HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-022-16 w9ton
Engineering a ice
Report
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Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102.
Report To: General Government Committee
Date of Meeting: April 18, 2016
Report Number: EGD-022-16
File Number: Bylaw Number:
Report Subject: Update for the Environmental Assessment for Highway 401
Improvements from Courtice Road to the Region of Durham
Boundary (East Townline Road)
Recommendations:
1. That Report EGD-022-16 be received;
2. That Council direct staff to write to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change to
rescind the Municipality of Clarington's request for a Part II Order for the Transportation
Environmental Study Report for the Highway 401 Improvements from Courtice Road to the
Region of Durham Boundary (East Townline Road); and
3. That all interested parties be notified of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report EGD-022-16 Page 2
Report Overview
In January of 2014 the Ministry of Transportation completed their Transportation
Environmental Study Report for the Highway 401 Improvements from Courtice Road to
the Region of Durham Boundary (East Townline Road). In February, 2014 Clarington
Council, passed a resolution which captured concerns that the EA Study Report did not
adequately address long term transportation network considerations. At that time staff
were authorized to request a Part II Order to "elevate or bump-up the EA. Specifically it
was felt that we needed a new interchange at Lamb's Road as well as a more fulsome
review of the functional, operational and safety issues with the Liberty Street and
Bennett Road interchanges. The Ministry of Transportation has been working closely
with staff since 2014 and have now provided us with written assurance that while their
current focus is on immediate rehabilitation strategies these do not affect our long-term
vision for the corridor, nor Clarington's Official Plan or the Provincial Growth Plan.
Operational, functional and safety issues have been addressed to our satisfaction
through our discussions and we now feel comfortable recommending that Council
rescind the Part II Order request.
1 . Background
1.1. Throughout the Environmental Assessment the Municipality of Clarington and the
Region of Durham had stated they had concerns that a future Lambs Road
interchange was not included as an option in the Environmental Assessment. As a
result of these and other concerns, Council, through resolution #C-054-14
(Attachment 1), authorized staff to request a Part II Order (Bump-up) of the Study.
Clarington staff included the Part II Order request as part of their detailed
comments for the Environmental Assessment on February 10, 2014 (Attachment
2).
Throughout the process the Ministry of Transportation had noted that the "focus of
this study was to identify the immediate rehabilitation strategy for this section of
Highway 401 and to outline needed improvements to capacity and operations to
affected interchanges to support the long-term vision of the corridor." On
November 17, 2015 Clarington Staff met with the Ministry of Transportation's
Regional Director and other Ministry staff to discuss our concerns and to look at
ways that we might be able to move forward with this project. During this meeting
staff were provided with assurances that the Environmental Assessment included
documentation acknowledging the potential for a future interchange at Lambs
Road and that this Environmental Assessment process does not preclude the town
or any other interested party from pursuing a future Class Environmental
Assessment for an interchange at this location. Further to this meeting Clarington
received a letter on December 15, 2015 from the Ministry's Regional Director
confirming the discussion at the meeting (Attachment 3).
In addition to the Lambs Road interchange we also discussed our concerns
regarding the Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchange designs, with particular
focus being on the possibility of increased flooding impacts at Liberty Street.
Together, Ministry of Transportation, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
Municipality of Clarington
Report EGD-022-16 Page 3
and Municipality of Clarington Staff worked through the flood modelling used for
the Soper Creek crossing of Highway 401 and discovered a data error in the
model. In correcting this error we were able to significantly reduce the forecasted
flood levels on Liberty Street such that our concerns were addressed. Clarington
will be requesting that through the detailed design process the Ministry work with
Clarington and Central Lake Ontario Conservation staff to correct existing flood
modelling levels affected by the model correction.
2. Completion of the Environmental Assessment
2.1 With the Part II Order removed the Ministry of Transportation can finalize the
Environmental Assessment. What this means is that with the study completed the
Ministry of Transportation can start to consider programming improvements within
the corridor which up to this point they were unable to do with the Environmental
Assessment final report not filed. No specific projects have been identified at this
point but the completion of the study will ensure that consideration will be given to
this section of the Highway 401 corridor.
3. Concurrence
Our Director of Planning Services has reviewed this report and concurs with our
recommendations.
4. Conclusion
Considering that the Ministry of Transportation have provided staff with
assurances that there will be no encumbrances with proceeding with an
Environmental Assessment for an interchange at Lambs Road and concerns over
flooding at Liberty Street have been addressed it is recommended that that staff
write the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to rescind the Part II
Order request. This will allow the Ministry of Transportation to complete their
Environmental Assessment for the Highway 401 and permit the Ministry to start to
consider programming infrastructure improvements within the corridor.
5. Strategic Plan Application
Infrastructure.
Submitted by:_ Reviewed
Anthony S. Cannella, C.E.T. Franklin Wu,
Director of Engineering Services Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of Clarington
Report EGD-022-16 Page 4
Staff Contact: Ron Albright, Assistant Director of Engineering Services, 905-623-3379
ext. 2305 or ralbright@clarington.net
Attachments:
Attachment 1 — Council Resolution #C-054-14
Attachment 2 — Clarington Letter to Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change,
February 10, 2014
Attachment 3 — Letter from Ministry of Transportation, December 15, 2015
The following is a list of the interested parties to be notified of Council's decision:
The Honourable Glen Murray, M.P.P., Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
Granville Anderson, M.P.P. - Durham
The Ministry of Transportation Ontario
The Region of Durham
The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority
Clarington Board of Trade
ASC/ra/jb
ATTACHMENT 1
EGD-022-16
Council Meeting Minutes - 15 -
Resolution
15 -Resolution #C-052714 was then put to a vote and CARRIED ON THE FOLLOWING
RECORDED VOTE:
Council Member Yes No Declaration of Absent
Pecuniary Interest
Councillor Traill ✓
Councillor Woo ✓
Councillor Hooper ✓
.Councillor Neal ✓
Councillor Novak ✓
Councillor Partner ✓
Mayor Foster ✓
Resolution #C-053-14
Moved by Councillor Woo, seconded by Councillor Traill
THAT the Rules of Procedure be suspended to allow for the introduction of a motion
regarding the Highway 4.01 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment
Study.
"CARRIED"
(Required 3/ vote) _
Resolution #C-054-14
Moved by Councillor Woo, seconded by Councillor Hooper
WHEREAS the Ministry of Transportation has undertaken a Preliminary Design and
Class Environmental Assessment Study for the rehabilitation'and ultimate widening of
Highway 401 from Courtice Road to East Townline Road,
AND WHEREAS the Notice of Study Completion and Transportation Environmental
Study Report Submission was issued on January 6, 2014 for review, with comments
and requests fora Part II Order to elevate the EA Study to be submitted to the
Minister of the Environment by Monday, February 10, 2014;
AND WHEREAS the EA Study Report does not adequately address long term
transportation network considerations, including the construction of a new interchange
at Lamb's Road as an alternative to address the functional, operational and safety
issues with the Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchanges, although Clarington
and Durham Staff and Councils.have clearly and consistently requested that these
issues be analyzed and considered in the EA Study;
i
Council Meeting Minutes - 16 - January 27, 2014
ANO WHEREAS the EA Study documents publicly available do not include the
information or analysis necessary to validate the recommended improvements to the
Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchanges, although the Principles for a Class B
EA Study require "alternatives" to be considered and the evaluation process to be
traceable, replicable and understandable;
AND WHEREAS Clarington Council in May 2012, requested the Ministry of
Transportation to include an interchange at Lambs Road in the Highway 401
Improvement Study;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Region of Durham in April 2013, authorized
iRegional Staff to request a Part II Order to elevate the EA study if the issue of the new
interchange at Lambs Road was not addressed in a satisfactory manner;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THATWunicipal Staff, as part of their detailed
comments on the Highway 401 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental
Assessment Study, be authorized to request a.Part II Order to elevate or "bump-up"
the EA to ensure that additional alternatives to address the functional, operational and
safety issues at Liberty Street and Bennett Road, including a new interchange at
Lambs Road, are properly considered;
AND THAT this resolution be circulated to Durham Region, MPP John O'Toole, and
Clarington Board of Trade.
"CARRIED"
CONFIRMING BY-LAW
Resolution #C-055-14
Moved by Councillor Hooper, seconded by Councillor Neal
THAT leave be granted to introduce By-law 2014-012, being a by-law to confirm the
proceedings of the Council of the Municipality of Clarington at a regular meeting held
on the 27th day of January, 2014; and
THAT the said by-law be approved.
"CARRIED"
i .
Iii
ATTACHMENT 2
EGD-022-16
clairliggton
Leading the Way
February 10, 2014
The Honourable Jim Bradley, M.P.P.
Minister of the Environment
Ferguson Block, 11th Floor
77 Wellesley Street W.
Toronto, ON
M7A 2T5
(e-mail: minister.moe@ontario.ca)
Dear Mr. Bradley:
RE: Request for Part II Order -Transportation Environmental Study Report(TESR)
Highway 401 Improvements From Courtice Road To The Durham Regional
Boundary (East Townline Road)
W.O. 06-20006 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment
Study
URS Canada Inc. was retained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to
undertake a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study for the
rehabilitation and ultimate widening requirements for the section of Highway 401 from
Courtice Road to the Durham Regional Boundary (East Townline Road). The project
limits are located in the Municipality of Clarington, Region of Durham and Municipality of
Port Hope, Northumberland County. The study followed the approved planning process
for Group "B" projects under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial
Transportation Facilities (2000) (Class EA).
The Ministry of Transportation has released the Transportation Environmental Study
Report(TESR) for the project for public review and comment. On January 27, 2014, the
Council of the Municipality of Clarington adopted Resolution #C54-14 as follows:
"Whereas the Ministry of Transportation has undertaken a Preliminary Design and
Class Environmental Assessment Study for the rehabilitation and ultimate widening
of Highway 401 from Courtice Road to East Townline Road;
And whereas the Notice of Study Completion and Transportation Environmental
Study Report Submission was issued on January 6, 2014 for review, with comments
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379
Page 2
Request for Part II Order - Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR)
Highway 401 Improvements From Courtice Road To The Durham Regional
Boundary (East Townline Road)
W.O. 0620006 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study
and requests for a Part II Order to elevate the EA Study to be submitted to the
Minister of the Environment by Monday, February 10, 2014;
And whereas the EA Study Report does not adequately address long term
transportation network considerations, including the construction of a new
interchange at Lamb's Road as an alternative to address the functional, operational
and safety issues with the Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchanges, although
Clarington and Durham Staff and Councils have clearly and consistently requested
that these issues be analyzed and considered in the EA Study;.
And whereas the EA Study documents publicly available do not include the
information or analysis necessary to validate the recommended improvements to the.
Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchanges, although the Principles for a Class B
EA Study require "alternatives" to be considered and the evaluation-process to be
traceable,.replicable and understandable;
And whereas Clarington Council in May 2012, requested the Ministry of
Transportation to include an interchange at Lambs Road in the Highway 401
Improvement Study;
And whereas the Council of the Region of Durham in April 2013, authorized Regional
Staff to request a Part II Order to elevate the EA study if the issue of the new
interchange at Lambs Road was not addressed in a satisfactory manner;
Now therefore be it resolved that Municipal Staff, as part of their detailed comments
on the Highway 401 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment
Study, be authorized to request a Part II Order to elevate or "bump-up" the EA to
ensure that additional alternatives to address the functional, operational and safety
issues at Liberty'Street and Bennett Road, including a new interchange at Lambs
Road, are properly considered;
And that this resolution be circulated to Durham Region, MPP John O'Toole,
Clarington Board of Trade."
Page 3
Request for Part Il Order ® Transportation Environmental Study Report(TESR)
Highway 401 Improvements From Courtice Road To The Durham Regional
Boundary (East Townline Road)
W.O. 06020006 Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study
The Municipality's comments on the Preliminary Design and Class Environmental
Assessment Study for the Highway 401 Improvements Study have consistently requested
MTO and URS to consider a new interchange at Lamb's Road, as designated in both the
Durham Region and Clarington Official Plans, as an alternative to rehabilitating the Liberty
Street interchange and improving the Bennett Road interchange.
Our review of the TESR for the project indicates that the Study Report does not address
the Municipality's concerns with the Liberty Street and Bennett Road interchanges, and
does not include a new interchange at Lamb's Road as an alternative to address these
issues. These concerns have been provided to MTO and URS, as indicated by
Attachment No. 1 to this letter.
On behalf of the Municipality of Clarington, I therefore respectfully request that you make a
Part II Order for the Highway 401 Improvements EA Study to permit the preparation of an
an individual Environment Assessment so that additional alternatives to address the
functional, operational and public safety issues at the Liberty Street and Bennett Road
interchanges, including a new interchange at Lamb's Road, are thoroughly examined.
Sincerely,
A.S. Cannella, C.E.T.
.Director of Engineering Services
ASC/jb
Encl: 2
Cc: Mr. L. Lee, P. Eng, Ministry of Transportation
Mr. T. Sorochinsky, P. Eng:, URS Canada Inc.
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment
Mayor and Members of Clarington Council
Mr. F. Wu, CAO, Municipality of Clarington
Mr. C. Curtis, P. Eng., MBA, Region of Durham
Mr. D. Crome, Director of Planning Services, Municipality of Clarington
Mr. J. O'Toole, MPP, Durham
PRELIMINARY Information added by Municipality
of Clarington to show existing flood
levels. Based on information provided Reach River1. Profile W.S.Elev
by CLOCA 662.5781°5 year
SM3 682.57815year 77.26
PVI STA:9+938.74 5Mi;;:a:a 68z3IBYt75yearC=<r:z6
PVI ELEV:78.06
PVI STA:9+831.58 K:12.00 sMr Gsers761eioo.y° r--->:- :769;
I
PVI ELEV:8288 LVC:17.95 HIGH PT STA:10+192.29
K-25.00 -410-
r-c "M HIGH PT ELEV:80.18
LVC:97.48 ":`:1- "' LOW PT STA:10+008.63
N 00� PVI STA:10+17255
m M M rn LOW PT ELEV.76.77
+ t-` r- PVI ELEV:80.56
m c>�U PVI STA:10+006.15
> > K:25.00
W m m�W PVI ELEV:76.04
m w K:18.00 LVC:96. 4
> > LVC:103.19
LU
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C+J O O N CD O CD t� C' "- CO N CD O CD O O
C'O O o7 m CLJ
s 9+731 9+800 9+900 10+000 10+100 10+200 10+287
b� •
KEY MAP { HORIZONTAL SCALE
i° j Ontarlo HIGHWAY 401 IMPROVEMENT'S HIGHWAY 401 um i om T PLATE
es Mm dT°, PRELIMNARY DESIGN } t g RECOMMENDED PROFILE �a'moo.
COURTICE ROAD TO DURHAM BOUNDARY @q 1 4 LIBERTY STREET VERTICAL SCALE62
W.O. 06-20006 Zuni I ! !°i I Si
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ATTACHMENT 3
EGD-022-16
Ministry of Transportation Ministere des Transports e
Regional Director's Office Bureau du directeur r6gional
Central Region R6glon du Centre /
2"d Floor,Bldg.D — Ontar
edifice D,2e Mage All
159 Sir William Hearst Avenue 159,avenue Sir William Hearst 10
Toronto,Ontario M3M 1J8 Toronto ON M3M 1J8
Tel(416)235-5400 T61,:416 235-5400
Fax(416)235-5266 T616c,;416 235-5266
December 15, 2015
Mr, A.S. Cannella, C.E.T.
Director of Engineering Services
Municipality of Clarington
40 Temperance Street
Bowmanville, ON LIC 3A6
Dear Mr, Cannella:
Thank you for our November 17, 2015 meeting and sharing with us the details of
Clarington's concerns regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA) study for
rehabilitation improvements and long-term corridor strategy along Highway 401 from
Courtice Road to East Townline Road.
The focus of this study is to identify the immediate rehabilitation strategy for this section
of Highway 401 and to outline needed improvements to capacity and operations to
affected interchanges to support a long-term vision for the corridor. The.ministry has j
accounted for the town's Official Plan and Provincial Growth Plan details for the area in I
the traffic projections to the year 2031. The study has shown that capacity and
operational needs of this section of Highway 401 within Clarington would be sufficiently
addressed by improving the existing infrastructure.
The ministry acknowledges the town's interest to implement a new Lambs Road
interchange along the Highway 401 corridor, This interest has been captured and
clearly documented in the MTO EA study. The ministry's proposed plans and EA
process does not preclude the town, or other interested parties, from pursuing a future
Class EA to examine and demonstrate the need and justification for this new
infrastructure, Hence this provides the town or other interested parties, the flexibility to
proceed with studying infrastructure improvements that impact the Highway 401
corridor. The ministry will be an approving authority in the study. .
At our meeting you raised the consideration of the ministry contributing funding towards
various town identified improvements impacting Highway 401, The ministry is open to
discussing the financial considerations around identified improvements, but please be
aware this will be done on a case-by-case basis and that there needs to be a clearly
demonstrated benefit to the ministry to be considered. In addition, funding
considerations will also be dependent on provincial priorities and the ministry's funding
resources and budget allocations at the time.
/2
i
I trust that our meeting and the details captured in this letter provides you the level of
comfort and satisfaction to know that the ministry's EA does provide the town the
flexibility to address and plan for future growth and development needs. It also does not
preclude opportunities for the Town, as a proponent, to study and pursue improvements
to the area along the Highway 401 corridor,
Thank you for meeting with us and we look forward to continue working with you,
Sincerely,
Peter Verok, P.Eng,
Regional Director
c: R. Albright, Assistant Director, Engieering Services, Municipality of Clarington
J. White
B. Stephenson
M. Sit
L, Lee
A. Di Sabatino
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