In response to traffic congestion and potential developments, including the controversial Heart Lake Townhouses, the city is currently proceeding with a Class Environmental Assessment to potentially widen Sandalwood Parkway from a four-lane road to a six-lane road between Heart Lake and McLaughlin.
Right now, Sandalwood Parkway is a four-lane road from Airport Road to the current terminus at Mississauga Road, except for a brief six-lane stretch from Heart Lake Road to Dixie Road.
The city held a drop-in public consultation session at Loafer’s Lake Recreation Centre on November 2, where potential options were presented.
While it is the early stage of the project (the final designs and options haven’t been identified), Heart Lake area residents seemed to be unified on the idea that Sandalwood Parkway should not be widened.
Residents cited traffic concerns, the potential increase of noise and the addition of noise walls, the decrease in air quality, and the loss of green space, especially the mature trees and the boulevards. Safety concerns were also raised about the intersection of Sandalwood and Richvale, as well as the on-ramp to the southbound 410.
Residents were vocal, both audibly and in paper sticky notes, for more cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
To try and mitigate a need for widening, the city would try and use traffic demand management, active transportation, and transit improvements, though they already seem to prefer that option. The 23 Sandalwood is set to be part of Brampton Transit electric bus pilot next year, but a “523” Sandalwood Zum was not identified to be needed until 2041 in the city’s recent transportation master plan.
The final report will be out next spring, with a second public consultation session in the upcoming winter months. Any comments or concerns can be sent to the project team contacts on this page, and updates will be posted here.
