the gore road environmental assessment - queen street to ......the gore road environmental...

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Welcome to The Gore Road Environmental Assessment Queen Street to Castlemore Road Public Open House #2 February 23, 2016 The Gore Rd McVean Dr Castlemore Rd study area Gore Meadows Community Centre

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Page 1: The Gore Road Environmental Assessment - Queen Street to ......The Gore Road Environmental Assessment - Queen Street to Castlemore Road - Public Open House #2 - February 23, 2016 Author

W e l c o m e

to The Gore Road Environmental Assessment Queen Street to Castlemore Road

Public Open House #2February 23, 2016

The Gore Rd

McVean Dr

Castlemore Rd

studyarea

Gore Meadows Community 

Centre

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Purpose and Content of Public Open House # 2

The Open House will present information on:

• What has happened since the first Open House

• The overall preliminary recommended design including any property requirements

• Key features of the design including the use of a “Complete Streets” approach and new stormwater management practices

• The potential environmental impacts and ways to reduce the impacts of the preliminary recommended design, and

• The project schedule and next steps

The purpose is to update you on the study progress and provide an opportunity for you to comment on the 

recommended preferred solution and design concept.

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• Recommended widening 2 to 4 lanes

• Realignment of the road centerline south of Fitzpatrick Drive to avoid cemetery and watercourses

• Detailed design and approvals

• 45m of right‐of‐way

• Phased construction

• Identified the need for improvements 

• High level evaluation of alternative solutions

• Addressed Phases 1 and 2 of the Class Environmental Assessment Process

• Confirmed Phases 1 and 2 of the LRTP and Problem and Opportunity 

• Documented existing and future conditions 

• Preliminary design concepts

• Public Open House  (POH) # 1

• Considered input received during and following POH# 1

• Evaluated alternative design concepts

• Preliminary recommended design concept

• Mitigation measures

• POH#2

• Will review and consider input received during and following POH#2

• Filing of the  Environmental Study Report 

• Public opportunity to review and comment

We Are Here

• EA study is complete and the project moves to the detailed design stage  before construction

Phase 1•Problem Identifications Steps

Phase 2•Alternative Planning Solution Steps

Phase 3 •Alternative Design Concepts for the Preferred Solution

Phase 4•Environmental Study Report  (ESR)

Phase 5•Implementation

Phases of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process

Study Schedule & Planning Process2000‐2002 The Gore Rd EA Completed

2005‐2013 Design and Construction    (2 Phases)

2011‐2012     Long Range 

Transportation Plan Update

Winter/Spring 2014        

Phase 3A

Fall 2015 to Winter 2015 Phase 3B

Winter/Spring 2016               

Phase 4

Fall 2016+ Detailed 

Design Phase 5

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• The design has been completed for the 2 to 4 lane widening  

• construction anticipated for late summer/early fall 2016 and will span two seasons with an approximate completion date of summer 2018

What’s happening with other projects in the area?

• The construction project is underway and will widen The Gore Road from 2 to 4 lanes within the study limits.

• Anticipated project completion is  summer 2016.

Widening Project South of The Gore Road Study Area

Widening Project North of The Gore Road Study Area

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Access to adjacent 

community facilities should be considered, i.e. temples and 

shopping

Minimize impacts from any widening

The study area includes many seniors who have specific 

needsThere is 

support for bicycle facilities

Do not widen to 6 lanes or allow trucks on The 

Gore Rd

Public Feedback 

What we heard from you…….

Improve traffic flow at the Queen St 

intersection

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A Complete Street Approach

Source: Complete Streets by Design, Toronto Centre for Active Transportation

A Complete Street is designed for all ages, abilities, and modes of travel. On Complete Streets, safe and comfortable access for pedestrians, bicycles, transit users and people with disabilities is not an 

afterthought, but an integral planning feature.  Source – Complete Streets Canada

The Improvements to The Gore Road finished in 2013 included:

Staff will consider the following design elements for re‐constructing The Gore Road as a complete street:

• Additional transit facilities (e.g., bus bays, shelters)

• Continuous sidewalks and / or Multi‐use Trails with safe pedestrian/cyclist crossings

• Space for cyclists

• Improved turning efficiency at the Queen Street intersection

• Modified bridges

• Additional through lanes or turning lanes at intersections

• Narrowed lanes to support the posted speed; and a review of the posted speed

• Streetscaping to make the corridor a pleasant space and create a distinctive corridor identity

• 2 additional traffic lanes • bridge widening

• sidewalks • utility relocation

• intersection redesign with turning lanes

• drainage improvements 

• safety measures such as school crossings

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Moving People Optionsat the Two Bridge Crossings

Recommended based on:• Least impact to vegetation around watercourse

• Promotes ecological educational activities in relation to the watercourse

• Maintains the existing right/left turn lanes

• Provides opportunities for LID stormwater management practices

Proposed alignment for the multi‐use trail 

or cycle track + sidewalk

The complete corridor design is shown on the 

roll plan.

Multi‐use trail or cycle track + sidewalk on  the west side of bridges

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Confirmation of Phase 2Preferred Solution

• Maintain the existing 4 traffic lanes throughout The Gore Road corridor Modify intersections for transit, active transportation and turning

Source: www.rutlandreder.com Source: City of Ottawa

• Provide the opportunity for a healthy lifestyle through connected multi‐use trails (complete streets approach)

• Manage traffic flow at the Queen Street intersection through signal timing improvements

• Improve active transportation infrastructure (biking and walking)

• Improve safety with  signalized bike / pedestrian crossing (location(s) to be confirmed

Examples of multi‐use trail and cycle track from other jurisdictions.

• Narrow lane widths to keep the traffic moving at the posted speed 

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Active Transportation

Recommendations for the study area include:

• 2 way multi‐use trails on the east and west sides of The Gore Road or a raised uni‐directional cycle track on each side (or a combination of both ‐ final configuration to be confirmed in detailed design) 

• Cross ride treatments to assist cycling movements at the intersections

• Pedestrian / cyclist crossing at the school locations

Cycle‐Track Multi‐use Trail

To learn more about the Active Transportation  Plan or to access information on biking and trails visit us online at:   www.walkandrollpeel.ca

Illustrated Two Way Multi‐use Trail

Source: City of Ottawa

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Managing Stormwater

Low Impact Development (LID) practices use simple, cost effective landscape features and other techniques to filter, store, infiltrate and use rain where it falls.

LID facilities  as shown below may include (examples only):

Bioretention  • Works to reduce rain runoff volume, lessens peak flow rates  and removes stormwater pollutants 

Permeable Pavement  • Works to reduce rain runoff volume and removes stormwater pollutants 

• Aesthetic value ‐various colors and patterns 

Low Impact Development practices are recommended  to manage stormwater at various locations throughout the corridor.  Facilities may be located adjacent to or under walkways, multi‐use trails and or lay‐by parking.

Enhanced Grass Swales • Works to reduce rain runoff volume and removes stormwater pollutants 

Further information can be found at   www.peelregion.ca/planning/officialplan/focus‐climate.htm

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Streetscape Design Considerations

▬ Benches

▬ Tree plantings

▬ Decorative flower pots

▬ Public art

▬ Transit shelters

▬ Wayfinding signage

▬ Pedestrian scale lighting

▬ Decorative treatments

▬ Crosswalk treatments

▬ Median plantings

▬ Garbage receptacles

Staff may consider the following options for streetscaping improvements in detailed design:

Streetscaping Toolbox Report

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Commitment Highlights

• develop a traffic management plan to minimize disruption during construction

• ensure access to existing properties, business, institutions and commercial areas are maintained during and after construction

• ensure the implementation of infrastructure to support healthy lifestyle activities (walking, biking, etc.)

The vision for the corridor is a “community for life”. Working with you, to create a healthy, safe and connected community.

Natural Environment

The Construction Project team will  ensure:

• all regulatory requirements to protect the environment are followed

• a tree protection and replanting plan is prepared

• construction occurs outside of the nesting bird window

• a visual reptile survey is prepared

Social Environment

• complete the Stage 2 archaeological assessment in detailed design

Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

Picture of Barnswallows

Picture of man riding a bicycle on The Gore Rd

Picture of Cemetery

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What happens next?

• receive public comments by March 11, 2016• consider public input • confirm the recommended design concept• document the study findings and results and incorporate them 

along with the recommended design concept into an Environmental Study Report (ESR)

• issue a notice of completion to adjacent property owners within the corridor and members of the public who registered at the Public Open Houses 

• advertise the study completion in local newspapers • place the ESR document on public review for 30 days 

Please tell us what you think:You can review the boards on our website and provide comment at:

www.peelregion.ca/pw/transportation/environ‐assess/ea‐the‐gore‐road.htm

or fill out the comment sheet today and submit, or send comments by email/fax/letter to either project manager:

Neal Smith, C.E.T.Region of PeelTransportation Division10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite B, 4th Floor Brampton, ON L6T 4B9Tel: 905‐791‐7800 ext. 7866Toll Free: 1‐888‐919‐7800 Fax: 905‐791‐1442Email: [email protected]

Stephen Schijns, P.Eng Project Manager AECOM 5080 Commerce Boulevard Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4P2 Tel: 905‐238‐0007 Direct: 905‐206‐8136 Email: [email protected] 

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Youth EngagementIn the fall of 2014 the EA project team had the opportunity to engage the Grade 11 students of 

Castlebrooke Secondary School Environmental Studies Class (assisted by their teacher Beth Lisser, Science/Special Education) in the environmental study work that was being conducted within the study area and adjacent to the school.

The students worked in the field with the project specialists for: • stormwater management • terrestrial ecology• fluvial geomorphology, and • aquatic habitatSome of their activities included taking measurements and recording details on:• water quality and flow  • use of an auger to take soil samples• measurement of the depth of water and speed 

of the stream• the path of stormwater released from the road, 

and• plant and animal species within the study area

Please come and visit the project website and see the PowerPoint presentation developed by the students on their environmental learning and the issues they identified within the corridor.

Picture of Students with Project Team

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Youth EngagementMapping of Student Activities

School

Bridge BridgeLocation & Type of Study

Terrestrial Ecology

Fluvial Geo‐morphology

Aquatic Habitat

Storm Water Management