York Region Mayors and Councillors Announce Support for Transportation Investment through CivicAction Your32 pledge

RICHMOND HILL, ON, May 13, 2013 /CNW/ - Eighteen York Region municipal politicians declared their support for greater investment in transportation at an event today, where they signed CivicAction's Your32 "Pledge to Get a Move On" and committed to take action to ease the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area's (GTHA's) traffic congestion crisis.

The politicians included:

• Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti
• Markham Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Jack Heath
• Markham Councillor Valerie Burke
• Markham Councillor Alan Ho
• Markham Councillor Logan Kanapathi
• Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li
• Markham Councillor Howard Shore
• Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow
• Richmond Hill Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Vito Spatafora
• Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan
• Richmond Hill Councillor Lynn Foster
• Richmond Hill Regional Councillor Brenda Hogg
• Richmond Hill Councillor Castro Liu
• Richmond Hill Councillor Nick Papa
• Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
• Vaughan Regional Councillor Michael Di Biase
• Vaughan Councillor Alan Shefman
• Vaughan Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco

They join five other York Region elected officials who have also signed the pledge: Georgina Mayor Robert Grossi, Township of King Mayor Steve Pellegrini, Township of King Councillor Debbie Schaefer, Markham Councillor Don Hamilton, and Vaughan Councillor Tony Carella.

The politicians gathered for the pledge signing at the Richmond Hill Centre terminal, a major transportation hub and part of The Big Move's proposed Yonge subway extension. The enhanced connection between Richmond Hill and Toronto will help alleviate gridlock along Yonge Street and provide a seamless connection point between York vivaNext, GO, and TTC routes.

"It is extremely encouraging to see growing support by residents and elected officials for better transportation, as well as willingness to be part of the gridlock solution," said Mitzie Hunter, CEO of CivicAction. "The economic and human cost of gridlock has reached crisis levels, and these costs will continue to escalate without new ways to expand and improve our transportation networks."

The mayors of Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Markham and over a dozen councillors join nearly 1,000 GTHA residents and elected officials from across the region in signing the pledge at CivicAction's your32.com. The pledge calls for new sources of revenue that are dedicated, efficient, transparent & accountable, regional, fair and sustainable to fund regional transportation and infrastructure expansion.

"Having the privilege as the first municipal elected official to sign the CivicAction 'Pledge to Get a Move On,' I take pride in working with colleagues from across York Region, together with Councillor Burke of Markham and Councillor Shefman of Vaughan and many others representing over 1 million residents, to sign the pledge at Richmond Hill Centre terminal to demonstrate our commitment to tackling gridlock and improving public transit in York Region and across the GTHA," said Richmond Hill Councillor Godwin Chan, Ward 6.

About CivicAction's Your32 campaign
CivicAction and its 50+ team of civic Champions and Regional Co-Captains aim to build support for a better regional transportation system and the need for new sustainable ways to pay for it. For more information, visit www.your32.com.

About CivicAction
For the past 10 years, the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance (CivicAction) has brought together senior executives and rising leaders from all sectors to tackle some of our region's toughest social, economic, and environmental challenges. CivicAction sets a non-partisan agenda, builds strategic partnerships with organizations, and launches campaigns, programs and organizations that transform our region. For more information, visit: www.civicaction.ca, @CivicActionGTA

SOURCE: CivicAction