HawthorneVillager.com

Plan is Proposed to Speed up Work on Local Roadways
http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/mcc/story/3449281p-3986499c.html

Stephanie Thiessen
Apr 18, 2006

Driving around town could soon be quicker and easier thanks to a proposed program initiated by Mattamy Homes that would see some roads built ahead of schedule.

Councillors at Wednesday's Regional planning and public works meeting supported staff recommendations giving the go-ahead to the Accelerated Transportation Capital Program.

"To say that Milton is experiencing growing pains is an understatement," said Milton regional councillor Barry Lee, adding he's pleased to see something being done to help alleviate traffic concerns. "This is a good news story for Milton."

If approved at the regional council meeting tomorrow, Derry Road would be widened from two to four lanes from James Snow Parkway to Ninth Line a year sooner than expected -- in 2008 instead of 2009 -- explains a report from Peter Crockett, commissioner of planning and public works.

And a two-lane James Snow Parkway would be constructed from Derry Road to Britannia Road next year instead of 2010, the report reads.

There are also two proposed accelerated Town of Milton projects -- the reconstruction of Thompson Road from Louis St. Laurent Boulevard to Britannia Road and the construction of Louis St. Laurent Boulevard from Fourth Line to James Snow Parkway -- that would come this year instead of 2010 as originally planned.

Two accelerated Town projects are already underway -- the reconstruction of Thompson Road from Main Street to Derry Road and the reconstruction of Thompson Road from Derry Road to Louis St. Laurent Boulevard.

The project would see Mattamy Homes of Oakville lend Halton Region the funds for the construction, the report explains. The Region would reimburse Mattamy, without interest, when the funding's approved in the current year capital budget.

Mattamy would provide the money -- non-refundable -- for the extra costs incurred by constructing the projects sooner than expected. It would also provide the funds it would take to communicate the plans to the public -- about $40,000 per year from now until 2009 -- and for the program co-ordination services. So Mattamy would be $660,000 out-of-pocket after being reimbursed by the Region.

In a presentation to the committee, Tim Dennis, director of engineering services with the Region, emphasized the project won't result in a re-prioritization of programs, simply a fast-tracking of the current Transportation Capital Program for Milton.

He explained the proposed project arose from Miltonians' perception of traffic and road problems. In the Destiny Milton 2 survey, four out of the five top issues were roads and traffic related, he said.

There's a significant growth in traffic demand, he said, and an under-utilization of alternate routes.

Dennis explained the impact of road construction would be minimized by finishing the improvements before development as much as possible and ensuring alternate routes are used during construction.

Regional Chairman Joyce Savoline said Mattamy has helped create a win-win situation for everyone. "It's certainly a welcome approach to doing business."

The Halton Transportation Master Plan 2004 identified six key road projects in Milton from 2006 to 2010 requiring $53.5 million in capital infrastructure.

This is great news, long overdue.

The bad part is dealing with traffic delays during the contruction, but that is to be expected.

This is such a smart move on Mattamy's part. They look good to those of us who already live here, so there is a better chance that we would go to them to buy a Mattamy home. Plus, they ensure that they are able to continue to sell more homes to people looking to move to Milton, who might not buy in town once they see what a mess the traffic situation can be.

Not just that, this will speed up the approval of their building permits, so they can keep the pace of construction. For a mass builder already building at a fast pace, any slow down will cause losses (not just monetary but of people and contractors that are really hard to win back or replace nowadays).

At the end of the day it really looks like a win-win situation, a rare occasion where the interest of citizens, small business owners, local and reginal government and corporation interest do align.

Here is the official document for those who are interested...

http://councilarchive.region.halton.on. ... pw6006.pdf

Driving east on Derry, it looks like the landscaping work being done on the golf course on the south-side is prep work for the Derry widening. However, is it me or has anybody else wondered how they're going to squeeze in 5 lanes? There are houses on the north-side that will loose a lot of frontage/driveway....

Today's Halton Compass had a notice for a "Joint Public Information Center":

Construction of James Snow Parkway (Reg. Rd. 4)
From Hwy. 401 to Britannia Road (Reg. Rd. 6)
and Louis St. Laurent Boulevard
From Fourth Line to James Snow Parkway
Town of Milton

Scan shown below:

_________________
J

Roadwork Officially Accelerated

Melanie Hennessey
Apr 28, 2006

Both the Town and Region have given the green light to a $29 million initiative that'll see some major Milton roads projects completed sooner than later.
Milton council threw its support behind the Accelerated Capital Roads Program at its meeting Monday night, while regional council approved it at its session last week.

The program, which forms a partnership between the Town, Region and Mattamy Homes, means construction timelines for major thoroughfares like Derry and Thompson roads will be bumped up to improve the traffic situation in Milton that residents have bemoaned for some time.

"This is certainly a good news story," remarked Ward 2 Councillor Mark Curtis at Monday's council session. "If there's one complaint we get constantly it's traffic. We (will) get nothing but rave reviews on this one."

Mattamy Homes is fronting funds for the program and will be reimbursed without interest in the future when the roads projects would've normally come forward in the Town and Region budgets.

The projects in the accelerated program scheduled for completion this year include:

* Reconstruction of the existing two lanes of Thompson Road between Louis St. Laurent Boulevard and Britannia Road, which was originally slated for 2010, for $450,000. The stretch will be widened to four lanes in the future.

* Reconstruction of Thompson Road between Derry Road and Louis St. Laurent Boulevard, going from two lanes to five at a cost of $3.2 million. This has been moved up from 2008.

* Construction of the two northerly lanes of Louis St. Laurent Boulevard from Fourth Line to James Snow Parkway, advancing the work from 2010. Price tag -- $2.6 million.

* Construction of the two westerly lanes of James Snow Parkway between Derry and Britannia roads for $6.1 million, bumping it up from 2009.

Also, the reconstruction of Derry Road between James Snow Parkway and Ninth Line has been moved from the 2008 project list to 2007. The stretch will be widened from two lanes to four at the hefty price of $16.5 million.

Mattamy Homes will be $660,000 out of pocket at the end of the day for the road fast tracking, since the program is incurring additional expenses that neither the Town nor Region would typically have for road construction.

Town Director of Engineering Services Paul Cripps noted one of the key principles of the deal is that there'll be no additional costs to the Town, Region or local residents. In a Destiny Milton II survey undertaken last year, four of the five top issues the public identified related to traffic and roads.

"This is a very significant item that we thought had to be addressed," he said.

Once all agreements for the program have been signed, a communications plan regarding the program will be implemented. Cripps said that'll include newsletters, open houses, media releases, Web site postings and signage around town.

OTHER PROJECTS APPROVED

In addition to the Accelerated Capital Roads Program, other road works were given the go-ahead by town council Monday night.

Bylaws were enacted to authorize the reconstruction of Boston Church Road from James Snow Parkway to Lawson Road between Monday and June 30 and replacement of a bridge on the Sixth Line of Nassagaweya, north of Campbellville Road, by late September.

Council also awarded a $1 million tender to Kapp Construction for the reconstruction of Williams Avenue from Parkway Drive to Commercial Street and passed a bylaw to allow the work this summer. The cost of the project will be shared by the Town and Region.

Roads Project Moves Forward

May 12, 2006

The reconstruction of Thompson Road between Britannia Road and Louis St. Laurent Boulevard was given the initial go-ahead Monday night.
The Town's community services committee endorsed the project that'll see the existing two lanes rebuilt this fall at an estimated cost of $474,000. The stretch will be widened to four lanes in the future.

The work comes as part of the Accelerated Capital Roads Program -- a joint venture between the Town, Region and Mattamy Homes that advances road construction timelines to improve the local traffic situation, with Mattamy fronting the funds.

To facilitate the accelerated Thompson Road project schedule and reduce costs, staff's proposing to close the stretch of road to through traffic during construction. Fourth Line and Regional Road 25 would be used as alternate routes.

Work's anticipated to get underway in mid-August and wrap up in November. In addition to the reconstruction, the Region has proposed traffic signals for the intersection of Thompson and Britannia roads.

The committee also supported a $250,000 project for Fourth Line between Louis St. Laurent Boulevard and Britannia Road that'll involve improving the pavement and base strength of the road between the end of July and mid-August.

Both projects will go before town council May 23 for final approval.

Prior to redevelopment, both roads were designated as rural and were designed to handle rural traffic, said Paul Cripps, the Town's director of engineering services, in a press release.

"We're responding to residents' concerns about the current state of these roads while planning ahead for further stages of development."

For updates, advance information on road closures and detour routes, watch for signs being installed throughout the urban area, check your local newspaper, visit www.milton.ca or call (905) 878-7252