Ramp Improvements - Highway 404/Highway 401,

Highway 404/Finch Avenue East and

Highway 404/Steeles Avenue East -

Don Parkway and Seneca Heights

 The North York Community Council recommends that City Council endorse the following Resolution by Councillor David Shiner, Seneca Heights:

 WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has plans to add traffic lanes to Highway 404, between Highway 7 and Highway 401 and to reconfigure the ramps at Steeles Avenue East, Finch Avenue East and Highway 401; and

 WHEREAS the Province has announced a further extension of Highway 404, north of Davis Drive in Newmarket to Green Lane; and

 WHEREAS the Province has plans to continue to extend Highway 404 north of Green Lane, as the residential communities expand; and

 WHEREAS adding traffic lanes to Highway 404 between Highway 407 and Highway 401 will only exacerbate traffic congestion on Highway 401 and the Don Valley Parkway; and

 WHEREAS adding the traffic lanes south of Highway 407 will only encourage more traffic to avoid Highway 407 because of the toll charges and use Highway 401; and

 WHEREAS the lack of capacity of the Don Valley Parkway forces motorists to exit Highway 404, north of Highway 401, onto arterial roads and residential streets to by-pass the congestion on the Don Valley Parkway; and

 WHEREAS this is already an intolerable situation for local residents;

 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Province be advised that the North York Community Council and the City of Toronto Council support the necessary ramp improvements at the interchange of Highway 404/Highway 401, Highway 404/Finch Avenue East and Highway 404/Steeles Avenue East; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the North York Community Council and the City of Toronto Council request the Province not to add traffic lanes to Highway 404, from Highway 401 to Highway 7; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Province be requested to come up with a new traffic management plan that would encourage the east/west movement of vehicles along Highway 407 instead of Highway 401; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Provincial Members of Parliament whose ridings include Highway 404/Don Valley Parkway be requested to invite area residents and the local councillors to public meetings regarding this issue; and

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this item be placed on the next regular agenda of the City of Toronto Council for its consideration, and not included under "other items".