Advancing Vaughan’s transportation network
2024 highlights include road extensions, new cycle tracks, sidewalk improvements and more
From walking to cycling to taking public transit to driving your car, there are so many ways to get around. And the City of Vaughan is working hard to advance Vaughan’s transportation network to ensure it continues to serve our growing community!
Here are some highlights of this progress which are outlined in a recent 2024 Transportation Planning Update:
- Nine-Point Action Plan to Fight Traffic Gridlock: Significant progress was made on key city-building projects to enhance transportation in Vaughan, including breaking ground on the Canada Drive-America Avenue Bridge and Kirby Road extension, between Bathurst and Dufferin streets. The City has plans to extend Bass Pro Mills Drive, from Highway 400 to Weston Road, and will feature a new signalized intersection, sidewalks, cycling facilities, streetscaping features and more. The project is currently in the design phase, and is at 30 per cent completion.
- Jane Street Uptown Link: Eight kilometres of new cycle tracks and four kilometres of new sidewalk and streetlight enhancements are coming to Jane Street, from Highway 7 to Teston Road. These additions will offer connections to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Vaughan Mills, Canada’s Wonderland and more than 500 businesses along Jane Street. The first phase of this project, from Highway 7 to Major Mackenzie Drive, broke ground in June 2024.
- New Westminster Drive cycle tracks: Two kilometres of new cycle tracks on New Westminster Drive, from Clark Avenue to Bathurst Street, were completed in 2024. A number of improvements were made near St. Elizabeth Catholic High School to meet accessibility standards – including a new signalized midblock pedestrian crossing, upgrades to existing streetlighting, transit stops, signalized intersections, sidewalks and crossings.
- Third-party projects: The City continues to work with our partners at York Region, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, Metrolinx and national railway carriers to advocate for enhanced transit and GO rail service and enable upgrades to essential links within Vaughan’s road network. Major projects include the Yonge North Subway Extension and the Teston Road Extension, between Dufferin Street and Keele Street.
And many other projects are underway in 2025! This year, we are constructing even more active transportation facilities and will continue to advance key city-building projects, including:
- Nine-Point Action Plan to Fight Traffic Gridlock: The City is building a bridge over Highway 400 to connect Canada Drive and America Avenue. In April, the City’s contractor successfully installed the bridge girders – large horizontal beams – over Highway 400, linking the future bridge to Canada Drive and America Avenue. The City is also making progress on the Kirby extension – work underway includes site clearing and grading.
- Environmental Assessments for the Colossus Drive Extension over Highway 400, and the Highway 7 widening, between Wigwoss Drive and Kipling Avenue, projects will begin in 2025
- Islington Avenue multi-use pathways: Three kilometres of new multi-use pathways are coming to Islington Avenue in June 2025, from Highway 7 to Kiloran Avenue.
- Jane Street Uptown Link: Two kilometres of new cycle tracks, as part of the second phase of the Jane Street Uptown Link, are coming between Major Mackenzie Drive to Teston Road by summer 2025.
Learn about these projects and more in the 2024 Transportation Planning Update.
QUOTE
“As your Mayor, I am committed to keep Vaughan moving – whether by car, bus, bike or foot. Championing active transportation opportunities helps connect the community together and ensure seamless travel from one end of the city to the other. As part of our city-building efforts, we are making significant progress on our Nine-Point Action Plan to Fight Traffic Gridlock with projects like the Canada Drive and America Avenue bridge, the Bass Pro Mills extension and connecting Kirby Road between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets. And our work continues into 2025! We remain committed to building the most seamless and flexible transportation network in the Greater Toronto Area. I want to thank the City’s exceptional Infrastructure Development portfolio staff for their continued efforts to help make Vaughan a city of today and for tomorrow.”
- Mayor Steven Del Duca
QUICK FACTS
The City of Vaughan’s 2024 Transportation Planning Update was approved by Vaughan Council during the April 23 Council meeting.
This report outlines how the City advanced transportation projects in 2024.
LEARN MORE
Committee of the Whole (2) Report: 2024 Transportation Planning Update
2024 Transportation Planning Update – Highlights of Accomplishments (PDF)
