Markham pushes province for rapid transit study
By Gene Pereira, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
It was a clash of timing versus tenacity, but when the dust settled, the City of Markham sent a resounding message to the provincial government.
In a decisive 10-1 vote, Markham Town Council convincingly passed a formal resolution demanding that the Province of Ontario — via the Ministry of Transportation, Metrolinx, and Infrastructure Ontario — immediately launch a comprehensive corridor-level feasibility and technology study for high-frequency, rapid transit along two critical arteries: the Stouffville GO Line through Markham and the Highway 407 Transitway corridor.
Moved by Regional Councillor Jim Jones and seconded by Regional Councillor Joe Li, the motion calls on the province to evaluate advanced transit technologies comparable to Toronto’s Ontario Line or Vancouver’s Canada Line.
With significant population and employment growth mandated by the province, local leaders emphasized that Markham’s existing infrastructure cannot keep pace with vehicle congestion. The study will examine all-day, two-way service, automated train operations, electrification, grade separation, and transit-oriented development opportunities to ensure the municipality can sustainably grow.
While the resolution ultimately passed with overwhelming support, the path to the vote saw a debate among councillors over process, timing, and whether the city was getting ahead of itself.
Ward 1 Councillor Keith Irish, who cast the lone dissenting vote, argued for deferral, pointing out that Jones had initially indicated a need for more time to consult with staff prior to the municipal elections.
“He consented to that, and he also indicated that he needed some time… That’s my understanding, Jimmy, that you needed further time to consult with staff on the motion. So, I am a little surprised to see you here today,” Irish noted during the meeting.
Concerns were also raised regarding provincial alignment. Ward 3 Councillor Reid McAlpine questioned whether the city was “putting the cart before the horse,” noting that the province has historically leaned toward heavy rail electrification rather than light-metro systems like the Ontario Line or Canada Line.
“Conceptually, I don’t have a problem with this… but there’s a process, and there are other stakeholders, and to be frank, I’m a little bit kind of concerned that Markham is kind of potentially embarrassing itself that it comes forward with this motion without having done all of its homework,” McAlpine cautioned.
Countering those concerns, Ward 7 Councillor Nimisha Patel championed Jones’ tireless advocacy.
“Whenever I’m in the office, I always see Councillor Jones working away, meeting the people… I’m inclined to give him the opportunity to go through his motion with us today, or maybe to give us the history on why he’s so passionate about this,” Patel stated.
Jones defended the urgency of the motion, pointing to incoming development applications — such as the massive Upper Markham Village master-planned community near Major Mackenzie Drive — and recent frustration over Metrolinx service cuts.
“One of the number one issues is traffic, and we’re not going to solve the traffic problem by trying to build more highways or more roads,” Jones argued. “We’ve got to utilize transit more effectively… We’ve got to start planning now to make it happen.”
Director of Planning and Urban Design Giulio Cescato echoed the technical necessity of the corridors, noting that east-west connectivity and mass public transit are critical for the region’s future.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti strongly supported the initiative, stressing that the municipality must apply continuous pressure on provincial leadership and local MPPs to deliver tangible results amid ongoing regional transit challenges.
“We can pass all the motions we want here,” Scarpitti said before calling for a recorded vote to underscore Markham Council’s united stance. “If we don’t have serious conversations and get some of our local MPPs understanding the magnitude of the challenges that we face here, the motions, we can sit here and talk to ourselves all day long.”
With the resolution successfully carried, the City of Markham has outlined four major action items: Formally asking the Ministry of Transportation, Metrolinx, and Infrastructure Ontario to initiate the study, incorporate it into capital planning, and provide a clear timeline and work plan; urging the province to work closely with Markham, York Region, the City of Toronto, and affected municipalities; directing city staff to align local planning to protect the Stouffville GO and Highway 407 corridors for future rapid transit expansion; and dispatching copies of the resolution directly to the Premier of Ontario, key provincial ministers, Metrolinx, and Infrastructure Ontario.
Photo: Mayor Frank Scarpitti stresses that the municipality must apply continuous pressure on provincial leadership and local MPPs to deliver tangible results amid ongoing regional transit challenges.