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Revised Draft January 2011 December 2010 February 2010 DRAFT i GTA West Planning and Environmental Assessment Study Revised Draft Area Transportation System Alternatives Report PREFACE The Area Transportation System Alternatives Report – Revised Draft (2011) is one of several interim reports which depicts the study process culminating in the Transportation Development Strategy. The Area Transportation System Alternatives Report – Revised Draft (2011) was first issued in March 2009. The reports purpose was to summarize the process and methodology that was used to develop a broad range of the Area Transportation System Alternatives and to document the key findings of this work. In the consultation period following its release, the study team received comments relating to a range of issues. The purpose of this revised draft report (January 2011) is to ensure that all comments received have been adequately addressed; and where appropriate, the content of the report has been revised accordingly. Appendix A provides an overview of the individual Transportation Alternatives. Appendix B summarizes the factors and criteria for assessing the preliminary planning alternatives, a description and categorization of multi-modal alternatives and a high level assessment of Group alternatives. Appendix C provides a summary of the input received on the March 2009 draft report, and details each comment received, the study team’s response, and any changes incorporated into the revised draft report. January 2011 GTA West Planning and Environmental Assessment Study Revised Draft Area Transportation System Alternatives Report TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... i 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 STUDY BACKGROUND..............................................................................................................1 1.2 STUDY PURPOSE ......................................................................................................................2 1.3 PURPOSE, RELEVANCE AND POSITION OF REPORT WITHIN STUDY PROCESS..............3 1.4 STUDY AREA AND AREAS OF INFLUENCE .............................................................................3 1.5 OVERVIEW OF PROBLEMS & OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.......4 1.6 PROCESS FOR GENERATING AND ASSESSING AREA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES..........................................................................................................................5 2. INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES ......................................................................... 8 2.1 OVERVIEW..................................................................................................................................8 2.2 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) / TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT (TSM) ................................................................................................................8 2.2.1 Existing TDM / TSM Initiatives ................................................................................................8 2.2.2 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................12 2.3 TRANSIT....................................................................................................................................14 2.3.1 Existing Bus / Rail Passenger Transit System......................................................................14 2.3.2 Metrolinx Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) .....................................................................16 2.3.3 GO Transit 2020 Strategic Plan ............................................................................................20 2.3.4 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................23 2.4 FREIGHT RAIL ..........................................................................................................................26 2.4.1 Existing Freight Rail System .................................................................................................26 2.4.2 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................27 2.5 MARINE.....................................................................................................................................31 2.5.1 Existing Marine Transportation System ................................................................................31 2.5.2 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................33 2.6 AIR .............................................................................................................................................36 2.6.1 Existing Air Transportation System .......................................................................................36 2.6.2 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................37 2.7 FREIGHT INTER-MODAL .........................................................................................................39 2.7.1 Existing Freight Inter-modal Facilities ...................................................................................39 2.7.2 Description of Alternatives Generated ..................................................................................40 2.8 ROADS AND HIGHWAYS .........................................................................................................43 2.8.1 Existing Road and Highway System .....................................................................................43 2.8.2 Description of Ideas Generated.............................................................................................48 2.9 ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES .................................52 3. GROUP TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES............................................................................... 54 3.1 OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................54 3.2 ASSESSMENT OF MULTI-MODAL ALTERNATIVES...............................................................55 3.3 ASSESSMENT OF GROUP ALTERNATIVES ..........................................................................55 3.4 GROUP #1 – OPTIMIZE EXISTING NETWORKS.....................................................................56 3.4.1 Overview of Group #1 ...........................................................................................................56 3.4.2 Assessment of Group #1.......................................................................................................57 3.5 GROUP #2 – NEW / EXPANDED NON-ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................58 3.5.1 Overview of Group #2 ...........................................................................................................58 3.5.2 Assessment of Group #2.......................................................................................................60 3.6 THE NEED FOR ROADWAY BASED SOLUTIONS ..................................................................61 3.7 GROUP #3 – WIDEN / IMPROVE ROADS ................................................................................62 3.7.1 Overview of Group #3 ...........................................................................................................62 3.8 GROUP #4 – NEW TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS............................................................63 January 2011 GTA West Planning and Environmental Assessment Study Revised Draft Area Transportation System Alternatives Report 3.8.1 Overview of Group #4 ...........................................................................................................63 3.9 ASSESSMENT OF GROUP #3 AND GROUP #4 ......................................................................64 3.10 NEXT STEPS.............................................................................................................................64 4. SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION ..................................................................................................... 66 4.1 MEETINGS HELD DURING GENERATION OF ALTERNATIVES............................................67 4.2 MEETINGS HELD DURING ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVES ...........................................68 4.3 PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE (PIC) #3..............................................................................68 DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 75 APPENDIX A: INDIVIDUAL TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES...................................................... A-1 APPENDIX B: ASSESSMENT OF MULTI-MODAL ALTERNATIVES.................................................... B-1 APPENDIX C: SUMMARY OF COMMENTS AND RESPONSES........................................................... C-1 LIST OF EXHIBITS Exhibit E-1 Two-Stage Process for Developing and Assessing Area Transportation System Alternatives Exhibit E-2 Group 2 – New/Improved Non-Roadway Infrastructure Exhibit E-3 Group 3-1 – Freeway Widening Exhibit E-4 Group 3-2 – Freeway and Arterial Road Widening