County moves to grow number of carpool lots

Alliston, Tottenham sites on list

New Tecumseth Free Press Online

Simcoe County is moving forward with building carpool parking lots as recommended in its 2014 Transportation Master Plan (TPM), beginning in Orillia at the intersection of Highway 12 and Highway 11.

The preferred location, approved this week by County council, is different than the original plan to build it closer to Lakehead Campus and Rotary Place, and also near University Avenue and Old Barrie Road. Instead it will piggyback on Ministry of Transportation planned improvements to Highway 12 from Memorial Avenue to Horseshoe Valley Road.

“Although this location is perhaps not as convenient, it does address the concerns raised by the local residents, provides for a slightly larger facility and includes working in partnership with the Ministry who has agreed to include this commuter parking lot as part of their environmental assessment approval process,” according to the report to council. “It does also mean however, this facility will not be constructed this year and will be delayed until approval of the Ministry project is complete which is anticipated in 2016.”

The County has allocated $250,000 to pay for its construction.

Currently, the County operates one carpool lot, located in Washago. The TPM recommends expanding their numbers and came up with a top 10 priority list, which was headed by the Orillia location.

A lot in Alliston is at number five on the list, and is pencilled-in the “vicinity” of the SmartCentres/Walmart plaza on Hwy 89 and Cty Rd 10 area. (SmartCentres has had the vacant half of its property in Alliston for sale since 2013).

At number six is “south New Tecumseth” which the TPM map shows a site in the area of Tottenham Road Hwy 9, and a site in the area of Cty Rd 90 in Angus, is 7th.

Midland, Perkinsfield; and Craighurst, round out the top five. There is no timeline attached to their construction.