AUGUST 2026 UPDATE: WE SECURED A COMMITMENT! BUT OUR WORK ISN'T DONE. 
Thanks to over 370 signatures, York Region has officially committed to installing traffic signals at this intersection in 2027 and expediting the detailed design for the Doane Road reconstruction. However, these funds must still be officially approved in the 2027 Capital Budget vote. We are keeping this petition active to ensure our newly elected Council locks this in. Please continue to sign and share!
For more details, please see the updates section below.

TO: The Regional Municipality of York Council and Public Works (Transportation Services)

The Problem:

On April 26, 2026, our community's worst fears were realized. A tragic collision at the intersection of Leslie Street and Doane Road took the life of a teenager and left four others fighting for their lives. This heartbreaking event is a stark reminder of the severe safety hazards present at this location.

This was not just an accident—it was a predictable and preventable tragedy.

What makes this loss even more unacceptable is that York Region has known about the dangers of this intersection for over a decade. The Region’s own Environmental Assessment for the area was completed in 2013, and the Doane Road widening and signalization project (Project 64) was originally approved for construction in 2017. Yet, year after year, the Region has deferred the project, leaving us with a dangerous, rural-style crossing that simply cannot handle today’s urban traffic volumes.

It is now 2026. Nearly ten years past the original target date, the much-needed reconstruction of Doane Road is still just a deferred line item in the 2022 Transportation Master Plan.

Furthermore, the situation is about to become significantly more dangerous. On April 27, 2026, the Province announced that the new Southlake Hospital will be built just north of this location. While we welcome the hospital, we cannot allow the Region to wait for another multi-year construction cycle to fix an intersection that is claiming lives today.

Every day, our residents are forced to make high-risk maneuvers just to navigate between Doane Road and Leslie Street. We are tired of "planning phases" and "deferred schedules." We need safety now.

The Solution:

We, the residents of East Gwillimbury and York Region, are respectfully but urgently petitioning York Regional Council and Transportation Services (Public Works) to stop the delays and take immediate action to protect our community. We are calling for:

• Immediate Installation of Interim Traffic Signals: Do not wait for the full road reconstruction to be finalized. We need temporary signals installed immediately to manage traffic flow, eliminate dangerous gap-acceptance maneuvers, and save lives.
• Expediting the Doane Road Reconstruction: Reallocate resources to advance the long-delayed Doane Road widening and realignment project to this year's active construction schedule.
• Interim Safety Measures: Immediately deploy enhanced intersection lighting and advanced warning signage while permanent infrastructure is being built.

Why it Matters:

Public safety cannot be continually deferred. Industry statistics demonstrate that signalized intersections can reduce fatal accidents by up to 50%. York Region has had the plans, the environmental approvals, and the land required for the Doane Road reconstruction since 2013. We now require decisive political action to implement these life-saving measures today.

Call to Action:

Please sign this petition to demonstrate to the York Regional Council that the safety of East Gwillimbury residents cannot wait another decade. By adding your name, you are advocating for essential, immediate infrastructure improvements that will protect our community and prevent future tragedies. 

Sign today to demand a safer intersection at Leslie Street and Doane Road, and the immediate reconstruction of the Doane Road corridor, before traffic completely overwhelms our community.

Background Information:

Doane Road & Leslie Street in the News:

1. Region’s deferral of road projects irks East Gwillimbury - March 3, 2014
2. East Gwillimbury roads off region’s long-term plan - March 6, 2014
3. Doane Road construction pushed back -  February 19, 2015
4. 1 dead, 4 in hospital after single-vehicle crash in East Gwillimbury: police -  April 26, 2026 
5. ‘Worst fears realized’: Queensville resident demands action where teen was killed in car crash -  July 29, 2026
6. York Region to add lights at East Gwillimbury intersection after tragic collision -  August 27, 2026 

Petition Updates:

1. Over 400 Signatures! Our Next Steps for Doane Road & an Important Transparency Update - September 11, 2026
2. Local News Highlights Our Shared Victory! - August 28, 2026
3. MAJOR UPDATE: Traffic Signals Confirmed for 2027 & Doane Road Design Expedited!  - August 18, 2026
4. Major News Coverage on Safety of Leslie/Doane Intersection and Our Petition - July 31, 2026
5. Pushing for Immediate Action on Doane Road Improvements at Regional Council - July 15, 2026
6. Jeffery Crescent (south leg) is Now Closed—Traffic Signals Needed at Leslie & Doane Immediately! - June 25, 2026
7. 200+ Signatures & Council Referral: Escalating Our Demands to the Commissioner of Public Works - June 12, 2026

 

Important Community Note & Disclaimer

The tragic accident last April was a heartbreaking "enough is enough" moment for our community. It served as a stark reminder of how dangerous this outdated intersection truly is—especially considering a reconstruction plan has been on the books for over a decade. While speeding and reckless driving are real issues that traffic lights alone cannot fix, our goal is to advocate for every angle of safety we can to protect our families and prevent future tragedies.

• Independence, Transparency, Non-Partisan & Candidate Disclosure: This petition is a grassroots, non-partisan civic safety initiative dedicated exclusively to public safety and securing critical infrastructure upgrades at Leslie Street and Doane Road, and it operates independently.
  In the spirit of complete transparency and accountability, please note that the organizer of this petition, Shahab Aryan, P.Eng., officially registered as a candidate on August 17, 2026, for Ward 2 (Sharon & Queensville) Councillor in East Gwillimbury’s upcoming municipal election on October 26. Signing this safety petition does not enroll you in any political campaign list, nor does it imply an endorsement of any candidate. All petitioner data remains strictly confidential and will will never be used for election campaigning, solicitations, or fundraising efforts. Connecting with the campaign is entirely optional.
  
  

• Employer Non-Affiliation: Any views, statements, or updates expressed in this petition or associated communications are solely those of the organizer in a personal capacity as a local resident. They do not represent the views, policies, or official positions of any past or present employers, agencies, or affiliated organizations.
• Legal & Professional Engineering Disclaimer: The materials presented in this petition represent community advocacy and the shared concerns of local residents. The use of professional designations (such as P.Eng.) by the organizer is strictly to provide context regarding their civic perspective and background. It does not establish an engineer-client relationship with the public or the municipality. The updates do not constitute formal professional engineering advice, an official engineering judgment, design, or report, nor do they serve as legal counsel. Official technical studies, traffic assessments, and final engineering designs remain the sole legal responsibility of the governing road authorities (York Region and the Town of East Gwillimbury).
• Accuracy of Information & Limitation of Liability: All project updates, budget timelines, and meeting summaries provided on this page are shared in good faith based on publicly available information and correspondence with municipal staff. Because municipal budgeting and infrastructure are dynamic processes, timelines and project scopes are subject to change by the governing authorities. The organizer assumes no liability for any inaccuracies, future project modifications, or the physical conditions and outcomes related to this roadway.