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The province is in the midst of planning a new highway that will carry drivers across the GTA from Vaughan to Milton â€" in the hopes the infrastructure will help ease traffic con- gestion on roads across the region. But drivers hoping for a scenic route will likely be disappointed. The proposed four-to-six-lane GTA West high- way, which is still in the early planning phase, has environmentalists deeply concerned as it will cut through protected Greenbelt lands in Vaughan, pave prime farmland in Caledon, and encroach on sensitive watersheds all along the route. ”We see this as a lose-lose proposal," said Su- san Lloyd Swail, the Greenbelt Program Man- ager with Environmental Defence. “There will be a loss to the Greenbelt, a loss of farmland, waterways and forests," said Swail. “But it is also a loss to the people of the GTA. Instead of investing in transit infrastructure, we are encouraging more people to get onto the roads.” Swail, who is also part of the Ontario Green- Proposed highway to pave parts of Greenbelt proving controversial need pace? There is no need to look any further tor the perfect neighbourhood & home. Our local agents can help you locate a home with your own unique home style. price range, amenities, commutes and neighbours in mind. “Luxhw ‘ O LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME? in the Golden Horseshoe from urban development and sprawl. The legislation, which is up for review this year, does however allow the province to build and expand infrastructure â€" such as the highway â€" as long as it serves growth and economic devel- opment in Southern Ontario. Swail believes that is a slippery slope. ”if we say this land is valuable needs to be protect- ed (from) urban development, but then we know that highways are part of urban devel- opment and a precursor to sprawl, why are belt Alliance, estimates the proposed highway will pave over 2,000 acres of prime farmland in the Greenbelt. The Greenbelt legislation was established in 2005, to protect 1.8-million acres of environmentally sensi- tive and agricultural land IS PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY Real Estate Section AWIUANQ ' ‘1"!le we doing this?" she asks. ”It boggles the mind and is not consistent with the ideas around the Green- belt plan,” she said. The proposed highway will start at Highway 400 in Vaughan and travel north through Caledon, down through Bramp- ton to the junction of the 401/407 in Milton. The Ministry of Transportation is currently undertaking environmental assess- ments on a number of route options. According to the province, GTA West will car- ry 300,000 cars and trucks per- day by 2031. Without a change, the average commute times are expected to increase by 27 minutes a day by 2031. But the problem is, there is no guarantee a new highway will actually get things moving, ’1" v Sports Injury braces vAfter surgery equipment needs «Compression Stockings vOstomy supplies .1 Incontinence products «Specialty Bandages & Woundcare vAircasts. Crutches. Canes yWheelchairs, Rollators, Walkers (Adjust Home) says Sony Rai, a member of the local environ- mental coalition Sustainable Vaughan. "This highway won‘t solve traffic congestion, it’ 5 just rewarding sprawl," said Rai, who note es that the majority of the highway will cu ut through the northern part of the GTA wher re 01 1:03 9: Menu: 3 ‘4' DJ M H -| C h F. C H (D 5 Q C Q. 3 to 3' O 3 (D V! m 3 O. I'Q H n: 3 V! 7+ W infrastructure, has yet to be built. In 2012, the Ministry of Transportation com- pleted a study called the GTA West Transpor- tation Development Strategy, to see how to improve the transportation network across the region. Building a new highway was one of those suggestions. But it hasn't been easy for the province to sell the idea of highways to GTA communities. In 2011, residents of Burlington and Halton Re- gion put pressure on the province to kibosh 3 plans to build a highway between Fort Erie and the GTA that would have run directly through the Niagara Escarpment. This time around, the province is keeping the channels of communication open with the public. In December, the MTO held nu-IB 2 OldWVHO NVIGVNVO N01?“ neuapisui'MMM