HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-69-94THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
Subject: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT -
GO TRAIN SERVICE EXPANSION PROGRAM
Filed 1rC
Res. #
By -Law #
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and
Administration Committee recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PD -69 -94 be received for information;
2. THAT GO Transit and the Ministry of the Environment and Energy be
advised that the Municipality of Clarington has no objection to
the Environmental Assessment Report for the GO Transit Service
Expansion Program Oshawa West to Oshawa East; and
3. THAT GO Transit be requested to consult with the Municipality of
Clarington the preparation of Design and Construction Reports
relating to the layover site.
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 The Draft Environmental Assessment Report for the GO Train
Service Expansion Program Oshawa West to Oshawa East,was
completed in December of 1992. A copy of the document was
forwarded to our offices in early 1993, with a request for Staff
comment. Subsequently, Planning Staff forwarded comments to the
agencies.
1.2 On April 11, 1994, the final Environmental Assessment (EA) Report
was received from GO Transit. (Copy of report available for
review in the Planning Department.) The final report has been
submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy for
approval.
1.3 The EA Report examines the expansion of GO Train service from the
VIA Rail Station at Thornton Road in west Oshawa to the east end
of Oshawa. GO Train service expansion would largely be based on
the use of the existing rail corridors as follows:
DPAPER DECYIC« /
THIS IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
REPORT NO.: PD -69 -94 PAGE 2
• Thornton Road to Stevenson Road
Construction of two new tracks leaving the CNR rail corridor
swinging north under Highway 401 connecting to the CPR rail
corridor
• Stevenson Road easterly to Bloor Street Terminus Station
Following an expanded CPR corridor two new tracks will be
constructed on the south side of CPR's existing track for joint
use between GO Transit and CPR. Two new commuter stations will
be constructed, one at Stevenson Road and Gibb Street (south of
the Oshawa Centre) and one east of the Holiday Inn at Bloor
Street.
• Bloor Street to the Layover Site
One additional track on the south side of the existing CPR track
is required. The Layover Facility is to be located on the south
side of the CPR tracks east of Prestonvale Road and west of
Trulls Road in the South Courtice Employment Area (see Attachment
No. 1). The layover site is to accommodate up to six (6) train
sets while out -of- service. Only minor maintenance, inspection
and cleaning is intended to be performed at the proposed site.
The site is to contain a small building and associated parking
for employees.
2. COMMENTS
2.1 Planning Staff forwarded comments identifying three areas of
concern during our review of the Draft Environmental Assessment
Report. The final Environmental Assessment Report received in
April 1994 provides a response to Staff's concerns. The issues
are as follows:
• Compatibility of Layover Site with future Adjacent Land Uses
The draft Courtice South Employment Area Secondary Plan suggested
the lands between the CPR line and Highway 401 be utilized for
Prestige Employment use. This designation has also been
incorporated in the draft Official Plan which was recently
REPORT NO.: PD -69 -94 PAGE 3
released. The final EA Report suggests that appropriate
landscaping will be detailed in future Design and Construction
Reports to ensure appropriate buffering from future prestige
employment area uses.
• Impacts on the Robinson Creek
The layover station is to be located between Prestonvale Road and
the Trulls Road in the vicinity of the Robinson Creek. The draft
EA had noted that filling of the creek valley south of the CPR
line would be required to accommodate six train sets. As such,
staff raised a concern with respect to the impact of filling and
the location of this use on the Robinson Creek. The final EA
Report noted that the Robinson Creek watercourse traversing the
site does not have high sensitivity as fish habitat. Water
quality impacts are considered to be manageable as the facility
is consistent with current land uses in the area. Furthermore,
mitigating measures in the form of Best Management Practices
(BMPs') have been suggested to reduce potential stormwater
contamination.
• Future Extension of GO Rail Service
Staff requested that all options of future GO Train service
expansion to Bowmanville be maintained through the design and
implementation of the current service expansion study. The final
report advises that the current design does not preclude any
future expansion to Bowmanville.
2.2 It is recommended that the Municipality indicate that it has no
objections to the submission and approval of the Environmental
Assessment Report by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy.
It is further recommended that GO Transit be requested to
continue to consult with the Municipality with respect to the
Design and Construction Report for the Layover Site.
J J /
REPORT NO.: PD -69 -94 PAGE 4
Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation
to the Committee
Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director of Planning Chief Administrative
and Development Officer
CP *FW *df
Attachment #1 - Go Train Service Expansion - Recommended Alignment
Attachment #2 - Courtice Layover Site
13 June 1994
Interested parties to be notified of Council and Committee's decision:
GO Transit
1120 Finch Avenue West
TORONTO, Ontario
M3J 3J8
Attn: J.G. Ashbee, P. Eng.
Senior Project Engineer
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GO Train Service Expansion Program
T ranspwal,on Oshawa West to Oshawa East
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0m.d. Route Location & Pre - Design Study
DURHAM Go 4M
O'dek — I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
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LEGEND
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Go Transit Station Site
Layover Site
Exhibit 1.1(c)
Recommended Alignment and Study Area
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PROPOSED LAYOVER YARD
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C.P.R. LAYOVER SITE ALTERNATIVE
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