Ministere des Transports

Transcription

1 Ministry f Transprtatin Plley and Planning Divisin Transprtatin Planning Branch 30 1 h Flr 777 Bay Street Trnt ON M7A 2J8 Tel.: Fax: Ti ja. Dirks@ ntari.ca Ministere des Transprts Divisin des plitiques et de Ia planificatin Directin de Ia planificatin des transprts 30e etage 777 rue Bay Trnt ON M7A 2J8 Tel. : Telae. : f'):...:: t?ntari May 1, 2015 Carl Jhanssn Canadian Envirnmental Assessment Agency 55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 907 Trnt ON, M4T 1M2 CEAA. LgisticsHub-Plelgistique.ACEE@ ceaa-acee.gc.ca Dear Carl Jhanssn: Re: CN Miltn Lgistics Hub Prject - Invitatin fr Prvincial Cmments Thank yu fr the pprtunity t prvide cmments n the prject descriptin submitted t the Canadian Envirnmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) by Canadian Natinal (CN) regarding their prpsed lgistics hub in Miltn. We have sme general cmments n the ptential impact f this prject frm a prvincial perspective, utlined belw, as well as specific cmments addressing questins laid ut in the frm circulated by CEAA, fr yur cnsideratin in determining the need fr an envirnmental assessment. These cmments are based n the prject descriptin prvided. Mre detailed infrmatin regarding the prpsed facility peratins wuld be required t fully understand the ptential envirnmental effects f the prpsal, related t factrs such as reduced transit trips, increased traffic cngestin and new/expanded transprtatin infrastructure requirements.

2 General Cmments Impacts t Metrlinx/GO Transit crridrs We nte that Metrlinx is nt listed in the Prject Descriptin as having been cnsulted n this initiative. While the Ministry f Transprtatin (MTO) and Metrlinx are Qth aware f the prpsal, frmal cnsultatin with Metrlinx is requested. In this regard, we have shared the CEAA ntificatin with Metrlinx fr further review and cnsideratin. MTO and Metrlinx are interested in understanding any ptential impacts n GO Transit rail peratins, which may result frm the prpsed intermdal facility. Specifically, we are interested in understanding hw additinal freight (rail) traffic may impact passenger transit services n the fllwing crridrs: Kitchener GO Transit crridr (Bramalea t Gergetwn) and Lakeshre West GO Transit crridr (Burlingtn t Aldersht). Similarly, we recgnise that the Miltn GO crridr is wned by Canadian Pacific, but we are als interested in understanding what, if any, impacts there may be t the GO Transit service perating n the Miltn crridr. If impacts t GO Transit peratins are expected t be significant, we will need t ensure that Metrlinx has the pprtunity t engage with CN n hw they culd be mitigated r avided. We als nte that (in sectin 4.1 f the Prject Descriptin) CN will be seeking Build Canada funding t supprt this prpsal. Shuld CN be successful with this applicatin, MTO will be interested in better understanding if any f the Build Canada funds will be applied t the abve-mentined rail crridrs, which may als benefit GO Transit peratins. Canadian Transprtatin Agency Respnse In reviewing the Prject Descriptin, we nte that CN has cnsulted with the Canadian Transprtatin Agency (CTA), and that CTA apprval is nt required fr this prject. Recgnizing that the prpsal may impact cmmuter transit services n the GO Transit crridrs, it wuld be helpful if MTO culd review any frmal cmments r respnse frm the CT A, in s far as it relates t rail peratins in the vicinity f the prject.

3 Specific Cmments 1. Wuld yur department, ministry r agency be required t exercise a pwer r perfrm a duty r functin related t the Prject t enable it t prceed? This includes issuing permits, authrizatins and ther regulatry apprvals. A shrt descriptin f these permits, authrizatins r apprvals wuld a/s be appreciated. It appears the prpsed facility is lcated utside f MTO's permit cntrl area. Hwever, shuld CN require imprvements t the rad netwrk in the area f MTO infrastructure (see #5, belw) and/r mdificatins t rail structures n ur rad netwrk, permits wuld be required. 2. What are the ptential effects n human health frm the increased truck traffic caused by the Prject, particularly the human health effects due t changes t air quality and nise? 3. Will the prpsed changes t the Indian Creek watershed and changes t surface f the site impact prvincially designated wetlands and ANSI sites? Please describe the magnitude and nature f these impacts and changes, if any. Des the prpnent need a prvincial authrizatin r apprval t impact prvincially designated wetlands and ANSI sites? 4. Des the prpsed Prject cnflict with existing municipal and reginal/and use plans? If yes, please describe which plans and the prcess t recncile these plans. 5. Will the rads, ramps, and intersectins require imprvements, in additin t thse described in the Prject Descriptin, t manage the increased truck traffic? What is the anticipated scpe f these anticipated imprvements, if any? In additin t the new third party infrastructure nted in the CN prject descriptin ( ), a replacement/mdified interchange at Britannia Rad and Highway 407 ETA may be needed t supprt increased traffic and access t the prpsed terminal. In additin, detailed trip infrmatin fr the site has nt been prvided s it is unclear whether additinal highway imprvements wuld be warranted. The prpsed interchange at 401 and Tremaine Rad may als be impacted depending n the amunt f increased truck vlume and its rigin/destinatin. Analysis f all the trips t and frm the new CN intermdal facility wuld be required t determine the impact and resulting changes in traffic vlumes n Prvincial Highways/interchanges. 6. D yu have any material knwledge f sites f cultural r archaelgical significance that will be affected by the prject?

4 7. D yu have any ther cmments r cncerns abut the prject in relatin t envirnmental effects r impacts t abriginal peples? It is pssible that mre cmmunities may have an interest in the prject in additin t the Mississaugas f the New Credit. In the experience f MTO, Six Natins and Haudensaunee Cnfederacy Chiefs Cuncil, Williams Treaty First Natins, Metis Natin f Ontari and lcal Metis Reginal cuncils have an interest in develpment in the prject area. Finally, as nted abve, we have shared the CEAA ntificatin regarding this prject with Metrlinx. Please find specific cmments prvided by Metrlinx attached. We wuld recmmend a meeting between CN and Metrlinx t discuss ptential impacts f this prject t GO Transit rail service. Thank yu again fr the pprtunity t cmment n this prject. If yu have any further questins r wuld like clarificatin f the cmments prvided, please cntact Rbin Krtright at r by at rbin.krtright@ntari.ca. Sincerely, << persnal infrmatin remved >> Tija Dirks Directr Attachment: Metrlinx cmments

5 CN Miltn Lgistics Hub - CEAA Prject Descriptin Metrlinx cmments May 1, 2015 Additinal discussins between Metrlinx and CN are required t better understand the impacts f this prpsal. While many f Metrlinx's cncerns wuld likely be addressed utside f the CEAA prcess, it wuld be beneficial t ask (thrugh the CEAA) that CN wrk directly with Metrlinx t address impacts t the GO transit rail service. In this regard, Metrlinx has nted that: At n time has GO Transit been cnsulted n the business impacts f cnstructing a large intermdal terminal n Highway 25. The mst bvius and immediate impact is a significant increase in cntainer handling truck traffic nrth n Highway 25 thrugh Miltn t the 401 and suth n Highway 25 t the QEW. This highway crridr is currently being twinned. CN has nt shared its train peratins planning t cnfirm hw it will cnslidate its intermdal trains acrss the tw majr intermdal terminals- Bramptn and Miltn. There are tw bvius verlaps n GO Transit service crridrs 1) at Aldersht n the Lakeshre West where Sarnia bund intermdal trains will cnverge with GO Transit's Lakeshre West rutes, and 2) between Bramalea and Silver Junctin (Gergetwn) where CN's rute will verlap nt GO's Kitchener service, thrugh the already cnstrained Bramptn area. CN has already given preliminary indicatins that they will limit GO train activity increases n the Bramalea /Gergetwn track because f anticipated train cngestin and freight /cmmuter cnflicts. Metrlinx' will be faced with either cnstructing additinal capacity n the crridr r negtiate a re-alignment f rail track capacity (c-prductin CN /CPR) in the west GTHA. CN will have the ability t minimize rail traffic cngestin at Aldersht and Bramalea /Gergetwn by time-separating scheduled departures between 2:00-5:00 am, befre and after the cmmuter service windw.