W e l c o m e Gore Meadows Community Centre Castlemore Rd study - - PDF document

SLIDE 1

W e l c o m e

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

SLIDE 2

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.

SLIDE 3

• Recommended

widening 2 to 4 lanes

• Realignment of

the road centerline south

• f 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

• f 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
• pportunity 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 Process

2000‐2002 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

SLIDE 4

• 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

SLIDE 5

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 needs There 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

SLIDE 6

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

SLIDE 7

Moving People Options

at the Two Bridge Crossings

Recommended based

• n:
• Least impact to

vegetation around watercourse

• Promotes ecological

educational activities in relation to the watercourse

• Maintains the

existing right/left turn lanes

• Provides
• pportunities for

LID stormwater management practices

Proposed alignment for the multi‐use trail

• r 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

SLIDE 8

Confirmation of Phase 2 Preferred 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

SLIDE 9

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

• f 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

SLIDE 10

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

SLIDE 11

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

SLIDE 12

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

SLIDE 13

17

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

• r 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 Peel Transportation Division 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite B, 4th Floor Brampton, ON L6T 4B9 Tel: 905‐791‐7800 ext. 7866 Toll Free: 1‐888‐919‐7800 Fax: 905‐791‐1442 Email: neal.smith@peelregion.ca Stephen Schijns, P.Eng Project Manager AECOM 5080 Commerce Boulevard Mississauga, Ontario L4W 4P2 Tel: 905‐238‐0007 Direct: 905‐206‐8136 Email: stephen.schijns@aecom.com

SLIDE 14

Youth Engagement

In 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 habitat

Some 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
• f 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

SLIDE 15

Youth Engagement

Mapping of Student Activities School Bridge Bridge

Location & Type

• f Study

Terrestrial Ecology Fluvial Geo‐ morphology Aquatic Habitat Storm Water Management