and eliminate the point of a rapid transit lane.This may not seem crucial at this point as the system is still being built and ridership is steadily increasing. Rapid transit lanes will make a difference in 10 or 20 years when the Viva Rapid Transit is moving large numbers of people who are trying to connect to the Yonge Street Subway, which will connect to Highway 7. YRT buses are not meant to travel long distances with relatively few stops and therefore can operate in mixed traffic and in and out of neighbourhoods.
Q: I know this is likely a provincial issue, but are there plans for an on-ramp from Mulock to northbound Highway 404 and an exit to Mulock from southbound Highway 404? If yes, what are the timelines? — Judy Murdoch
A: There are no plans at this time by the Province to create a “full interchange” at Mulock and Highway 404. Last term, I moved a motion calling on the Province to make this improvement. I will continue to raise this issue with the Province, and you can also help by contacting the province through your local MPP’s office.
Q: I am fortunate to live on Park Avenue, backing onto Beechwood Crescent. I am pleased Newmarket has a tree protection bylaw, as well as a woodlot bylaw. However, I have to question how well these bylaws are enforced. I continue to be shocked and upset about the numbers of mature, healthy trees that have been removed, particularly on Beechwood. At the easterly end in a double empty lot, a second round of clear-cutting of trees took place recently. I also learned from a neighbour that some 40 mature trees were cut and the stumps removed to create a back lawn at a house. I did not see permits posted in either case. This is an absolutely horrendous situation. In just the seven years I have lived here, I estimate more than 80 trees have been destroyed. I would like the Town to crack down on offenders of the tree bylaws and when it’s a blatant disregard for our tree protection laws, I think the penalty should be at the maximum. I appreciate your attention to this matter. — Cathy Wellesley
A: We have two tree bylaws in Newmarket (more protection than many municipalities) but we do not have a private tree bylaw that would control single lots and individual trees on private property. We will have this item on our next committee of the whole agenda June 17 and we will be looking for public feedback. Council will have to find the right balance between protecting significant older trees and protecting private property rights and public input will help us make that decision. The Town is also currently gathering feedback on how to best protect trees on private property. You can provide your feedback online at HeyNewmarket.ca
