Pushing for Immediate Action on Doane Road Improvements at Regional Council

Thank you to the over 250 community members who have signed the petition so far! Your voices reflect a community that is no longer willing to accept decade-long deferrals on critical infrastructure.

Here is the latest update on our fight to secure immediate safety measures and long-term improvements for the Doane Road corridor.

A History of Broken Promises

This project is not a new request. The original Environmental Assessment (EA) for Doane Road was completed and approved in 2012, with construction initially scheduled to begin in 2017. The Region then deferred the project to 2024, and now they have completely pulled the broader corridor improvements from their active budget—effectively delaying it until 2051.

 What the Region is Saying Today

I recently received a response from York Region’s Commissioner of Public Works regarding our demands. While they acknowledge the intersection needs signalization and improvements, their current timeline remains deeply concerning:

• Temporary Traffic Signals: Tentatively scheduled for 2027, subject to budget approval.
• Leslie/Doane Intersection Improvements: Currently delayed until 2035.
• Doane Road Reconstruction: The broader expansion (Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue) is not in the 10-Year Capital Plan

Escalating Our Demands

An un-signalized rural road network is fundamentally unsafe and unsuitable for regional traffic flow and for our fast-growing communities in Queensville, Sharon, and Holland Landing. We cannot wait decades for action, especially given these immediate catalysts:

• The Jeffery Crescent Closure: The Town has closed the south portion of Jeffery Crescent permanently, which forces even more traffic directly onto the un-signalized Leslie Street and Doane Road intersection.
• Surging Traffic: The new Healthy Active Living Plaza (HALP) and the incoming Southlake Hospital are massively increasing cross-town and regional traffic.
• Critical Safety Hazards: The tragic fatal collision this past April highlights the immediate, severe danger of this intersection.

To push back against these delays, I have formally submitted a comprehensive letter and supporting historical documents to the York Regional Clerk. I officially requested that the Doane Road improvements be placed on the public agenda for the upcoming York Regional Council meeting on September 10, 2026, and I will be making a formal deputation.

Our Core Demands to Council

We are formally asking the Region to stop reacting to growth decades too late, and to immediately implement the following:

• Immediate Signalization: Install traffic signals and enhanced lighting at Doane Road and Leslie Street no later than mid-2027.
• Prioritize Intersection Improvements & the Highway 404 Interchange: Expedite the intersection improvements and finish the partially constructed Highway 404 interchange by moving both to the top of the 10-Year Plan no later than 2030.
• Reinstate Doane Road Improvements: Put the full road reconstruction back into the 10-Year Capital Program, renew the Environmental Assessment immediately, and ensure the project is completed by 2035.

How you can help: We need to show the Regional Council that the residents of East Gwillimbury are united. Please continue to share this petition with your neighbours, family, and friends. The more signatures we have by September 10th, the louder our voice will be!

Shahab Aryan, P.Eng.

Your Community Advocate