Be it resolved that the City of Richmond Hill endorses the following resolution of the City of Markham:
CREATING A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY / RAIL INTEGRATED COMMUNITIES (RICs) (5.0)
- Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones
- Seconded by Councillor Andrew Keyes
Council consented to review a revised resolution as follows:
Whereas, the City of Markham strives, where feasible, to create complete mixed-use, high density Rail Integrated Communities (RIC) at rail stations as part of its development objectives; and,
Whereas, City of Markham’s desire is to create a rail transit corridor that provides for a range of housing and economic development opportunities and investment that results in a high quality of life, walkable communities, reduced transit commute times, reduced gridlock and a smaller carbon footprint; and,
Whereas, strategically planned, rail transit corridors creates a framework to guide change and sustainable growth over the next 40 years by transforming the Stouffville, Richmond Hill and Barrie GO transit lines from regional commuter heavy rail transit network to an urban high frequency urban metro light rapid rail service; and,
Whereas, Rail Integrated Communities are key to changing development patterns at all GO, subway and 407 Transitway stations; and,
Whereas, the Province has indicated that future GO, subway and 407 Transitway development will be based on re-purposing lands to their highest and best use in partnership with the private sector, development industry, investors and pension funds; and,
Whereas, Vancouver’s Canada Line currently accommodates 150,000 boardings per day, with two-car driverless electric trainsets, 40-50m station platforms and a frequency of 18 trains per hour, and growing to 250,000 boardings per day over the next 6-7 years with system improvements and future growth plans; and,
Whereas the Richmond Hill GO line has 10,500 boardings per day with 10 car double decker trainsets; and,
Whereas the Stouffville and Barrie lines each have 18,000 boardings per day with 12 car double decker trainsets with 300m station platforms; and,
Whereas, the GO rail transit network has the potential for substantial increases in ridership, greater efficiency and a better return on investment; and,
Whereas, rail integrated community stations provide convenient access to the urban metro light rapid rail system, better utilizes surrounding lands for development versus parking lots, and when combined with first and last-mile (FMLM) solutions, reduces the 11 billion dollars of lost economic productivity caused by gridlock in the Greater Toronto Area; and,
Whereas, the goal is to achieve 200,000 boardings per day for each of the Stouffville, Richmond Hill and Barrie GO lines by 2041;
Now therefore, be it resolved:
1. That the current/future stations in the three GO rail transit corridors in York Region be strategically planned as complete Rail Integrated Communities that are scalable, attractive, utilizing state-of-the-art technological solutions, including district energy, central garbage collection system, utilidor (underground efficient multi-utility corridor), frictionless technology solutions (IoT), integrated urban schools, urban vertical farming and a 20 per cent affordable housing strategy which in total could reduce the cost of living by 20-30 per cent; and,
2. That the Government of Ontario be requested to initiate the planning process to re-purpose the GO Transit lines through York Region, creating rail integrated communities, supported by urban high frequency rapid rail service; with shorter electric trainsets, shorter station platforms, more rail stations with a frequency of 3-5 minute service in peak times and 6-12 minute in non-peak times in collaboration with Metrolinx, York Region, and the cities of Toronto, Markham, Vaughan and Richmond Hill; and,
3. That capital financing for stations could be generated from, but not limited to: development charges, land value capture, condo transit fee uplift, investors, pension fund investments and Tax Incremental Financing; and,
4. That all RIC stations identified in the attached map be seriously considered for a range of 5.0-12.0 FSI and that the final plans, when adopted, be included in the Official Plans of the respective municipalities; and,
5. That a copy of this resolution be forward to York Region and the cities of Toronto, Vaughan and Richmond Hill for their endorsement and partnership in achieving these objectives; and further,
6. That a copy of this resolution and presentation materials be forwarded to:
a.The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario;
b The Honourable Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health;
c. The Honourable Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance;
d. The Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade;
e. The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education;
f. The Honourable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation & Francophone Affairs;
g. The Honourable Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks;
h. The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Minister of Indigenous Affairs;
i. The Honourable Paul Calandra, Government House Leader;
j. The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing;
k. The Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure Ontario;
l. The Honourable Andrea Horwath , Leader of the Official Opposition, Ontario New Democratic Party;
m. The Honorable John Fraser, Ontario Liberal Party;
n. The Honorable Mike Schreiner, Green Party of Ontario; and,
o. All York Region MPPs, and MPs.
Carried as Amended