406 interchange public information centre 1

8/7/2019 406 Interchange Public Information Centre 1

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Welcome to Public Information Centre #1

Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study

of the

New Interchange on Highway 406 (North)between Fourth Avenue Louth and Third Avenue Louth

February 15th, 2011


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Study Area

Study

Area


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Project Introduction

Niagara Region is the proponent in consultation withMinistry of Transportation (MTO) and City of St. Catharines

Morrison Hershfield Limited is the lead consultant

Project must comply with Schedule C of the MunicipalClass Environmental Assessment Process

Public & agency consultation will be a key component of this

study


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Municipal Class EA Process in Ontario

TODAY


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Five Key Features of EA Planning

1. Consultation with affected parties

2. Consideration of alternatives (including Do Nothing)

3. Consideration of all effects/impacts to environment

4. Systematic evaluation of alternatives (net effects analysis)

5. Clear, complete documentation (traceability)


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Land Use of Study Area

Lands within the study are shown as Urban Area or Unique

Agricultural Area in the Regional Policy Plan

Areas to the west of Highway 406 and the Urban Area Boundary

are classified as Protected Countryside under the Greenbelt Plan,

2005

Diverse mix of residential, employment, commercial,environmental, and agricultural land use designations within the

study area according to the City of St. Catharines Official Plan

Current construction of integrated hospital


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Existing Land Use


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Future Land Use


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Existing Natural Environment

Core Natural Heritage Features are identified in the study area according tothe Regional Policy Plan

Some lands fall within the Greenbelt Plan Natural Heritage System Watercourses outside the Urban Area are classified as key hydrological

features in the Greenbelt Plan

Richardson Creek crosses Highway 406 through a culvert. This watercoursehas a warmwater regime and supports a fishery. A Fisheries Act authorizationmay be required

12 Mile Creek is identified as a significant Provincial, Regional, and localcore heritage feature

Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority regulated Floodplains andValleylands follow the watercourses in the study area

15 Species at Risk have been identified as potentially occurring within thestudy area


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Existing Natural Environment


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Problem/Opportunity Statement

Problem

The 2006 West St. Catharines Transportation Study (WSCTS), following a comprehensive

assessment of the West St. Catharines Planning Area, has identified review of the need for

roadway capacity improvement, including a new interchange. There are traffic issues at theexisting interchange at Highway 406 and Fourth Avenue. The interchange is basically at

capacity and cannot be easily or significantly improved. The existing interchange will not

be able to accommodate the future traffic growth in the area.

Opportunity

There is an opportunity to improve the highway system in the West St. Catharines Planning

Area by justifying the need for roadway improvements and possibly a new Highway 406

interchange between Third Avenue Louth and Fourth Avenue Louth and select the

preferred design for the new interchange. There has already been previous general planning

for a potential Highway 406 interchange at Third Avenue. The new improvement will

improve existing and future capacity and operational deficiencies and the interchange will

be designed in compliance with the policies and plans of City of St. Catharines, Niagara

Region, Ministry of Transportation (MTO), and other appropriate Agencies.


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Existing Traffic Conditions

The existing Highway 406 / Fourth Avenue interchange is at / near

capacity

Recent trend for large big box commercial developments in the

Louth Industrial area altered the distribution and intensity of traffic

Proposed localized improvements along Fourth Avenue Louth (i.e.

road widening) and intersection improvements between MartindaleRoad and the Highway 406 interchange will not be sufficient to handle

future traffic demand

Need for improved access, especially from the west, to the new

hospital and to the west portion of Fourth Avenue Louth


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Future Development

Future development has to be considered when forecasting for the future traffic. Future

developments include those outlined in the West St. Catharines Transportation (Master

Plan) Study and any proposed and planned development

The Greenbelt Plan and Places to Grow do not permit expansion of the Urban Area

Boundary into the Unique Agricultural Area. New greenfield development is to be at

higher densities.

Future development considered includes:

Proposed new hospital related development on Fourth Avenue Louth

Places to Grow legislation has identified the downtown City of St. Catharines as a

Urban Growth Centre

Addition of commercial developments located in Fourth Avenue Louth Power Centre

Redevelopment of existing sites

New employment development within the Urban Area Boundary along the CN Rail

east and west of the new hospital


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Highway406

Queen ElizabethWayRamp

Seve

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St r

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Third

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FourthAvenue

NorthServiceRoad

South ServiceRoad

Third AvenueL outh

SecondAvenueLouth

DunlopDrive

Fifth

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N i a

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Martindale

Road

MeadowvaleDriveLa

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Firs

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OakdaleAvenue

DorothyS

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Scott

Street

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MohawkDrive

SecordDrive

Linwe

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Gene

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Str

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Lo

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Street

McGuir

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Carlto

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Ber ry

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Russell Avenue

Westche

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McCallaDrive DieppeRoad

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JamesStreet

Scott

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West

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ester

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Wellan

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AcademyStreet

SaintP

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Lakesh

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Church

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Spring

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Lakep

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oad

Adam

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Haig

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QueenstonStreet

Tas

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Th

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Pelh

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Ro

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CourtStreet

Kin

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CarlisleStreet

Facer

Street

CentreStreet

Norris

Pla

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L

ClarkStreet

WilliamStreet

Henle

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Yate

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Highway 406 Interchange Environmental Assessment

HotelD

ieu

St.CatharinesGeneralHospital

New Hospital

Hwy406

Hwy 406

LEGEND

Water_Bodies

Streets

Railway Line

Level of ServiceGOOD (LOS 'A' to 'C') - Easy Flow, ComfortableDriving

MODERATE (LOS 'D') - ModerateFlow

POOR (LOS 'E' & 'F') - Poor Flow, Congestion

Vehicle Flows (Veh. / Hr.)

7,500 3,750 1,875

NOT TO SCALE


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Proposed Evaluation Criteria for the Planning Alternatives

Technical Considerations

Traffic (LOS / Delay / Access)

Roadway Geometry (Safety)

Drainage/ Stormwater Management

Pavement Structure

Utilities (Relocation/Replacement)

Construction Staging

Natural Environment Factors

Vegetation/Wildlife (habitat / movement)

Aquatic/Fisheries Resources (Richardson Creek and Wetlands)

Soil Conditions

The following is the proposed Evaluation Criteria, for discussion / input, to be used to assess th

Planning Solutions (Do Nothing; Upgrade other corridors; New interchange) for the preferred

planning solution:


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Proposed Evaluation Criteria (Continued)

Socio-Economic / Cultural / Archaeological Environment

Property Acquisition

Congestion Impact / Relief

Noise

Compatibility with Existing and Future Land Use

Built Heritage Features / Cultural Landscapes

Archaeological Resources

Economic Environment

Construction Costs

Maintenance / Operational Costs


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Assessment & Evaluation of Alternative Planning Solutions

PLANNING SOLUTION Engineering / TechnicalCapital

Cost

Environmental Impacts (including Natural,

Social, Cultural, Economic)

Overall Effectiveness & Ease o

Implementation

Do Nothing

No consideration for additional measures to addresslong-term project-specific problems or opportunities.

POOR:

Existing Highway 406 and Fourth Avenue interchangeis already near / at capacity. Existing congestion willcontinue and future traffic would not be

accommodated.

LOW

MEDIUM:

No impact to natural environment. Associated socialimpacts with the existing and future congestions, suchas driver frustration or time loss, will remain.

INEFFECTIVE (not carried forward): Waddress existing traffic problem and will not

to accommodate future traffic.

Limit Future Growth and Development

Implement policies that would place additionalconstraints on where growth may occur and/or howmuch development may occur.

POOR:

Places to Grow calls for higher density development

within urban area boundaries. Limiting growth will notbe compatible with the Citys Official Plan.

LOW

MEDIUM:

No impact on natural environment. Associated social

impacts with the existing and future congestions, suchas driver frustration or time loss, will remain.

INEFFECTIVE (not carried forward): Offichas identified future growth in the area.

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Includes TDM initiatives typically directed atspreading out peak travel periods (e.g., car-pooling)and reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

NEUTRAL:

TDM is directed towards strategies to reduce the

single occupant auto usage. Region is workingtowards TDM Policy and this will help in active andsustainable transportation but will not be sufficient onits own.

MEDIUM

LOW:

Beneficial to natural environment and compatible with

sustainable development objectives.

RECOMMENDED (carried forwarconjunction with preferred solution):

Can be effective in combination with

measures but is not sufficient to preclude tfor a new highway interchange.

Upgrade Other Roadway Corridors

Diversion of traffic to adjacent roads and/ or improveother corridors

GOOD:

West St. Catharines Transportation Study indicatedthat localized improvements on Fourth Avenue or

intersection improvements between Martindale Road

to the Highway 406 will aid but not be sufficient aloneto accommodate future traffic demand.

MED

MEDIUM:

Improvement to other corridors will have similar

environmental impact to the improvements suggested

for this study.

RECOMMENDED (carried forward in

conjunction with preferred solution):Can be effective in combination with othermeasures but is not sufficient to preclude th

for a new highway interchange.

Build a New Corridor

Construction of a new corridor in the area.

NEUTRAL:

There are opportunities for a new corridor crossing at

the 12 Mile Creek as identified in the West St.Catharines Transportation Study.

HIGH

HIGH:

Construction of a new corridor will have significant

Environmental, Social, and Cultural impacts to theadjacent surroundings.

Potential for long term consideration:

Outside the scope of this study

Improvement to existing Highway 406 /

Fourth Avenue Interchange

Improve to increase the capacity of the existing

interchange

POOR:

The existing interchange cannot be easily orsignificantly improved.

HIGH

HIGH:

May reduce the associated social impacts, such asdriver frustration or time loss, due to the existing andfuture congestion. Major impact to the naturalenvironment.

INEFFECTIVE (Not carried forward):

Due to significant environmental impacts, tcost, and limited opportunity for inteupgrades.

New Interchange at Highway 406

Addition of a new interchange, as per the West St.Catharines Transportation Study, between Fourth

Avenue Louth and Third Street Louth

GOOD:

Improvements are made to provide better access toarterials, collectors, local roads, and existing and

planned developments. The new interchange will actas a relief to congested Fourth Avenue interchange atHighway 406.

HIGH

MEDIUM:

New interchange may have significant impacts to the

surrounding natural environment, in addition to existing

residential and industrial land use, but mitigationmeasures will be placed to minimize the impacts. The

new interchange will have positive social impacts byreducing driver frustration and time loss due tocongestion.

RECOMMENDED (carried forward):

Addresses the identified problems / opportu


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Alternative 1

Parclo A Interchangeat Third Ave. Louth

Alternative 2

Diamond Interchangeat Third Ave. Louth

Alternative 3

Trumpet A Interchangebetween Third Ave. Louth and First

Interchange Design Alternatives

(from West St. Catharines Transportation Study)*Figures adopted from the West St. Catharines Transportation Study


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Interchange Design Alternatives

(from West St. Catharines Transportation Study)*Figures adopted from the West St. Catharines Transportation Study

Alternative 4

Trumpet B Interchange

Between Third Ave. Louth and First St.

Alternative 5

Diamond Interchange

between Third Ave. Louth and First St.


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Additional Interchange Design Alternatives

Alternative 6Parclo A-B Interchange at Third Ave. Louth


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Alternative 7Parclo / Diamond Interchange at Third Ave. Louth


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Alternative 8Split Interchange between Third Avenue Louth and Fourth Avenue Louth


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Alternative 9

Parclo A Interchange at Third Ave. Louth with Service Road


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Next Steps

Review public and agency input on this PIC

Consider additional alternative design and arterial improvements

Traffic analysis to investigate impact of design alternatives

Environmental Impact Assessment

Land Use Assessment

Complete other pertinent assessments

Identify impacts of alternative solutions and mitigating measures

Consultation with key stakeholders: City of St. Catharines, MTO, NPCA, landowners, othe

appropriate agencies, landowners in the vicinity of the study area, and members of public.

Assess and evaluate impacts

Select preliminary preferred design

Public Information Centre #2


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Project Schedule

Summarize and consider public comments from tonights meeting

Impact assessment of the new interchange design alternatives

through the spring of 2011

Public Information Centre #2 in June 2011 at the earliest for

presentation of the preferred planning solutions and preliminarypreferred design

Environmental Study Report (ESR) publication and Class EA

Notice of Completion by late 2011


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Your Involvement is Important

What issues are critical to you?

Please fill out a Comment Sheet Please keep in touch with us:

John Grebenc, P.Eng.

Morrison Hershfield Limited235 Yorkland Boulevard, Suite 600

Toronto, ON M2J 1T1

(416) 499-3110, Ext. 1810

[email protected]

Kumar Ranjan, P.Eng.

Niagara Region, Public Works Department2201 St. Davids Road, PO Box 1042

Thorold, ON L2V 4T7

(905) 685-4225, Ext. 3467

[email protected]

Thank you!
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

406 interchange public information centre 1

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