Blackfriars Bridge Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Public - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Blackfriars Bridge

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Public Information Centre #1 November 19th, 2014

Why are you here tonight?

To determine the future requirements of the river crossing at Blackfriars Street, including:

• rehabilitation,
• replacement, or
• removal of the existing bridge

recognizing:

• its importance as a significant heritage structure,
• its role as a component of the parks and pathway system,
• its role in the transportation network (including cycling and

pedestrian transportation), and

• its socio-economic value to the community.

…this is known as the “problem/opportunity statement” for the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA)

Municipal Class EA Process

Phase 1 - Understand what the problems and opportunities are within the project boundaries and develop a problem statement to guide the EA Phase 2 - Develop & evaluate alternative solutions to address the problems/opportunities identified and select the preferred solution Phase 3 - Develop & evaluate alternative design concepts for the preferred solution Phase 4 - Write the Environmental Study Report that summarizes the entire EA process including how public comments were addressed, the potential environmental impacts, and how the project team proposes to mitigate the impacts Phase 5 - Implementation which includes detail design and construction

We are presenting Phases 1 & 2 tonight

We are here

The Blackfriars Bridge EA Study Area

Area of review for natural environmental inventories (200m buffer) Blackfriars Bridge crossing location & focus for EA

Background & Existing Condition of Blackfriars Bridge

• The existing wrought iron bowstring arch-truss bridge was constructed in 1875 (the video presentation

provides details on the significance of the structure to the community)

• Following a risk assessment (2012), detailed inspection and evaluation of the bridge in 2013, the City

completed temporary repairs and modified the bridge to pedestrian/cyclist-use only

• A Municipal Class EA is required when a bridge over 40 years old is reconstructed or altered
• The City initiated this Class EA to identify the preferred future use of the Blackfriars Bridge

A long term solution is required for the bridge!

Relevant Policy Documents & Studies

Examples include:

• City of London Official Plan and related land

use, transportation and natural environment schedules

• Blackfriars-Petersville Heritage Conservation

District Plan (2014)

• Bicycle Master Plan (March 2005)
• Thames Valley Corridor Plan
• Smart Moves 2030 Transportation Master Plan
• London Strengthening Neighbourhood Strategy

Existing Natural Environment Conditions

• The following natural environment surveys have been completed to date:
• Ecological Land Classification
• Wildlife Habitat
• Birds, flora, other wildlife
• Aquatic assessment
• 3 natural vegetation communities are found within and adjacent to the

Blackfriars Bridge including:

• Cottonwood Mineral Treed Shoreline, Fresh-moist Cottonwood

Deciduous Forest, and Mixed Deciduous Treed Bluff

• Several common species of birds typical of urban areas were observed

including:

• Blue Jay, Northern Flicker, Mourning Dove, House Sparrow, Mallard,

European Starling, Canada Goose, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Rock Dove and Common Grackle

• Confirmation of Species at Risk is ongoing and targeted field studies (e.g.

detailed tree inventories and basking surveys for reptiles) may be carried

• ut to confirm presence

Existing Transportation Conditions

• Blackfriars Street is designated as a Secondary

Collector Road, previously carrying approximately 5000 vehicles/day

• Secondary Collectors are designed for light

volumes of traffic for short distances between local and arterial streets; full property access; bus routes; and bicycle/pedestrian facilities (Table 18.1 of the Official Plan)

• When the crossing was open for vehicle use,

traffic typically flowed eastbound in the AM and westbound in the PM and was a popular access route to and from London’s downtown

• The river crossing provides a key connection to

the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) trail system for alternative modes of transportation With Blackfriars Bridge closed to vehicular traffic, the project team is evaluating short and long term impacts to the adjacent road network.

Transportation Environment

• Road safety
• Addressing existing and future traffic needs
• Emergency service access
• Accommodation & safety of

cyclists/pedestrians Natural Environment

• Fisheries and aquatic resources
• Terrestrial features and wildlife
• Species at Risk

Technical Considerations

• Structural requirements
• Utility impacts
• Geotechnical considerations
• Hydrology

Economic Environment

• Capital costs
• Property costs
• Maintenance costs

Social Environment

• Residential land uses
• Commercial land uses
• Parkland/TVP connectivity
• Future development/ redevelopment

potential

• Land use planning objectives
• Noise and vibration
• Aesthetics

Cultural Environment

• Cultural heritage impacts
• Archaeological impacts

Assessing the Alternatives

The following provides an overview of the environmental factors to be considered by the project team when reviewing existing and future conditions, developing the alternatives; analyzing and evaluating them to determine the preferred solution:

Alternative Solutions

• Rehabilitate* Blackfriars for pedestrian and cyclist use only
• Rehabilitate* Blackfriars for vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist use
• Replace Blackfriars with a new bridge for vehicular, pedestrian and cyclist use
• Remove Blackfriars Bridge

“Do Nothing” is not considered a feasible alternative solution in this case, since the current repairs are short term only, leaving the same decision to be made when the repairs have expired The project team wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts on the alternative solutions presented today. Please complete a comment form and submit by December 5th, 2014.

* We do know the existing bridge can be rehabilitated for vehicular and/or pedestrian/cyclist use…it is a matter of addressing

certain issues, such as: feasibility of repair methods; management of risk; economics and maintenance of heritage attributes and aesthetic appearance. These issues will be reviewed in Phase 3 of the EA process.

Next Steps

The project team will:

• complete the full evaluation of alternative solutions based on information and

comments collected

• select the preferred solution
• develop the preferred solution into alternative design concepts (Phase 3)

Information related to this study (including the video presentation) will be uploaded to the project website www.blackfriarsbridge.ca

Thank you for coming!

To be presented at next public meeting – anticipated in the spring 2015