Where I Stand
My Thoughts on Markham's Development
1. Bus / Transit - Highway 7 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Construction
Firstly, the construction slows down traffic. As we all know, Highway 7 is one of the busiest roads in York Regions. The bus stop has occupied at least 2 lanes of the streets. In the other words, it creates traffic since there will be fewer traffic lanes for other vehicles.
Secondly, it creates impacts such as noise pollution to the apartments across the road especially during the time of construction. This really disturbs the residences since people's daily routine is affected and they can hardly get around.
Thirdly, the design of building the bus stops in the middle of the road has also produced an issue because it is risky for passengers when they are trying to catch a bus. There will be a higher possibilities of happening accidents.
Overalls, many people have paid great concerns towards the Highway 7 bus station construction since it brings significant problems to Markham and its nearby areas.
2. Parking Control - Parking Problem in Neighbourhoods
3. Planning and Urban Design / Wildlife Protection - Downtown Markham?
Excerpt from the Article "The Man who Built Toronto" of The Globe and Mail about Markham's development:
"Yesterday's supply of empty farmland and anything-goes municipal councils are gone; today, places like Markham-with a push from the province-are looking more and more like cities. There's a political consensus that, if we're going to house the 100,000 or so newcomers who flock to Ontario each year, we have no choice but to build denser, mixed-use communities like Downtown Markham. And Bratty (the man behind Downtown Markham) is leading the charge. "The rules of the game," Bratty says, his voice shifting from its customary boom into a lawyerly cadence, "have changed totally." "
Of course Markham has to be developed to deal with the increasing population, but would you be happy if it becomes an entire downtown-like city?