Agenda • Presentation: Key Questions Lots of opportunities to be heard. • Table discussions: Questions for the technical panel ü Technical Panel Q&A • Facilitated Q&A • Wrap-Up – one-on-one conversations with technical team
1. Why do we need an environmental assessment?
A GROWING COMMUNITY • Long term growth in Grimsby • Planning for infrastructure, including transportation • Grimsby GO S tation access • Proactive planning to 2041: A transportation system that works
Transportation Planning PROVINCIAL PLANNING POLICY Provincial Policy Statement, Growth Plan, Policy Framework Greenbelt Plan, Niagara Escarpment Plan Transportation Niagara Region Official Plan Master Plan Official Plan Amendment 13 Official Plan Town of Grimsby Livingston Avenue Amendment 6 Official Plan Extension EA
2. What are the issues we are trying to address? 3. What happens if we do nothing?
2041 Peak Hour Condition
4. What options did we consider?
EAST-WEST CONNECTIVITY 1. Do Nothing (planned South Service Road improvements between Industrial Dr. and Casablanca Blvd. 2. Transportation Demand Management (integrated with all alternatives)
WIDEN SOUTH SERVICE ROAD • Casablanca Boulevard & GO Access EA: SSR widening provides short term capacity increase. • Full build-out to the property limits between Industrial Dr. and Casablanca Blvd. • Traffic monitoring once the GO Transit Station is operational.
WIDEN MAIN STREET WEST • Significant impacts to adjacent properties, including heritage properties • Removal of street trees • Transportation Assessment: limited potential to improve east-west traffic issues
EXTEND LIVINGSTON AVENUE • Solves east-west capacity issue. • Natural heritage and potential archaeological heritage impacts.
5. Why are we considering a road through a woodlot?
• Transportation assessment need: east-west capacity • Flexibility in the transportation network • Transportation Master Plan – EA requirement
6. What about the impacts to the Woodlot?
IMPACT TO NATURAL HABITAT • Tree removal • Species habitat • Watercourse crossing
IMPACT TO • 364 trees ≥ 10 cm DBH • Green ash, sugar maple, black walnut, large-tooth aspen and shagbark TREES hickory represent 259 (71%) of the 364 trees. • 79% (287 trees) have a DBH of 10 to 20 cm. • 3% (13 trees) have DBH greater than 41 cm. • 36% (131 trees) of the trees inventoried are ash species. • Of the 131 ash trees, 61% (80 trees) were assessed as dead or in poor condition as a result of being affected by the emerald ash borer.
APPROACH TO MITIGATING IMPACTS • Undertake follow-up studies closer to 2031 when transportation need becomes apparent • Design roadway to reduce footprint • Develop Environmental Management Plan as part of detailed design process, to reduce and mitigate impacts • Develop Tree Conservation and Compensation Plans to limit impacts of tree removal
7. What factors did we consider in evaluating the options?
THE NEED: Transportation Factors • Future east-west roadway capacity requirements • Enhance GO Transit Station access • Improve road network flexibility and redundancy • Improve local community accessibility, continuity and directness to/from downtown Grimsby • Address safety issues • Provide safe and efficient active transportation
THE NEED: Transportation Factors THE IMPACTS Noise Cultural & Archaeological Natural Impacts Heritage Environment Utilities & Air $ Cost Construction Quality Engineering Impacts
ENGINEERING & ROAD DESIGN FACTORS
8. What is the outcome of this evaluation?
THE NEED: Transportation Factors ALTERNATIVE 3: ALTERNATIVE 4: ALTERNATIVE 5: ALTERNATIVE 2: ALTERNATIVE 1: Transportation Widen Main Widen South Extend Livingston Do Nothing Demand Management Street West Service Road Ave. to Oakes Rd. Provide more east-west capacity GO Transit Station Access Improve road network flexibility Connect the community Address safety issues Support active transportation LEAST LESS MODERATELY PREFERRED PREFERRED PREFERRED PREFERRED
yxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaWUTSRQPONMLKIHGFEDCBA ALTERNATIVE 2: ALTERNATIVE 3: ALTERNATIVE 4: ALTERNATIVE 5: ALTERNATIVE 1: THE Widen Main Widen South Do Nothing Transportation Extend Livingston IMPACTS Street West Service Road Ave. to Oakes Rd. Demand Management Natural Minimal to no Impacts to street Minimal Impacts to natural No Impacts Environment heritage potential for impacts trees impacts Socio-Economic Noise and traffic Factors, Cultural No Impacts Property and cultural Property impacts No Impacts impacts; potential and Archaeological heritage impacts archaeological impacts Complex, traffic Low potential for Engineering and Some limited impacts Highly complex No Impacts delays during construction traffic Road Design construction delays Cost High cost Low cost High cost Moderate cost No capital cost RECOMMENDED – NOT RECOMMENDED – NOT RECOMMENDED – WITH OTHER RECOMMENDED SHORT TERM RECOMMENDED APPROX. 2031 ALTERNATIVES
9. Isn’t this area in the Greenbelt? Can you build a road here?
ONTARIO GREENBELT PLAN (2017) • Section 4.2 of the Greenbelt Plan provides a policy framework to guide new and expanded infrastructure facilities to serve the growth projected for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Expanded or new infrastructure facilities subject to and approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, are permitted within the Protected Countryside.
10. Who makes the final decision?
LIVINGSTON AVENUE EXTENSION CONSULTATION • Evaluate alternatives Consider ways to: • Background • Identify the preferred alternative Studies • Improve east-west traffic • Identify impacts and mitigation measures • Review and capacity • Complete an Environmental Study Report for • Provide improved network document existing public review connectivity conditions WE ARE HERE
MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS NEXT STEPS • Public comments can be submitted to the Ministry and Region during the public review period, including a Part II Order request.
FUTURE CONSTRUCTION APPROVAL PROCESS • Regional Council has the authority to approve budget related to EA approved transportation infrastructure design and construction.
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