Say "No" to Mulock GO until we have all the answers from Mayor and Metrolinx

WARNING The Gruesome-Twosome are intending on developing environmentally sensitive lands along Mulock Drive. And they are seeking to make this move without any public consultation.

Buried on page 31 of Monday's Committee of the Whole agenda is this item (click here). It calls upon the Town of Newmarket to endorse the location of a new train station on Mulock Drive, abutting sensitive waterways that are abundant with urban wildlife.

Yet this proposed GO Train station comes with strings attached. Metrolinx is demanding that the Town of Newmarket provide a commitment to "transit supportive planning regimes around the station," a stipulation which may put the existing green space and nearby St. Andrews Golf Course within the gun sights of developers. After all, how could the Town argue against new developments at the OMB after they have already carte blanche approved development that supports the GO station?

It is most important to emphasize that Metrolinx is not committing to any improved services with this new train station. We also don't know if Metrolinx is planning to reduce service to the existing Davis Drive GO Station or shut the station down altogether.

Is this proposed GO Mulock Station a good deal for Newmarket?

So let's weigh the PROs and CONs for Council approval of this agenda item:

PRO

• Perhaps, maybe, possibly less vehicle traffic interruption along Davis Drive associated with the arrivals and departures of the GO Train in the event that Metrolinx decides to shutter the Davis Drive GO Station. (Noting that there is still a level crossing at this intersection that would require the vehicle traffic to stop as the train passes at low speed).  

CON

• Definitely more traffic interruptions along Mulock Drive associated with the comings and goings of the GO Train. 
• The new station would be devastating for the businesses located within the Tannery Mall and nearby the current GO Train Station, which rely on commuters for their customer base.
• There is relatively no businesses in the new proposed GO Station vicinity that would benefit from increased commuter traffic.
• Developing environmentally sensitive wetlands and displacing urban wild life.
• Council is giving carte blanch approval to future development in the vicinity of the new GO Train Station because Newmarket Council approves "transit supportive planning regimes around the station."
• The Town has not negotiated any commitment from Metrolinx to improve GO Train services to Newmarket.
• The location of the new GO Station doesn't connect with the Viva Rapid Bus Transit system that taxpayers just spent a half billion dollars constructing.
• The existing GO Train station is located within easy walking distance of the existing GO/ YRT Bus terminal located at Davis/ Yonge. The proposed Mulock GO station is located too far away for pedestrians seeking to connect to other public transit routes.

Maybe life-long Wynne-Liberals Tony Van Bynen and John Taylor are just trying to please their provincial Liberal allies by pushing this agenda item through? Who can forget Wynne Liberal Ministers Chris Ballard and Steven Del Duca along with Liberal MP Kyle Peterson flanking Van Bynen and Taylor at the official announcement back in June? The Town of Newmarket even issued a gushing press release thanking the Wynne-Liberal government (click here). In a York Region newspaper article  Mayor Van Bynen advised Newmarket residents to do a "happy dance."

Hopefully, the Mayor and his Council cronies will take more time than they allotted to the fifteen minute October 10th Newmarket Council meeting to inform us what we have to be happy about. What does this new GO Station give us that we don't already have on Davis Drive?

They can also tell us why the Town is required to have Public Information Centres on mundane matters,but this agenda item doesn't qualify for public input. What is being proposed would create a major shift in Newmarket's commuter traffic (just a scant few months after spending $500 million to enhance public transit along Davis Drive) and yet there is no public consultation?

And will we hear any concerns raised by the two mostly mute Council members who represent the specific wards affected? Or will Councillors Vegh and Broome just follow along with Van Bynen's "happy dance?"