City of London Commissioners Road West Realignment Environmental Assessment Public Information Centre No. 1 March 30, 2017
Welcome to the Public Information Centre This first Public Information Centre (PIC) introduces the Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the realignment of Commissioners Road West, from Springbank Drive/Byron Baseline Road, extending through the Byron Pit to Cranbrook Drive. We welcome your input on: Background to the study Existing conditions of the study area Transportation problems and opportunities Alternative planning solutions Preliminary impact assessment and evaluation of planning solutions You are invited to: Review the information boards Ask questions and discuss your comments with the study team Fill out and submit a comment sheet Sign in to receive future updates on the study Visit the project website: https://www.london.ca/residents/environment/eas/pages/commissioners-road-west-realignment.aspx 2
Class EA Process This project is subject to the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (2000 as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015). The Municipal Class EA is a planning and design process approved by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to meet the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. This study follows the Class EA process for Schedule C projects. Study Commencement PIC 1 PIC 2 Study Completion / Public Review March 2016 Spring 2017 Fall 2017 End of 2017 We are here Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Problem and/or Alternative Alternative Environmental Implementation Opportunity Solutions Design Concepts Study Report The Commissioners Road West Realignment was identified in the 2030 Transportation Master Plan (2013) as part of the growth management implementation strategy for transportation projects. The City commenced this EA study to identify the property requirements for development coordination with the South-East Byron Secondary Plan, which will be initiated shortly. 3
Study Organization The Corporation of the City of London Environmental and Engineering Services Parks and Recreation Planning and Development Services Legal, Corporate and Realty Services Technical Agencies Committee Municipal and Provincial Agencies (e.g., Upper Thames River Conservation Authority) Utilities Consultant Team CIMA Canada Inc. Golder Associates GSP Group Inc. Public Adjacent property owners Nearby businesses Developers Agencies First Nations Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Upper Thames River Conservation Authority Lafarge 4
Study Area Total length of the study-area corridor is approximately 1.2 km 5
Historical Context Commissioners Road in 1942 just as it is today South-East Byron Area Study (1992) proposed road realignment 6
Policy Context 2030 Transportation Master Plan (2013) Recommends to realign Commissioners Road West between Byron Baseline Road and Cranbrook Road and to widen the road to four through lanes within the next 15 to 20 years Realignment of Commissioners Road is intended to open an improved route for all users including public transit, school buses and emergency vehicles Also recommends widening of Commissioners Road (from Cranbrook Road to Viscount Road) and Byron Baseline Road (from Commissioners Road to Colonel Talbot Road) London s Design Specifications & Requirements Manual Right-of-way width of arterial roads is specified as 36 metres South-East Byron Area Study (1992) Recommends realigning Commissioners Road between Byron Baseline Road and Cranbrook Road Bicycle Master Plan (Draft 2015) Recommends bike lanes along the realigned Commissioners Road 7
Policy Context The London Plan (2016) Place Types 8
Policy Context The London Plan (2016) Street Classification London Plan recommends investigating opportunities to incorporate the following design features: 9
Problem and Opportunity Problem Commissioners Road is geometrically deficient within the study area. + The existing road grade is up to 11%, but arterial roadways should have a grade of 6% or less. + Existing road curves have radii of 75 and 90 metres, which reduces stopping sight distance. These deficiencies have substantial transportation impacts. Most recreational cyclists cannot ride on an 11% incline. Ontario s Accessibility Design Standards generally require that pedestrian pathways have a grade of 5% or less. Emergency service vehicles avoid using this road in wintery conditions. Transit services cannot be provided safely. Opportunity (Note: Higher sidewalk grades are acceptable to match roadway grade). The operator of the Byron gravel pit has indicated that pit operations are nearing completion. + This creates the opportunity to coordinate rehabilitation site plans to provide a road geometry suitable for all road users, achieve integrated land-use planning (including the quarry), extend the park system, create new pathways and pocket parks, and enhance landscaping.
Alternative Planning Solutions for Commissioners Road Do nothing Improve existing roadway geometry + Improve vertical road profile + Improve horizontal curvature + Improve both road profile and curvature Realign Commissioners Road into new corridor with either of the following closures: + Close existing Commissioners Road west of Crestwood Drive (i.e. the section with steepest grade) + Close parts of Longworth Road (adjacent to Rembrandt Hills West development) + Close parts of Crestwood Drive (near Longworth Road) + Combination of these road closures 11
Evaluation Criteria for Alternative Planning Solutions Cultural and Natural Environment Archaeology (to be considered in next study phase) Built heritage and cultural landscapes Natural (species at risk, vegetation, etc.) Infrastructure Planning Planning policies (Official Plan, Transportation Master Plan, etc.) Road network capacity Transit network Social Community character Air quality (to be considered in next study phase) Businesses / institutional services Emergency services Land use and Development opportunities Noise (to be considered in next study phase) Property access Alternative transportation Streetscape Traffic safety Implementation Compliance with design standards and policies Constructability Capital cost Operation and Maintenance As the South Byron Secondary Plan is yet to be initiated, the focus of this study will not be on the proposed widening of Commissioners Road. However, the feasibility to widen Commissioners Road in the future (i.e. protection of right-of-way) is considered under Road network capacity. 12
Alternative 1 Do Nothing Evaluation criteria Cultural and Natural Environment Social Advantages No adverse impacts No adverse community impacts Infrastructure Planning Implementation Disadvantages Zero capital cost & no constructability concerns Limited planning integration following closure of the gravel pit Road widening is not feasible without significant property taking Emergency services have difficulty using Commissioners Road Safety is compromised No improvement of London s road network No opportunity to provide transit service on Commissioners Road or active-transportation facilities Not compliant with road design standards 13
Alternative 2A Existing Corridor & Change Profile 14
Alternative 2A Existing Corridor & Change Profile Evaluation criteria Advantages Disadvantages Cultural and Natural Environment Significant vegetation impacts due to widened grading limits Potential archaeological impacts Social Infrastructure Planning Implementation Improved access for emergency services Traffic capacity for Commissioners Road is increased Opportunity to provide transit service and activetransportation facilities along Commissioners Road Limited planning integration following closure of the gravel pit Road widening not feasible without significant property taking Two residential driveways and access to reservoir are impacted during construction Potential air quality and noise impacts Very high capital cost Closure of Commissioners Road between Byron Baseline Road and Longworth Road for extended period of time during construction Temporary bridge structure to access reservoir park and soccer fields Not compliant with road design standards 15
Alternative 2B Existing Corridor & Improve Curvature Evaluation criteria Advantages Disadvantages Cultural and Natural Environment Social Infrastructure Planning Implementation Potential impacts limited to area of curve modification Limited community impacts: property impacts at the road curves Low-cost solution No constructability concerns Minor vegetation impacts due to widened grading limits Potential archaeological impacts Limited planning integration following closure of the gravel pit Road widening not feasible without significant property taking Emergency services have difficulty using Commissioners Road Very limited improvement of London s road network Road widening is not feasible without significant property taking No opportunity to provide transit service on Commissioners Road or activetransportation facilities Not compliant with road design standards Improving horizontal curvature will increase road grade even more 16
Alternative 2C Existing Corridor, Improve Profile & Curves Evaluation criteria Advantages Disadvantages Cultural and Natural Environment Significant vegetation impacts due to widened grading limits Potential archaeological impacts Limited planning integration following closure of the gravel pit Social Infrastructure Planning Implementation Improved access for emergency services Community impacts mainly consist of property impacts at the road curves Traffic capacity for Commissioners Road is increased Opportunity to provide transit service and activetransportation facilities along Commissioners Road Road design in compliance with design standards Road widening not feasible without significant property taking Two residential driveways and access to reservoir are impacted during construction Potential air quality and noise impacts Very high capital cost Closure of Commissioners Road between Byron Baseline Road and Longworth Road for extended period of time during construction Temporary bridge structure to access reservoir park and soccer fields 17
Alternative 3 New Road Corridor 18
Alternative 3 New Road Corridor Evaluation criteria Advantages Disadvantages Cultural and Natural Environment Social Infrastructure Planning Implementation Closure of parts of the existing local roads provides opportunities to add green spaces Reduced traffic on local roads, including Commissioners Road, improves community character Full range urban planning opportunities following closure of the gravel pit Improved access for emergency services Opportunity to modify the local road network Opportunity to improve integration of Commissioners Road into London s road network Reserved corridor is sufficient to widen Commissioners Road Opportunity to provide transit service and active-transportation facilities along Commissioners Road Road design in compliance with design standards Closure of local roads reduces maintenance cost Limited community impacts during construction Minor vegetation impacts, mainly due to tree removals Potential archaeological impacts Increase of traffic noise and relocation of parking area at long-term care community Increased driving distance to arterial road for some residents Potential air quality and noise impacts Medium/high capital cost Potential constructability issues at the gravel pit 19
Comparison of Planning Solutions Evaluation criteria Do nothing Existing corridor, Existing corridor & Existing corridor & improve road grade & improve road grade improve road curves curves New corridor Solves problem statement No Yes No Yes Yes Cultural and Natural Environment Archaeology No impacts Potential impacts Potential impacts Potential impacts Potential impacts Built heritage and cultural landscape No impacts No impacts No impacts No impacts No impacts Natural environment No impacts Potential vegetation impacts Potential vegetation impacts Potential vegetation impacts Potential vegetation impacts Social Community character changed No No No No Improved Air quality and noise impacts None Minor impacts Minor impacts Minor impacts Minor impacts Businesses / institutional services No impacts No impacts No impacts No impacts Long-term care community may be impacted Emergency services can use road safely No Yes No Yes Yes Land use and development opportunities No change No change No change No change No change Property access changed No No No No Yes (several residences) Infrastructure Planning Compliance with London's planning policies No No No No Yes Road network capacity improvement due to Removal of existing deficiencies Potential road widening No No Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Transit network No Yes No Yes Yes Alternative transportation No Yes No Yes Yes Streetscape Unchanged Unchanged Unchanged Unchanged Improvement opportunities Traffic safety is a concern No No No No No Implementation Compliance with design standards & policies No No No Yes Yes Constructability n/a Complex Not problematic Complex Medium complexity Construction impacts n/a High Limited High Medium Capital cost Zero High Low High Medium/high 20
Traffic Reductions due to Network Modification Alternative 3A Alternative 3B Road closed Reduction of traffic volumes Minor increase in traffic volumes New driveways Increase of traffic volume due to network modification expected to be small (less than 30 vehicles per hour) Alternative 3C Alternative 3D New driveways Increase of traffic volume due to network modification expected to be small (less than 60 vehicles per hour) Increase of traffic volume due to network modification expected to be small (less than 60 vehicles per hour) 21
Comparison of Alternatives 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D Evaluation Criteria Alternative 3A Alternative 3B Alternative 3C Alternative 3D Road closures Existing Commissioners Road Existing Commissioners Road Longworth Road Existing Commissioners Road Crestwood Drive Existing Commissioners Road Longworth Road Crestwood Drive Total length of road closures 200 metres 400 metres 500 metres 650 metres Access configuration No direct access to New Commissioners Road for residences on existing Commissioners Road Two new driveways onto New Commissioners Road No direct access to New Commissioners Road for residences on Crestwood Drive and existing Commissioners Road Two new driveways onto New Commissioners Road Traffic volumes on local roads Maximum increase in driving distance to arterial road for resident See previous display board 620 metres 440 metres 620 metres 440 metres Driving distance to arterial road for residents south of New Reduced Reduced Reduced Reduced Commissioners Road Intersection of New Commissioners Road and Crestwood Drive eliminated: Other impacts Improves traffic operations Profile modification can start at Longworth Road, minimizing future road grade WHICH NETWORK CONFIGURATION DO YOU PREFER? 22
Next Steps Review your input Identify and evaluate design alternatives, including Finalize ecology, archaeology, cultural heritage and geotechnical studies + Road realignment + Landscaping, trails and parks Meet with Technical Agencies and Stakeholders, including + Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry + Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change + Pit operator + Residential access + Potential realignment of Byron Baseline + Cross-section alternatives + Intersection configurations + Transit integration + Active-transportation facilities + Environmental impacts and mitigation + London Transit Commission Public Information Centre No. 2 in Fall 2017 Integration with Byron Secondary Planning Study Finalize Problem and Opportunity Statement Finalize Preferred Planning Solution 23
What do you think? Please share your comments with either Project Manager by April 12 th, 2017: Ted Koza, P.Eng. City of London Project Manager 300 Dufferin Avenue London, ON N6A 4L9 T: 519-661-2500 E: tkoza@london.ca Stephen Keen, P.Eng. CIMA+, Project Manager 3027 Harvester Road, Suite 400 Burlington, ON L7N 3G7 T: 289-288-0287 Ext. 6834 F: 289-288-0285 E: stephen.keen@cima.ca Thank you for attending this PIC 24