Several years ago, after extensive public consultation through vivaNext, approval was granted by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment to go to the next stage of the Yonge subway extension project.

Plans are in place to extend the subway 6.8 kilometres north from Finch station to the Richmond Hill/Langstaff Urban Growth Centre at Highway 7. The project is ready to move to the next phase at a cost of approximately $100 million; however, funding has not yet been secured. This project is in a state of readiness for funding consideration by senior levels of government.

Richmond Hill councillor Godwin Chan, Vaughan councillor Alan Shefman, Thornhill MP Peter Kent and I have been collaborating as a group called Yonge Subway North (YSN). We recently met with Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig and senior Metrolinx staff to discuss the status of the Yonge subway extension and to urge that funding be provided for the next stage in this project as part of an incremental transit funding strategy, allowing a variety of projects, like Yonge Street North, to advance prior to construction funds being available.

The impact of not going forward in the near future will result in such an advanced state of gridlock that the regional economy will suffer.

Our group also suggested that the possibility of a public-private partnership should be investigated to fund the extension. We are committed to exploring all possibilities of significant private sector involvement in this and other transit projects. As your Thornhill councillor, I am always available to answer your inquiries at 905-479-7747 or vburke@markham.ca.