Recommendation: Oppose the Ministry of Transportation s preferred alternative for

Transcription

1 Page 1 of Report TO: Community Services Committee Community Services SUBJECT: Niagara to GTA (N-GTA) Corridor EA: Area Transportation System Alternatives Report Update Report Number: Report Date: June 21, 2010 File Number(s): Ward(s) Affected: All Date to Committee: July 14, 2010 Date to Council: July 15, 2010 Recommendation: Oppose the Ministry of Transportation s preferred alternative for the Niagara to GTA (N-GTA) Corridor EA that was presented to the public at the Public Information Center hosted in Burlington on June 23, 2010 and; Approve funding of $100,000 from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund for retaining consulting and/or legal services to assist in assessing and preparing a comprehensive position on the MTO s draft Transportation Development Strategy, if required and; Endorse the following comments as the City of Burlington response to the Ministry of Transportation regarding the latest material presented on the Niagara G.T.A. Transportation Corridor Environmental Assessment (NGTA EA), and that the City Clerk forwards a copy of the Council resolution and report to the Ministry of Transportation as the City of Burlington s comments. I. City Staff support the Optimization of existing networks recommendations in principle; II. City Staff support the New/Expanded Non-Road Infrastructure recommendations in principle; III. City Staff do not support the MTO s preferred alternative for the NGTA Corridor based on: a. The NGTA alignment would cut across the Niagara Escarpment and the Green Belt area in Burlington; b. The additional corridor would increase urbanization pressure in North Burlington; c. There is no continuity between proposed corridors within the NGTA and GTA West Study; d. Connection to a toll road would discourage goods

2 Page 2 of Report movement; e. This alternative does not address the City of Burlington s previous comments endorsed by Council (report E-22-10) that were sent to the MTO as part of this study. Purpose: Address goal, action or initiative in strategic plan Establish new or revised policy or service standard Respond to legislation Respond to staff direction Address other area of responsibility The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Niagara to GTA (NGTA) Corridor EA Study and obtain approval of formal comments on this phase of the environmental assessment. Reference to Strategic Plan: Managed Growth Transportation and Transit Background: The Niagara to GTA (NGTA) Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment (EA) Study is a planning study that is examining options to expand the capacity of the transportation system in future years between the Niagara Gateway and the Greater Toronto Area. This study area includes components within Halton Region, City of Burlington, City of Hamilton and the Region of Niagara. The need for a transportation corridor study was identified because of its strategic location in providing a link between the growing Western GTA-Hamilton area and the U.S. border in Niagara Region. The Niagara to GTA transportation corridor is intended to serve the residents in the study area and the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), but also would play an important role in ensuring an efficient goods movement network that connects the GGH to the rest of Ontario and to the U.S. market. This corridor could also be a key component of the Ontario-Quebec Continental Gateway and Trade Corridor initiative. The Greater Golden Horseshoe is one of the fastest growing regions in North America. To support economic growth and manage increased transportation demand, improvements to the existing transportation network will be necessary.

3 Page 3 of Report Discussion: The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) initiated Phase 1 of the NGTA study in December 2006 to examine transportation problems and opportunities in the area to the year Phase 1 of the study is intended to look at all modal options to add capacity to the transportation systems that links Niagara to the GTA. This includes examining the role that each mode can play in the future transportation strategy for the area (e.g., rail, road, transit, marine, and airports). In June 2010, as part of the Phase 1 of the Study, the MTO issued a draft Transportation Development Strategy (TDS) identifying the preferred future transportation alternative within the Study Area. Previous Reporting i. Engineering Report E23/05 passed at Council December 18, Subject: Niagara to GTA Corridor: Approval of the Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference (EA TOR) ii. Engineering Report E approved at Council on February 22 nd, Subject: An Update on Niagara to GTA Corridor EA The NGTA Environmental Assessment Study has examined 4 groups of potential options to meet the future 2031 traffic demands within this study corridor: Group 1 Optimize Existing Networks Group 2 New/Expanded Non-Road Infrastructure Group 3 Widen/ Improve Roads Group 4 New Transportation Corridors The first priority would be on optimizing the existing network (Group #1), which will include an Active Traffic Management Study to improve the performance of the existing transportation system by improving highway efficiency. The Active Traffic Management Study will be developed based on examination of: Expanded use of bus bypass shoulders; Enhanced incident / congestion management; Expanded use of ramp metering; Provision of HOV / transit bypass lanes; Speed harmonization City Staff support Group #1 options in principle as the details of location and design are not available at this stage in the study. These principles promote making active transportation a more viable option with the encouraged use of public transit. Speed

4 Page 4 of Report harmonization and expanded use of ramp metering may not be viable solutions in the City of Burlington and need to be further explored. There will also be a priority for improving existing and/or providing new non-road infrastructure and transit (Group #2), building on the recommendations of Metrolinx s The RTP and GO Initiatives identified by the study include: Hamilton-Focused Inter-Regional Transit radial transit services that bring commuters to Hamilton city centre from outlying areas; New Inter-Regional Transit Links between Western Urban Growth Centres such as Guelph and Waterloo ("western web system"); Improved connections between GO Transit services, other inter-city carriers, and other transit services; Explore policy areas to provide additional support for local transit initiatives; and Support freight rail and marine goods movement initiatives. City Staff also support Group #2 options in principle. Burlington is already improving connections between GO Transit services and examining Inter-Regional Transit links such as the Dundas Street BRT from Brant Street to Kipling Station. Road access to terminals is still a problem for freight rail and marine goods movement. In addition to the first priority Group #1 and Group #2 elements, the MTO has concluded that there would still be a need to include strategic highway widening (Group #3) and a longer term identification of new transportation corridors (Group #4) to meet the future 2031 transportation needs. MTO s Roadway Strategy Alternatives During the Preliminary Planning stage an assessment of each of the Group 3 (widen roads) and Group 4 (new transportation corridor) alternatives was undertaken. The alternatives considered included: Alternative 3-1: Varying degrees of widening to several provincial highways (i.e. QEW, Highway 403, Highway 6, Highway 401); Alternative 4-2: New transportation corridor connecting QEW in the Welland area to Highway 403; Alternative 4-3: New transportation corridor connecting QEW in the Welland area to Highway 401; Alternative 4-4: New transportation corridor connecting QEW in the Welland area to Highway 407; and Alternative 4-5: New transportation corridor bypassing Hamilton between Highway 401 and QEW in West Lincoln and a bypass of St. Catharines using Highway 406 and a new east-west transportation corridor. These alternatives are identified on Attachments 1-5.

5 Page 5 of Report MTO s Preferred Roadway Alternative The most desirable elements from the Group 3 and 4 alternatives were reviewed by the MTO to determine a hybrid alternative that included some strategic widening of provincial highways as well as development of new transportation corridors in the east and west ends of the study area. This hybrid alternative consisted of: East Area - a new corridor from the QEW (Fort Erie) to Hwy 406 in Welland Central Area - widening of the existing QEW from Hwy 406 to Hwy 403. This would include an ultimate QEW width of: o 8 lanes (2 additional lanes) to Hwy 20 o o 8 lanes (2 additional lanes) to the Redhill Valley Expressway 10 lanes (2 additional lanes) across the Burlington Skyway Bridge to Hwy 403 West Area - a new corridor connecting Hwy 403 in Ancaster to the 407 ETR at Walkers Line Highway 6 south of Highway Highway realignments and upgrades Highway 6 south of Highway 403 (Hamilton) upgrade to 4-lane freeway Highways 403 & Widening for HOV lanes Highway Widening This is the MTO s preferred alternative that will be included in the draft Transportation Development Strategy (Attachments 6-8). City of Burlington Staff Comments on the MTO s Preferred Roadway Alternative Based on an initial assessment of the MTO s preferred Alternatives for the NGTA Corridor, staff s position would be that the component of the Corridor from Highway 403 in Ancaster to Highway 407 in Burlington would be unacceptable for a number of reasons: I. The NGTA alignment would cut across the Niagara Escarpment and the Green Belt area in Burlington. This has traditionally been an unacceptable aspect of any such Corridor II. III. The additional Corridor would likely be a driver for more urbanization pressure in north Burlington and that is unacceptable in view of our current Official Plans as well as the Niagara Escarpment Plan and Provincial Greenbelt Plan There is no continuity between proposed corridors within the NGTA Study and GTA West Study to take the pressure of the very busy Lakeshore West CN Corridor. Such a new corridor alignment would likely not facilitate any new freight rail opportunities. In 2007, the MTO initiated an Environmental Assessment Study for the Greater Toronto Area West Corridor (GTA West) to consider alternative solutions to similar transportation problems as that of the NGTA Study. The Study area for this project included Downtown Guelph, Downtown

6 Page 6 of Report Milton, Brampton City Center and Vaughan Corporate Center. Even though Highway 401 is a common boundary between the Niagara to GTA and GTA West studies, these studies were completed separately and currently do not connect. City Staff feel that there are important opportunities to coordinate the alternatives between the studies and preferred alternatives considered as both studies are managed by the same MTO Policy and Planning office and the same consultant consortium. The linking of the two planned corridors may alleviate any future congestion of the existing Regional transportation systems and be an important overall strategic aspect of urban growth management for the broader area. IV. It is questionable whether connecting to a toll road with a fee structure, which discourages heavy truck usage, will serve to direct goods movement away from the QEW corridor. This leads to the concern that the new highway may not meet the needs for goods movement and tourist traffic (2 groups who researched by the MTO, do not use toll roads to the level commuters do). V. This alternative does not address the City of Burlington s previous comments made in a letter (dated January 11,2010) to the MTO Study Team after PIC #3: a. Consideration should be given for a new freight rail and commuter rail corridor along the proposed NGTA corridor; b. Longer term high-speed rail service through the corridor should be recognized and protected for; c. Completion of a sensitivity analysis on any possible new freeway facility being a tolled facility; d. Revised development charges (DC) legislation by the Province to permit collecting DC funding for increase transit service; e. Based on material available, it appears that more detailed weighting of the factors is needed to fully capture the environmental impacts and constraints associated with each corridor; f. In evaluating corridors it will be important to consider the impact on the agricultural fabric and minimize fragmentation of viable farm properties. Strategy/Process Following the fourth round of Public Information Centres, a draft Transportation Needs Assessment Report will be prepared by the MTO and made available for stakeholder review. Over the coming months, the following tasks will be undertaken as part of this study: Continue to consult with advisory groups regarding the details of the Draft Transportation Development Strategy (TDS); Revise the TDS based on stakeholder input received; Finalize and document the TDS by the late 2010; and

7 Page 7 of Report Stakeholder review of the draft Transportation Needs Assessment Report. City of Burlington Staff will continue to participate in upcoming stakeholder and advisory meetings with updates and reports to Council as the study progresses. Public Consultation The MTO hosted the fourth Public Open House (PIC) on June 23, 2010 in the City of Burlington to present the preferred alternatives of this study to the public. Following the PIC, the MTO s study team will review the Transportation Development Strategy (TDS) based on input received, and finalize and document the TDS by the end of A draft Transportation Needs Assessment Report will be made available for stakeholder review in late The MTO has requested that comments on the material presented at the June 2010 PIC s be submitted by July 30 th, Financial Matters: The City of Burlington may need to retain specialists to assist in assessing and preparing a comprehensive position on the MTO s draft TDS. This may be completed independently by the City or jointly with the Region of Halton and other local municipalities if they share the same concerns. Based on the tentative timeline for this study, the report may be finalized by the MTO when, under the Municipal Elections Act, Council may enter into Lame Duck Status which would preclude authorizing unbudgeted spending. Staff recommend that $100,000 be approved and committed from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund to purchase these services if required. The uncommitted balance in this reserve fund at March 31/2010 was $4,674,513. Environmental Matters: From an environmental perspective, there will be impacts to the Niagara Escarpment and the Greenbelt associated with a new corridor crossing of the escarpment. Additional widening of Highways 403 through their respective escarpment areas may also impact significant natural features and Provincially Significant Wetlands. Communication Matters:

8 Page 8 of Report Staff will communicate Council s views and decision on the MTO s preferred alternative back to the study team within the reporting time period of the EA to ensure that it becomes part of the final EA document. The City should develop a communications plan in coordination with the Region of Halton to inform residents which may include hosting its own Public Information Centre on this matter. Information on this study can be found on the City of Burlington website ( as well as the Ministry of Transportation s project website ( The general public is encouraged to express their comments and concerns at any stage of the study. Conclusion: Staff will continue to advocate for the joining (or at least better co-ordination of proposed options) of the two independent studies, the NGTA and GTA West, and express our objections to the proposed Corridor component that has been identified to connect with Highway 407 in Burlington. Respectfully submitted, Scott Hamilton, P.Eng. Senior Engineer ext Appendices: A. MTO s Roadway Strategy Alternatives, Figures 1-5 B. MTO s Preferred Alternative, Figures 6-8 Notifications: (after Council decision) Name Tom Eichenbaum Paul Smithson Nancy Shea-Nicol Bruce Zvaniga Mitch Zamojc Paul Cripps Gerry Davis Mailing or Address eichenbaumt@burlington.ca smithsonp@burlington.ca NicolN@burlington.ca ZvanigaB@burlington.ca Region of Halton Town of Milton City of Hamilton

9 Page 9 of Report Neil Bryson, COPE John Best, SOGC Tim Dennis, Transportation Services Director, Halton Roger Ward, Team Leader Provincial Planning Office, Ministry of Transportation Paul Hudspith, Vice President URS Neil0711@yahoo.ca bestj@interlynx.net Tim.dennis@halton.ca Roger.A.Ward@Ontario@ca Paul_hudspith@urscorp.com Approvals: *required *Department City Treasurer General Manager City Manager Committee Disposition & Comments Council Disposition & Comments To be completed by the Clerks Department 01-Approved 02-Not Approved 03-Amended 04-Referred 06-Received & Filed 07-Withdrawn 01-Approved 02-Not Approved 03-Amended 04-Referred 06-Received & Filed 07-Withdrawn

10 Page 10 of Report APPENDIX A MTO S ROADWAY STRATEGY ALTERNATIVES FIGURES 1-5

11 Page 11 of Report APPENDIX B MTO S PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE FIGURES 6-8

12 Page 12 of Report